Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The Rookie Season 7, Episode 1, titled “The Shot.”
Following the conclusion of The Rookie Season 6, fans were surprised to learn that Tru Valentino, who portrayed Aaron Thorsen, would not return for the show’s seventh season. This unexpected announcement left many fans speculating about the circumstances of his character’s departure. The Season 6 finale left no hints indicating that Aaron would exit the series, rendering his swift removal from the narrative all the more jarring and disappointing.
The Rookie Season 7 episodes air on ABC every Tuesday at 10 PM ET, marking a fresh chapter in the series despite the absence of Valentino’s character.
Aaron Thorsen first entered the series in Season 4, quickly earning a spot among the principal characters following the departure of Jackson West. Valentino’s portrayal of Aaron brought a fresh dynamic to the ensemble, filling a void created by the character’s death. Throughout his tenure, Aaron evolved meaningfully, developing various relationships and story arcs, only for this chapter to be abruptly closed as he exited prior to Season 7.
Lackluster Explanation for Aaron’s Departure
Aaron’s Abrupt Transfer to North Hollywood
In a rather underwhelming manner, The Rookie Season 7 offered minimal explanation for Aaron’s absence. His departure was casually mentioned through a brief exchange between Nolan and Celina while in their squad car. Nolan inquired about Aaron’s transition to the North Hollywood station, to which Celina remarked that he was thriving and content to work among colleagues unaware of his past with Dr. Blair London. Following this fleeting reference, the narrative shifted focus, leaving viewers craving more context.
|
Actor |
Character |
|---|---|
|
Nathan Fillion |
John Nolan |
|
Richard T. Jones |
Wade Grey |
|
Alyssa Diaz |
Angela Lopez |
|
Eric Winter |
Tim Bradford |
|
Melissa O’Neil |
Lucy Chen |
|
Mayor Cox |
Nyla Harper |
|
Shawn Ashmore |
Wesley Evers |
|
Jenna Dewan |
Bailey Nune |
|
Lisseth Chavez |
Celina Juarez |
|
Deric Augustine |
Miles Penn |
|
Patrick Kelehe |
Seth Ridley |
For attentive viewers, the rationale behind Aaron’s exit was presented so swiftly that it could easily be overlooked. In essence, the character’s abrupt transfer from Mid-Wilshire to North Hollywood was linked to his past experiences with Blair. Such a hasty explanation feels insufficient, especially given the significance of Aaron’s role in The Rookie. Tru Valentino undoubtedly deserves a more meaningful conclusion to his character’s storyline. However, there remains hope that the series might rectify this oversight in future episodes.
The Possibility of Tru Valentino’s Return
Showrunner Expresses Openness to Aaron’s Return
Recently, both Tru Valentino and The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley indicated that the door remains open for Aaron’s potential return. Valentino hinted on his Instagram account that Aaron’s narrative isn’t necessarily over. According to TV Insider, he expressed, “You never know who may pop back up in the Mid-Wilshire Precinct.”
Hawley mirrored this sentiment during an interview with Screen Rant, affirming the desire to bring Tru back into the fold. He noted:
“Of course. Tru [Valentino] is a great actor, and he was a huge part of our show for several seasons, and so we’d love to have him back in some capacity. It just ultimately felt like, creatively, for where the show was going, that we needed to pivot a bit. But he’s still very much alive in our universe.”
As fans hope for the return of Aaron Thorsen, only time will reveal if the series will indeed offer a more fitting closure to his character arc. Stay tuned for updates!
Sources: Instagram, TV Insider
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