Throughout its seven seasons so far, The Rookie has seen the departure of a number of main characters, as well as the introduction of many new characters. The series regularly brings new rookies in every few seasons, to be trained by Nolan (Nathan Fillion), Tim (Eric Winter), and, briefly, Lucy (Melissa O’Neil). Over the course of its run so far, the show has said goodbye to familiar faces, through the transfers of Talia (Afton Williamson) and Aaron (Tru Valentino), as well as the deaths of Captain Andersen (Mercedes Mason) and Jackson (Titus Makin Jr.). Through it all, the show stays true to its main premise and continues to center on its characters who have been around from the very beginning of the series.
Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) was first introduced in Season 2 of The Rookie as Nolan’s strict new training officer with a mysterious past doing undercover work. Although Nyla initially had no interest in getting to know Nolan or any of her other coworkers, she has since developed a number of close connections throughout her time on the show. Nyla has had one of the very best character arcs in The Rookie, and has come very far since she started. She has reconnected with her daughter, built a family with James (Arjay Smith), and become a detective for the LAPD Mid-Wilshire Station. Nyla has had a number of excellent moments in her time on The Rookie so far, but nothing will ever top her epic takedown of a killer while giving birth at the beginning of Season 5.
In Season 5 of ‘The Rookie,’ Nyla Harper Gives Birth and Fights Off an Intruder – at the Same Time
In The Rookie Season 5, Episode 2, “Labor Day,” Nyla and James are preparing for the birth of their first child together. Nyla has decided to do a water birth at home, due to her scary and painful experience of giving birth to Lila in the hospital several years back. In the meantime, Nyla and James’ neighbor, Deadlift (Dion LaMarr Harvey), is playing loud heavy metal music that is disrupting her. When James goes over to ask Deadlift to turn down the music, he refuses, so Nyla uses her badge to make him. Later, Nyla and James hear gunshots coming from Deadlift’s house. James tries to convince Nyla that there’s nothing going on, but she can’t shake the feeling that there is something up. Sure enough, Nyla later finds enough evidence to deduce that Deadlift and his friend have shot someone and are planning to dispose of the body together. Nyla tries to get more evidence in order to report Deadlift, but he catches her spying on him.
Because Deadlift suspects that Nyla is onto him, he breaks into her house, but it just so happens to be while she is in labor. James goes to the front hall to figure out who broke in, and he ends up fighting off Deadlift’s friend. Nyla, meanwhile, is left alone in the bedroom while in labor, but she’s not without protection. She hides underwater with her gun to wait for Deadlift, at the same time that her contractions worsen. At the exact right moment, Nyla jumps out of the pool and aims her gun at Deadlift. When James returns, Nyla is in bed holding their newborn daughter, with her gun still pointed at Deadlift. Nyla has always expertly balanced motherhood with her job, and this epic moment is the perfect and most extreme example. That last scene is especially memorable and funny, as James learns that Nyla was able to handle everything by herself, and he is both impressed and concerned.
Nyla Harper’s Best Scene in ‘The Rookie’ Shows How Far She’s Come
Nyla’s birth of her second daughter is one of The Rookie’s best scenes, but it is also a great example of why she is such a fantastic character. Nyla is a true force to be reckoned with, especially when it has to do with her children. At the start of her time in the show, after years of working to become the best at undercover work, Nyla used her golden ticket to take several steps back in her career as a patrol officer, just so that she could become a part of Lila’s life again. Three seasons later, she ends up fighting through intense labor pains to protect both herself and Leah from a killer. Nyla has always been strong and fierce as both an officer and a mother, but she handles this situation with more wisdom and insight than she might’ve back in Season 2.
Leah’s birth shows how far Nyla has come as a character since she first joined the LAPD. Nyla was initially very private and guarded, and she believed that she had to do everything by herself. She wanted to be a part of Lila’s life again, but she didn’t quite know how. In “Labor Day,” though, Nyla opens up to both James and Lucy about her belief that her neighbor is dangerous. Even when James doesn’t believe her, Nyla trusts her gut, more sure of herself than she was back when she was fresh out of her time in undercover work. Like she would have back then, Nyla saves the day by herself, but she and James get to celebrate Leah’s birth together after she has taken Deadlift down. It’s a powerful and exciting moment for Nyla’s character, and one that proves how far she’s come.
