The Rookie star Tru Valentino shares a heartfelt response to his exit from the hit ABC show ahead of season 7. It was recently reported that Valentino, who plays Aaron Thorsen, would be departing from The Rookie cast. Valentino made his first appearance as Aaron in season 4 before being upgraded to a series regular as of season 5. He has appeared consistently on the show since then, including throughout its strike-shortened season 6.
As reported by TV Insider, the now-former Rookie star reacted to leaving The Rookie via his Instagram Stories.
Valentino, a frequent voice actor also known for voicing Cuphead, reflected positively on his time with the series and seemed to suggest that Aaron could still appear in the future. He writes, in part, “You never know who may pop back up in the Mid-Wilshire Precinct.” Valentino's posts are included above.
Why Tru Valentino's Rookie Season 7 Exit May Be Organic
Perhaps Aaron Moved On From The Force
For those unfamiliar with Valentino's character, Aaron is introduced to The Rookie as a bit of a social media celebrity who gets into some trouble. After being acquitted in a high-profile trial, he joins the force and works closely with John Nolan (played by lead actor Nathan Fillion). After a few seasons of exploring police work, it could just be the case that the wealthy character favors going back to a less stressful life.
Although nothing is confirmed just yet, The Rookie season 7 could bring back Aaron Thorsen as a guest character based on Valentino's tease. There may be a situation where one of his former teammates visits him to ask for advice and, in the process, the show could reveal what Aaron has been up to. In any case, it's probable that the first few episodes will address Aaron's absence. It remains to be seen how exactly he will be written off.
The Rookie season 7, which does not currently have a premiere date on ABC, will welcome two new characters to address the gap created by Aaron's departure. The first is Miles (played by All American's Deric Augustine), who is described as a newbie despite having two years of experience. The second new character is Seth (played by Patrick Keleher in his TV debut), who is not ready for high-pressure situations. All in all, the long-running ABC staple is experimenting while still maintaining a consistent supporting set of actors.
It Sounds Like The Rookie Season 7 Won't Kill Off Aaron
Other Characters Have Met A Devasting End
Although the supporting cast of The Rookie has been largely stable, there have been a few notable departures. Early on, it was reported that Afton Williams would not be reprising the role of Talia Bishop for season 2. Williams took to social media to share that she had experienced sexual harassment and bullying on The Rookie's set. An investigation later found that the actor's allegations could not be proven, though Williams stood by her claims. It was later explained that Bishop quit the LAPD and joined the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a Special Agent.
Mercedes Mason's departure was another early exit for the ABC show. Her character, Captain Zoe Andersen, is killed off in season 1 when she's shot. It's meant to serve as a jolt to the regular course of business, invigorating John Noln and giving him something that serves as a negative reminder of what it means to be a police officer in the world of The Rookie. Despite her relatively early demise, Zoe appears in archival footage later on in the show. She's not the only one to suffer a grim fate.
Officer Jackson West, played by Titus Makin, also dies after the events of The Rookie season 3 finale. Jackson took a bullet to the back, with Makin previously explaining his reluctance to play a cop after real and horrific examples of police brutality that resulted in the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others. The actor went on to explain that The Rookie never really explored Jackson's feelings about being a Black police officer and what that meant for him. Makin did return after making these candid remarks in an interview, though he did not appear after season 3.
On the whole, although The Rookie cast has been largely consistent, the long-running series has drawn a fair amount of serious discussion both behind the scenes and in terms of its on-screen depiction. At the very least, based on Valentino's comments, his farewell is generally a positive experience that leaves the door open for a future appearance.
