Since police procedurals often come and go, The Rookie needed to be a pretty special show to stand out from the pack. Thankfully, the idea of following rookie cops throughout their careers is brilliant. However, the biggest thing that The Rookie has going for it is the fact that the show features a fantastic cast of characters. Between John Nolan, Angela Lopez, Wade Grey, Lucy Chen, Tim Bradford, Nyla Harper, and many more, the show gives viewers many characters to love.
While it is wonderful that The Rookie has created so many great roles, the sad truth is that some of the show's most interesting or entertaining characters have since disappeared. While some forgotten characters from the show would be fun to see return, others mean a lot more than that. The following characters were all so compelling in their own ways that they need to return soon.
Why Talia Bishop needs to return to The Rookie
After the first season of The Rookie finished, Talia Bishop disappeared from the show with very little fanfare, despite being a huge part of the series up until that point. In August 2019, the character's actor, Afton Williamson, wrote on Instagram that she'd quit the show after being bullied and racially discriminated against on set. It was an extremely sad and infuriating way for a compelling character and a clearly extremely talented actor to leave a great show.
If Afton has any interest in returning to the character and she could be assured that she would be treated with the utmost respect, I would love to see Talia return. The character radiated a level of gravitas and realism throughout her short-lived tenure on the show that I would love to see more of. On top of that, it never made much sense that the character John Nolan would so quickly move on after someone he respected so much left. Most importantly of all, I want Afton to walk away from The Rookie again on a positive note.
Why Ben McRee needs to return to The Rookie
In 2025, The Rookie fans have a lot to be excited about, considering it has been revealed that a second spin-off is in the works. If that wasn't enough reason for the show's fans to celebrate the series' future, it has also been revealed that there are big plans for Wesley Evers' storyline future. As one of The Rookie's non-cop characters is set to take the spotlight, it is time for another one to make his return.
If The Rookie brings John Nolan's best friend, Ben McRee, back, he would add something special to that could make the show better. Even though the series still features other characters who aren't police officers, all of them interact with the world of law enforcement in their own way. On the other hand, Ben's only connection to that world is through his friendship with John. That means that Ben could be a breath of fresh air, a sounding board for his pal, and give viewers a different perspective on the show's action. Bring Ben back and let him serve in that role while being as likable as he ever was.
Why Grace Sawyer needs to return to The Rookie
Before John Nolan met, fell in love with, and eventually married Bailey Nune, The Rookie viewers saw him date some extremely impressive women. As interesting as it was to see John date Lucy Chen and Jessica Russo, his relationship with Grace Sawyer was the most compelling. The reason for that is that Ali Larter is a talented enough actor to imbue Grace with enough personality, poise, and, well, grace, that viewers couldn't get enough of her.
Sadly, when John and Grace split up, she disappeared from the show. While that makes some sense, John's ability to remain close to Lucy proves that he can stay tight with his exes. That means that there isn't a storyline reason for Grace not to return. Instead, viewers could get the joy of seeing Ali's captivating portrayal of Grace during any of The Rookie's future storylines that involve going to the hospital, since the character was previously portrayed as a wonderful doctor.
Why Aaron Thorsen needs to return to The Rookie
During the fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons of The Rookie, the show's fans grew to love Aaron Thorsen. Then, the character was pulled away from viewers, and there is no doubt that many fans remain severely disappointed by that decision to this day. I am one of those The Rookie fans who doesn't understand why Aaron was removed from the show's cast of characters to begin with.
There are many reasons why I believe removing Aaron from The Rookie was a mistake. For example, I believe that Tru Valentino did a fantastic job bringing the character to life, and that Aaron added a lot of humor to the show without being over-the-top. Most importantly, I found watching Aaron remaking his life after losing his chance to be a sports superstar very compelling. Bringing Aaron back could reintroduce all of those elements to The Rookie, and that would be a fantastic thing to see.
Why Ellroy Basso needs to return to The Rookie
Ellroy Basso needs to return to The Rookie because he is portrayed by the always brilliant Alan Tudyk. No further explanation needed.