‘The Rookie’ Season 1, Episode 7 ‘The Ride Along’ Recap: VIP

Following the incident with the rogue cop, The Rookie grants Honorary Police Officer Kaydence Patton’s wishes, then takes on another role involving a V.I.P. Meanwhile, a measure of a cop’s integrity gets in conflict when a loved one faces jail charges. Elsewhere, a lead on a higher-up crime boss goes south, making the chance at a promotion fly away.

In this week’s episode of The Rookie, Officers John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Talia Bishop (Afton Williamson) take Movie Director Rupert Payne (Jonno Roberts) on a ride along. Meanwhile, Officers Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) and Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) try to fish out a high-risk criminal. Elsewhere, Officer Tim Bradford’s (Eric Winter) integrity gets tested as his wife, Isabel (Mircea Monroe) faces heavy drug charges.

Bust

Richard Cartwright/ABC

During their shift, Officers Lopez and West take on a risky case. A low-level criminal usually led to a criminal chargeable with heavier lawsuits, so the duo works their way to try to arrest one of the city’s crime bosses. However, their high-risk case gave them no rewards as their lead goes south, losing Lopez’s bid at the detective position. Still, West stood by her and promises to be there for her, just as she was for him.

Conflict of Interest

Richard Cartwright/ABC

Tim’s composure shatters when Sergeant Wade Grey (Richard T. Jones) about Isabel’s arrest. Now in custody, Isabel pleads Tim to help make her sentence lighter by taking the drugs stashed in her apartment away. That night, Tim enters Isabel’s apartment, but Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil)  catches him. The next day, Lucy finds out that Tim placed the drugs back in Isabel’s apartment. It may have been a small piece of comfort knowing that he did the right thing, but luckily, his colleagues were there to help him with the pain.

Field Experience

Richard Cartwright/ABC

Officer Nolan was happy to bring Rupert Payne, one of his idols along during their shift, but Officer Bishop was less than thrilled since it meant taking the lowest risk calls as much as possible. After dealing with a long-dead individual, they receive a call about a domestic disturbance. Tensions arise as the suspect, Tyson Parks (Catfish Jean), a person with a mental disorder, wielded a knife. Luckily, Bishop calms Parks down but as soon as Parks’ family notices Rupert taking a video, they react offensively, but the cops arrive in time to prevent any more problems.

After the ride along ends, Rupert invites John and Talia to a party at his house as a token of thanks. However, Talia declines, but John agrees to go. Once there, John gets overwhelmed by the people, until he notices a man spraying something in a woman’s drink. John arrests the man, and the crowd applauds him. The next day, Rupert’s good intentions end badly for him when Park’s brother and his friends rob him. However, Nolan, Bishop, and the police force respond quickly, but one mistakenly shoots at Rupert. Still, the hectic day ends quite well as John tells his son, Henry Nolan (Zayne Emory) about his day.

‘The Rookie’ Season 1, Episode 7 ‘The Ride Along’ Final Verdict

Rick Rowell/ABC

Taking a V.I.P to the field is quite risky, as projected by the show. Also, you would never know what you would find during your shift until you respond to even the least dangerous of calls. Still, no matter what the circumstance is, being a cop requires you to put duty first among all things, and this episode both tragically and artistically exemplified this fact.

The Rookie continues on Tuesday, December 11th, with ‘Time of Death’ at 10/9c on ABC.