‘The Rookie’ Season 7, Episode 9 Didn’t Disappoint

The Rookie Season 7, Episode 9 gave fans what they’d been asking for since Season 2 and Season 3, and that’s for John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) to have a heartfelt reunion and a storyline that involves them working together again. Episode 9 centered around Harper’s husband, James Murray (Arjay Smith), and the attack on the community center, where James and a volunteer, Kylie (Maria Zhang), were shot. The shoot-out was carried out by Connor’s gang and resulted in James fighting for his life throughout the entirety of this episode. As police investigate the motive behind the shoot-out, Harper becomes a suspect after Nolan discovers that James and Kylie shared a kiss in Episode 8.

Clearing Harper’s name became the objective for the characters in this episode, and James and Nyla’s uncertain fate creates tension and leads to a heartfelt moment at the end of the episode. By the end, James survives, wakes up, and clarifies who was responsible for the shooting, and Harper’s name is cleared. She and James discuss the kiss with Kylie, and he reassures Harper that he rejected Kylie. The couple share an emotional, heartfelt reunion, assuring viewers of their love for each other. While confirmation of their relationship staying strong was a relief, it was the touching conversation between Nolan and Harper that caught the attention of The Rookie fans and hopefully foreshadowed seeing this duo sharing more heartfelt moments and interactive storylines.

The Most Sincere Scene in ‘The Rookie’ Is Between Nolan and Harper

Seeing Nyla Harper unsettled and losing her reserve is rare in the ABC series. Since she was introduced in Season 2, she seldom lets anything shake her, but this episode showed fans a different side to the detective. At the end of Season 7, Episode 8, Harper believes that James is cheating on her with a volunteer at the community center after Nolan discovers that the two share a kiss.

In Season 7, Episode 9, the series shows a distraught Nolan struggling with seeing Harper hurting because of this supposed betrayal. When she joined the series in Season 2, Harper was assigned to oversee Nolan as his training officer, and he slowly peeled away at her rough exterior, creating a warm bond between the two for the remainder of Season 2 going into Season 3.

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Nolan’s determination to help find Connor, the gang member responsible for the shooting, was a nice reminder of his connection to Harper and the bond they forged in the earlier seasons of The Rookie. Following Connor’s arrest and James surviving life-saving, critical surgery, Nolan and Harper finally have a heart-to-heart, and he admits feeling guilty for having any part in her pain and gives a heartfelt speech as to what and how much she means to him. This touches Harper profoundly, and their talk results in an unexpected, out-of-character hug initiated by Harper. The emotional scene showcases their deep bond and how comfortable Harper is with Nolan, which says a lot.

Why Was Harper and Nolan’s Storyline Thrown Away in ‘The Rookie’?

The most recent episode was filled with breadcrumbs of Nolan and Harper’s relationship and the dynamic that fans fell in love with. After Nolan graduates from being a rookie, his storyline with Harper diverges, and the two are paired off with other characters. This resulted in the pair having limited screen time and brief interactions that showed a small fraction of their dynamic. Harper went on to work as a detective at the Los Angeles Police Department and partnered with Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz). Nolan became a training officer, working with other rookies like Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez). The new storylines made it easy for fans to remain focused on the new pairings, forgetting about this duo.

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The career changes made their relationship relatable, as many people can attest that that’s one of the reasons people grow apart. With their different career paths, it makes sense why their interactions are brief, but Season 7, Episode 9 indicates that these two characters can share more moments where their bond and dynamic can be seen. In an interview with TV Guide, Fillion talked about the emotional scene between Nolan and Harper and the depth of their bond. He said:

“These are two people who are close. These are two people who, if you remember, started off incredibly antagonistically, but Nyla Harper has come a long, long way — as has John Nolan, just as far as his knowledge base in the job. But they have really built a friendship, a relationship of integrity, over the years, and again, John does not want to be the one to cause Nyla pain.”

‘The Rookie’ Needs More Scenes Between Harper and Nolan

The last scene with Nolan and Harper confirms that The Rookie needs more of these two together on screen. The fan response to this episode and the emotional scene is all the showrunners need to give Nolan and Harper a storyline that highlights their relationship. The showrunners were able to write a storyline that brings these two characters back together in this episode, so a future where they interact for more than a few seconds is possible. ABC needs to give The Rookie fans what they desire, and their answer lies in Harper and Nolan.

One Reddit user, @DisneyAddict2021, said:

When Nolan started his speech and Nyla moved her mouth to the side, I was like “Omg, this is it! She’s really letting herself be vulnerable and show her appreciation for her relationship with Nolan! We have to finally get a hug!”

Another user, @WheelJack83, said:

It was easily one of the most feel-good moments of the show so far. You can really feel the respect and love Nolan has for his mentor.

The Rookie is streaming on Hulu and airs Tuesdays on ABC.