‘The Rookie’ Season 2, Episode 17 ‘Control’ Review: Interactions

After The Rookie deals with a suspect-turned-victim, it gives more information about a key character’s back story. Initially, the LAPD starts with a round of foot patrol. As the day progresses, however, the officers find heavy-hitting cases. Unexpected reunions, along with a dangerous drug case, run the episode in a frenzy.

On Sunday’s episode of The Rookie, Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) reconsiders his relationship with his Confidential Informant, Bianca Windle (Eve Harlow). Meanwhile, the run-in reunites Detective Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) with an old colleague now working in the DEA, Agent Michael Banks (Bailey Chase). Elsewhere, Officer Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) faces tension with Detective Rita Calderon (Karen David). Later, Officer Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) realizes that she takes up Officer Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) and Sterling Freeman’s (Daniel Lissing) quality time.

Detective Work

Angela and Jackson’s first case of the day was comparably more exciting than foot patrol. However, Detective Calderon spoils the fun. I wouldn’t call solving a murder fun, but you get what I mean. Rita was still butthurt from the defeat she faced when defending a case against Angela’s fiance, Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore). Still, Angela knew better than to let Rita stop her from doing the work she felt necessary for the case. At one point, Angela clashes with Rita at the station itself.

Toward the end of the episode, Rita approaches Angela to apologize and to commend her for the extra work that helped solve the day’s homicide. Angela’s work helped find four more similar cases and track down a suspect who later confesses to the crimes. Seeing Angela’s talent, Rita asks her about making a bid for Detective. Angela had an unsuccessful first attempt, as she tells Rita, so Rita promises to make that situation change for her. Looks like Angela is finally having the break she deserves.

Third Wheeling

When Jackson clocks out, he confronts Lucy about taking u much of his quality time with Sterling. Lucy realizes this immediately and signs up for an extra shift instead of heading home with Jackson. She continues to try to get Officer Tim Bradford (Lucy Chen) to listen to her, much like she did after mildly flirting with a firefighter Emmett Lang (Jeff Piere) whom she meets on the field. Initially citing the outcome of his encouragement, Tim insists that giving her advice could get her into danger. Eventually, Tim budges. After their patrol car crashes during their car chase, Lucy meets Emmett again, who maintains that he will still be interested in her until she is ready.

Ripper’s Arrest

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Ripper (Devan Chandler Long) is one of the season’s recurring criminals. However, this will be the last time that Ripper meets Crystal, one of Nyla’s undercover identities. Initially, the LAPD launches an operation to arrest Ripper and confiscate $10 million worth of fentanyl, thanks to a lead from John’s CI, Bianca. However, the DEA was working on this case as well and they had better intel, so the LAPD and the DEA have a co-op operation instead.

Their operation would have gone smooth were it not for Bianca’s meddling. Bianca breaks Nyla and John’s cover, prompting John, Nyla, and Michael to storm the house. Once they empty the house, they realize that Ripper made the run for it along with Bianca. Lucy and Tim tried to chase him but one of Ripper’s thugs run into their patrol car. Luckily, John, Nyla, and Michael track Ripper’s burner phone, and eventually, the drugs. Sadly, John had to arrest Bianca, too, but we’ll get into that later.

Harper’s Past

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After last week’s episode involving Nyla’s daughter and ex-husband, we get a snippet of her life undercover before being on patrol. DEA Agent Banks was Nyla’s partner. They worked on presumably quite several cases together, given how comfortable they are with each other and how quickly they devised the plan. During the stake-out, Michael and Nyla started flirting; that is until John returns from a coffee run. Once the case is closed, though, Mekia declines Michael’s job offer at the DEA but doesn’t necessarily decline an offer for dinner.

Misinterpreted

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Bianca is John’s first Confidential Informant. Being the emphatic man he is, John does a little extra for Bianca to get her back up her feet, like helping find a Narcotics Anonymous group and helping her get a job. Bianca takes this as a sign that John has feelings or her, as observed by Nyla. Taken aback, John faces the daunting task of telling Bianca that he is not interested in her, that he is merely a handler. It must’ve been hard for John to do such a thing, given how much of a softie he is. These emotions are the same emotions that almost cost the team the operation. John ends up watching her taken away by correctional officers. Unexpectedly, though, Sergeant Wade Grey (Richard T. Jones) offers John a beer as consolation, which is nice.

‘The Rookie’ Season 2, Episode 17 ‘Control’ Final Verdict

The Rookie doesn’t go all out on this episode. While it does have a shootout sequence, most of the episode relied on the drama elements of each sub-plot. Angela receiving an offer for Detective presents possible changes to the show. Promotion does not necessarily she’d leave or anything, but she isn’t like Nyla, she could be receiving new assignments. John’s plot with Bianca greatly runs on the premise of his softie personality, one of the show’s trademarks.

The Rookie continues Sunday, April 26th with ‘Under the Gun’ at 10/9c on ABC.