The Rookie finale brought back two villains, and Tim Bradford finally made his intentions with Lucy Chen known — but the episode left Us with more questions than answers.
During the season 7 finale on Tuesday, May 13, Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave) reemerged after escaping prison during the season 6 finale with help from corrupt attorney Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan).
Oscar proceeded to kill two of his past partners — and kidnap officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) — to hunt down a buried treasure in Barstow, California. Nolan and Oscar battelled in the desert and although Oscar escaped, Nolan came away with the stolen diamonds.
“It’s not the last we’re gonna see him,” showrunner Alexi Hawley exclusively told Us Weekly of Oscar, noting that both he and Monica will be back for season 8.
Monica, meanwhile, staged her epic comeback during the final moments of the episode, revealing she made an immunity deal with the FBI in exchange for the data she stole earlier this season.
Not all the finale was focused on villains. Tim (Eric Winter) professed his love once again for Lucy (Melissa O’Neil) and asked her to move in with him. Unfortunately, due to Lucy’s new night shift schedule, she was fast asleep when he put it all out on the table.
“It felt organic,” Hawley teased of the romantic gesture gone wrong, noting as the writers look ahead to season 8, they’re “always looking to keep things twisting and turning.”
Keep scrolling for answers to the biggest questions ahead of season 8:
How Long Will Lucy Work the Night Shift?
“We needed to throw a little twist in there for her passing the sergeant’s exam. We couldn’t just leave it alone,” Hawley said of Lucy’s new role in the LAPD, noting, “I don’t think it’s an obstacle we’ll keep in play too long. The challenge of the night shift was fun in the finale but ultimately, I don’t think we’re gonna live in there for too long.”
Will Tim Ask Lucy to Move in a Second Time?
“We’ve been building all season and beyond to getting them back together,” the showrunner assured Us. “Sort of navigating the pitfalls of him blowing up their relationship and the real work he had to do on himself and her prioritizing and ultimately figuring out how to forgive him and all that kind of stuff.”
Hawley explained that Tim’s gesture of cooking for Lucy after a long night shift — and then asking her to take the next step in their relationship by moving in — was proof of his “deep desire to get back together.”
He noted that “cementing that conversation at the top of the next season and figuring out what the right next step is” for the couple will most likely be part of the season 8 premiere.
Are Tim and Lucy Endgame?
Hawley played coy about when Tim and Lucy would be fully back together, but he hinted a reunion is closer than fans might think. “Whatever the definition of end game is, I think we’re getting there for sure,” he said, insisting the writers have no plans of putting the pair through “trauma” a second time.
“We got one bite at the apple of, you know, trying to fix a mistake and we’ll see where it goes,” he added, confessing, “There’s still gotta be drama.”
Will Oscar Be Out for Revenge During Season 8?
Oscar tried to kill Nolan during the finale, but detective Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) was able to save him and in turn Nolan thwarted Oscar’s plans to get jewels from a past diamond heist. “Oscar’s always very focused on what’s good for Oscar,” Hawley shared, revealing that, unlike some of the other villains on the series, he’s not as “revenge oriented.”
While Oscar will come back at some point, Hawley said he’s aware that they “can’t keep going back to the well of him escaping” so the writers will be working on his “end game” or the “end of a chapter” for the character soon.
Why Is Monica Back — And What Does She Have Planned?
Hawley confessed that part of the reason behind Monica’s return is to “stir up more drama” within the LAPD. “It’s … maddening to our people who want nothing more than to put her in jail where she deserves to be, the fact that she sort of escaped the Hangman’s noose, so to speak,” he explained.
The TV writer revealed that “there will be more to this immunity deal to unfold that will help drive her story in season 8.” That being said, Monica, like Oscar, will at some point have to say goodbye to the show. “I don’t think we can live at the well of Monica or even Oscar forever,” Hawley admitted.
Are Nolan and Bailey Done Wanting to Have Kids?
During season 7, Nolan and his wife, Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan), started the adoption process only to learn that due to how much danger they get into with their jobs that they were unlikely to be good candidates. According to Hawley, that “door is closed” — at least for now.
“I don’t have any more story in my head for it,” he shared. “I think ultimately seeing them go through a very relatable struggle, both to try and have a kid biologically and then ultimately, you know, on the adoption front has led us to an end of that journey for now.”
Will Celina and Rodge Last?
Officer Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) found herself in a new relationship with musician Rodge Bronson (Zander Hawley) during season 7, and during the finale Rodge revealed he got a gig overseas. The distance, however, might not derail their romance.
“They’re both young, and so I don’t know that we need to define everything,” Hawley told Us. “They’re super fun together and I think it’s very real for people to come in and out and that they’re dating.”
He confessed he’s “not a hundred percent sure where it goes” for the young lovebirds, but in the writers’ minds “she’s young, he’s young” so only time will tell.
How Will Rookie Miles Evolve Next Season?
After calling off his engagement during season 7, rookie Miles Penn (Deric Augustine) was nearly killed during his first date from an online dating site. Miles claimed he was taking a break from dating, but Hawley told Us there is a lot more to focus on with the character next season.
“His rookie year is not over, obviously. It’s a 13-month program and the timeline on the show is, sort of, not every season is a year,” Hawley said, noting, “We’re gonna live in his rookie year for a while still.”
Within his continued training, Hawley shared that fans will see him hopefully “overcome” the “obstacle” of living in his car and navigating “who he is in Los Angeles.”
The Rookie is streaming on Hulu or Disney+.
