The Rookie has returned with season 5 in September, and the new episodes are creating plenty of positive buzz among the fans. From the serial killer Rosalind Dyer escaping prison, to Tim finally realizing he might have feelings for his former rookie, there have been a lot of changes for these characters.
Despite being procedural, The Rookie is very much a character-driven show as well, and fans adore the main cast. But even the best-written characters can sometimes do or say something that isn't right for their character or simply surprises fans a lot.
"For The First Time In Forever, I Feel Safe."
Tamara Collins (Season 3, Episode 12)
When Tamara joined the show, she was presented as a sassy teenage criminal, but she slowly became so much more. But despite Lucy giving her a safe place to sleep, and some much-needed support, Tamara was a tough nut to crack.
Her circumstances have forced her to harden her heart and not let anyone else, and this quote - admitting she feels safe, went against everything Tamara presented. But in different circumstances, people change, and fans have enjoyed getting to know her new side.
"I Don't Even Wanna Look At It Anymore. Because It's Awful."
Bailey Nune (Season 4, Episode 15)
Bailey is Nolan's best love interest so far, even though she can be a bit of Mary Sue at times, meaning she seems to be perfect at just about everything she does. She can fight fires, and the bad guys as well, making her pretty invincible.
But painting is apparently not something she can do, and she herself sounds surprised at the fact that the portrait she was attempting was awful. So despite her perfect personality, as Nolan loves to point out - there is one thing she's not good at.
"Sir, I Can't Tell You How Excited I Am To Ride With You Today. I'm Really Looking Forward To Soaking Up Whatever Tips And--"
Aaron Thorsen (Season 4, Episode 18)
From the beginning, Thorsen appeared as just one of those rich people who throw money at every problem. But it soon became clear that even though he's occasionally too self-confident and slightly arrogant, he was actually a good cop, and a good person.
However, when he started riding with Tim he did a clearly uncharacteristic thing - he tried sucking up. After riding with Nyla for a while, there was no reason for him to think it was a good idea, and Tim quickly set him straight. But it was still an unusual scene for Aaron.
"I Screwed Up. I Need Help."
Wesley Evers (Season 4, Episode 7)
From the very moment, the audience meets Wesley he is a headstrong character. He likes getting his way and is absolutely boasting with self-confidence about his law skills. He fights for what he believes in, and he rarely appears vulnerable at all, until the point in the show where he gets stabbed, resulting in one of the most heartbreaking moments.
However, in season 4, Wesley gets involved in some shady business in order to save Angela from Guatemala. The more he tries to dig himself out, the deeper he gets. In the end, he is forced to admit that he can't do it alone, and it likely wasn't easy for him to admit it. It felt very new to the viewers, but it showed another layer of him that the viewers didn't know before.
"I Will Haze, Harass, And Humiliate You Every Chance I Get In The Hope That You Will Abandon This Misguided Quest."
Sergeant Grey (Season 1, Episode 1)
Sergeant Grey is shown to be a strict but just sergeant on The Rookie, and even though he undoubtedly has his work cut out for him, he does a great job of supporting his officers without appearing too soft. The exception, however, was John Nolan who apparently brought out the very worst in Grey, and he couldn't hide his disdain for the rookie.
It got to the point where even Captain Andersen had to intervene. This didn't mix well with the image of the Sergeant everyone had seen. Luckily, Grey did change his mind and offered an equal amount of support to Nolan, but not before hazing and humiliating him.
“Don’t Be Me. I Don’t Even Want To Be Me.”
Nyla Harper (Season 2, Episode 7)
Nyla Harper was a confusing character at first, but fans quickly fell in love with her ability to sass everyone and the never-ending amount of self-confidence she seemed to possess. She quickly proved to be a badass patrol officer, a good T. O., and an amazing undercover officer as well, making her character a favorite for those who love bold and smart characters.
However, she had some demons of her own, and viewers learned that she was dealing with painful things regarding the custody of her daughter. It was very out-of-character for her to admit that she didn't even want to be herself, because her ex was constantly undermining her value as a police officer, but more importantly as a mother. Luckily, she managed to pick herself up, which says a lot about her character.
"I Didn’t Do It For You. The Golden Boy With The VIP Dad Flunks Out On My Watch I Can Wave Detective Goodbye."
Angela Lopez (Season 1, Episode 2)
Even though Angela is very ambitious since the beginning, this quote still goes against everything the fans know about her. Though the situation with Jackson was interesting and stressful, it was interesting to get to know Angela as she struggled with what to do.
Angela has proven to everyone watching the show that she has a great sense of right and wrong, and even though she attempts to hide behind her ambition with this quote, everyone knew that she did it because she thought it was the right thing to do.
"A Tim Test?"
Lucy Chen (Season 4, Episode 8)
Lucy is a very compassionate and emphatic person, which is why this quote was very unlike her. Even under pressure, she's usually able to control her emotions when it comes to hurting other people with her words. But when she finds out that Tim's dad used to do a similar thing for him as a child that Tim does for his rookies, she blurts out the words before she can stop herself.
It doesn't visibly upset Tim at the moment, but given his later quote, her words affected him more than he let on. Lucy rectifies this at the end of the next episode, but it still seemed very out of character for her to say that given their incredible partnership.
"Your Apartment, I Mean, Call Me Crazy, But It Doesn't Feel Like Pretend."
Tim Bradford (Season 5, Episode 1)
Tim has never been a talk-about-your-emotions guy on the show, and usually, fans get to watch him sweep everything behind a thick layer of emotional walls that he's built in order to protect himself. After an abusive father and a failed marriage, this doesn't seem odd for him to do.
However, recently, fans have seen a different, softer side of Tim, especially when it comes to Lucy. Despite a scene where Tim clearly realized Lucy has become more than just his coworker, nobody would have expected for him to initiate the conversation about it, least of all while they were still undercover. It was out of character for him, but not necessarily in a bad way.
"You Know I Don't Even Think You Can Help It Anymore. I Don't Think Lying Is Second Nature To You. It's First. It's Who You Are."
John Nolan (Season 2, Episode 4)
Nolan had his fair share of dumb moments, but none seem as far-fetched and out-of-character as when he refused to let Nyla out of the shop after arresting her undercover. It was normal that he'd be distrustful of a new training officer, but this didn't feel like Nolan.
After riding with her for a day, he presumes to know everything about her and makes this rushed assessment. Not only did Nolan know her for an insufficient amount of time, but it was also very disrespectful to a superior officer.