Tonight’s episode of The Rookie explores the growing personal and professional struggles of the LAPD officers. Nolan’s fixation on solving the mystery surrounding Bailey’s ex, Jason, deepens, while the rookies are forced to handle increasingly complex situations that get them into trouble. At the same time, unresolved personal relationships come to the surface, and the looming threat surrounding Jason’s case continues to escalate.
THE ROOKIE – “Out of Pocket” – Ahead of Bailey’s return home, John looks for clues to locate Jason Wyler. Then, Tim and Lucy swap rookies; a friendly face resurfaces at the station, and Wesley feels unsettled over Angela. TUESDAY, JAN. 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC. (Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)
RICHARD T. JONES, ALYSSA DIAZ, MELISSA O’NEIL, MEKIA COX, ERIC WINTER
RICHARD T. JONES, ALYSSA DIAZ, MELISSA O’NEIL, MEKIA COX, ERIC WINTER
Recap:
The episode kicks off with Nolan seeking Tim’s help to evaluate the vulnerabilities in his newly installed home security system. After Nolan takes a nap, he’s woken up by the sound of Tim cracking open a beer—having easily bypassed the system. Nolan’s frustration is tempered by amusement as he realizes how easily Tim got through his supposed state-of-the-art setup.
Meanwhile, Wesley and Angela have a chaotic start to their day. Wesley is still haunted by tapes that seem to hold significant personal value.
Nolan’s investigation takes a turn when a detective informs him that they’ve arrested a suspect, Daniel, in connection to a double homicide. The suspect has ties to the Southern Front, and used to be close to Jason. Despite warnings from colleagues, Nolan takes matters into his own hands, secretly trying to extract information from Daniel about Jason’s whereabouts. However, his interrogation goes nowhere, as Daniel remains tight-lipped.
MELISSA O’NEIL, ERIC WINTER
The episode also weaves in some lighter, more comedic moments as Tim and Lucy, who have been betting on the progress of their rookies, are called into Grey’s office. Grey orders them to stop the betting and, to enforce the rule, switches their rookies. This setup creates a playful dynamic, as Tim and Lucy work with their new partners, while trying to deal with the consequences of their actions. Tim quickly realizes that Lucy warned Seth about his “I’ve been shot!” test, and the rookies’ reactions to the situation bring some much-needed humor. Meanwhile, Lucy and Miles share an awkward moment when he calls her “darling,” which she quickly shuts down.
The rookies are thrown into action when they respond to a hostage situation. Initially, they think they’ve got the suspect cornered, but it turns out to be a decoy, with the real criminal slipping away on a motorcycle. A high-speed chase ensues, and the rookies, in their pursuit, inadvertently escalate the situation by entering the suspect’s house, which now has three hostages instead of one. As Tim and Lucy attempt to contain the situation from the outside, the rookies take matters into their own hands, showing initiative in apprehending the suspect, even though their actions have put everyone at risk.
Back at the station, Nolan seeks advice from Wesley about how to get Daniel to open up about Jason. Wesley advises against pushing too hard, but he offers a suggestion: perhaps there’s someone close to Daniel who could sway him. Nolan’s search for answers intensifies when Daniel’s mother tells him that her son refused to talk but did give her one crucial piece of information: the Southern Front is hunting Jason and has hired a hitman named El Malvado to take him out. Nolan, unwilling to let Jason’s fate be decided by someone like Malvado, decides to continue his pursuit of justice.
While the investigation heats up, the rookies face the fallout from their earlier actions. They fear they’ll be fired after going rogue, but Grey, though frustrated, tells them they can’t afford to fire them. Their social media popularity has made them too valuable, but they are warned that they’re on thin ice. The rookies are made to write the mantra, “I will not go rogue,” as part of their punishment, though their future remains uncertain.
The episode also highlights the growing tension in the personal lives of the characters. Lucy, Rachel, and Celina have an emotional conversation on the couch, reflecting on the past. Rachel, who once dated Tim, admits that she thought Tim and Lucy were a better match, though she’s surprised they broke up. Lucy, in turn, expresses her desire to focus on her career rather than romantic entanglements, signaling her desire to move forward. Meanwhile, an uncomfortable dinner with Angela, Wesley, Nyla, and James reveals a rift between James and the others, particularly over his views on systemic injustice. Nyla finally snaps, urging James to understand that they’re all trying their best, giving a much-needed moment of catharsis for the group.
BRENT HUFF, MEKIA COX, MELISSA O’NEIL, LISSETH CHAVEZ
As Nolan delves deeper into his investigation, he takes a dangerous step by pursuing a lead on El Malvado. After tracking a car tied to the hitman, Nolan confronts Malvado in a tense scene. Faced with the dilemma of saving a potential victim or capturing Malvado, Nolan chooses to save the life of the man being targeted. This decision allows the hitman to escape, but Nolan’s resolve to bring Malvado to justice remains firm. Meanwhile, the team discovers that he’s missing. The team is left scrambling to find him before it’s too late, as Nolan’s personal obsession with Jason and the threat of El Malvado escalate.The episode ends with Bailey returning home, and Nolan being unable to disable the complicated system he set up!
Thoughts:
MEKIA COX, SHAWN ASHMORE, ARJAY SMITH, ALYSSA DIAZ
Character of the Week: John Nolan
Now, admittedly, Nolan’s individual plots have lost my interest a little over the years, with me much preferring his interactions with the team rather than running solo, but this episode kept me intrigued. Nolan’s paranoia really came forward ahead of Bailey’s return, and he became utterly determined to find Jason. It caused him to be reckless and a little stupid at times, but his desperation kept me on the edge of my seat. In the end, he stuck to his morals, prioritizing saving a man’s life instead of getting information on Jason.
Forgetting your wife’s birthday, though… That’s a low.
This week’s relationship choice is not a romantic one, but instead a friendship! Rachel hasn’t been spotted in the show since season 2, but made her grand return this episode. While it was teased that it could be an obstacle for Chenford, it seems to be headed the opposite direction. Rachel and Lucy didn’t hesitate to reconnect, despite six months of ghosting from the former. They talk about Tim, with Rachel admitting that Tim and Lucy were a much better match, and expresses her shock at their breakup. There’s no oddness about Tim when it comes to their friendship. Rachel even makes an effort to make things right with Tim because of Lucy. “Bros before hoes,” as Celina puts it!
It feels uncommon in TV for two exes to get along so well without any drama. It’s refreshing!
JASMINE MATHEWS
Next Time:
We won’t have an Advanced Preview next week’s episode, but you can find the name, synopsis, and promo below!
“Darkness Falling”
Following his stint at the LAPD, Wesley returns to the district attorney’s office where his past connects him to the team’s investigation. Meanwhile, Bailey and John have conflicting feelings over safety, while Lucy grows suspicious of Seth.
What were your thoughts on “Out of Pocket”? How are you feeling about this season? Comment below all your thoughts about The Rookie!
Be sure to catch The Rookie live on ABC at 10PM on Tuesdays—or catch up on Hulu the next day!