When The Rookie returns with its eighth season, one of its most notorious villains will come back, and their appearance could result in the revival of a forgotten romance from The Rookie: Feds. The spinoff premiered in September 2022 and ran for only one season and 22 episodes. Unfortunately, ABC canceled The Rookie: Feds prematurely, bringing its story to an end.
The good news is that the characters from the offshoot are still well and alive in the Rookie universe. Some of them have even appeared in the original police procedural series in the wake of The Rookie: Feds' cancellation. And with the release of The Rookie season 8 (and the return of a villain), the show can bring back two specific characters.
Monica Will Play A Big Role In The Rookie Season 8
Monica Returned During The Season 7 Finale
Bridget Regan as Monica Stevens in The Rookie season 6
As the audience learned at the end of The Rookie season 7, Monica Stevens has returned. She has been antagonizing the main characters since season 5, and now, she's untouchable. Monica was on the run for most of season 7, but she somehow secured an immunity deal for herself with the United States government that guarantees she won't go to prison.
During The Rookie season 7, episode 11, Monica enlisted the help of a woman (seemingly against her will) to retrieve a government employee's secure data card. Monica used whatever information was on the card to blackmail the authorities to ensure her freedom. She had sensitive information they didn't want leaked to the public. However, that doesn't mean Monica's work is done.
Bridget Regan will reprise her role as the Rookie villain at the beginning of season 8. Presumably, her immunity deal includes her providing law enforcement with information they need, like the whereabouts of wanted criminals. So, Monica will be a part of the team in The Rookie season 8 as they hunt down various bad guys.
The Rookie Can Bring Back Laura & Brendon To Help With The Monica Dilemma
The LAPD Is Working With The FBI
Britt Robertson as Laura and Kevin Zegers as Brendon Brandishing Guns in The Rookie Feds
With Monica's return in The Rookie season 8, the main characters will undoubtedly be working closer with the FBI as they manage the agreement between the antagonist and the government. FBI Special Agent Matt Garza from The Rookie: Feds already appeared in the season 7 finale to inform the others about Monica's immunity. Garza is also confirmed for the season 8 premiere.
So, if The Rookie can bring Garza back, the ABC crime drama can certainly do the same with two of his subordinates from The Rookie: Feds — Laura Stensen and Brendon Acres. Both Laura and Brendon made cameos in The Rookie season 6 finale, alongside Garza. It would make sense if they returned to help sort out the mess with Monica, as well.
This is an all-hands-on-deck situation. Monica is known to be deceitful, clever, and too smart for her own good, which is why the Rookie characters haven't been able to catch her. She likely has a plan up her sleeve, trying to fool the LAPD and the FBI once again. Laura and Brendon's presence would only serve to help defeat Monica once and for all.
Laura & Brendon Could've Been The Rookie: Feds' Version Of Chenford
They Had The Same Dynamic As Tim & Lucy
Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen in The Rookie season 7, episode 8
If The Rookie were to bring Laura and Brendon back in season 8, the show could revisit their story. Although The Rookie: Feds never fully acknowledged a possible romance between the two, their dynamic mirrored Tim and Lucy's in The Rookie (and we all know how that worked out). Laura was Brendon's training agent, just like Tim was Lucy's training officer.
Similar to Tim and Lucy at the start of The Rookie, Laura and Brendon dated other people and didn't show much romantic interest in each other. However, their chemistry was akin to Tim and Lucy's. It was blatant, and The Rookie: Feds would've been foolish to disregard the obvious connection between Laura and Brendon. Sadly, the spinoff never got to explore their relationship.
Laura and Brendon were robbed of the chance to become a full-fledged couple in The Rookie: Feds. Sure, the ABC police procedural series would've taken the slow burn route with Laura and Brendon, just like The Rookie did with Tim and Lucy. So, they might not have started dating until much later on, but the journey would have been worth it.
Perhaps if they were to appear in The Rookie season 8, though, the show could speed up Laura and Brendon's romance. The spinoff isn't coming back. As such, the only option for fans to see more of Laura and Brendon is via the parent series, meaning there is no time for a slow-burn story.
Monica's return allows The Rookie to explore what could've been with the couple. Laura and Brendon could join Garza and the LAPD to help with Monica's case, resulting in more screentime for the two characters whose arcs were cut short. Only time will tell, though, if The Rookie season 8 takes advantage of this perfect opportunity.
The Rookie season 8, consisting of 18 episodes, is set to premiere in early 2026 on ABC alongside Will Trent season 4.
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