Following a six-month hiatus, The Rookie season 7 returns to ABC on Tuesday, January 7 with one major change. Tru Valentino announced that he would not be returning as Officer Aaron Thorsen for the upcoming batch of episodes, despite playing a major role in the series since season 4. The news came as a disappointment to fans, given how easily he fit into Mid-Wilshire’s pre-established group dynamic.
When speaking with ScreenRant, showrunner Alexi Hawley was asked if Aaron may return to the procedural at some point down the line. He responds optimistically, affirming that the exit was not at all due to the actor’s lack of ability. While Hawley would love to have Valentino back in some capacity, he felt The Rookie season 7 needed to pivot due to its current creative trajectory. Check out his full quote below:
ScreenRant: We know Aaron is not in the upcoming episodes. Is there any chance that he could return to the show down the line?
Alexi Hawley: 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.
Fans likely haven’t seen the last of him.
Although it may not be any time soon, as long as Aaron still exists within The Rookie universe, he can easily be integrated back into the storyline. The show has already taken the opportunity to incorporate characters from The Rookie: Feds following the spinoff’s cancelation. Viewers will have to wait until season 7 premieres to discover Aaron’s whereabouts, but as long as the character remains alive and Valentino is open to returning, it’s likely that he’ll cross paths with the Mid-Wilshire team in the future.
The Rookie season 7, episode 1 is titled “The Shot.”
Valentino’s Absence Will Be Felt In The Rookie Season 7
Aaron has formed significant bonds with the main cast of characters.
Because Aaron was first introduced in the aftermath of Jackson’s death, it was difficult to accept another main character into the fold. However, his compassionate personality and comedic nature became exactly what The Rookie needed following the major tragedy. Aaron formed genuine connections with everyone in the department, even paralleling Lucy by seeing past the hardened front Tim displays.
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No matter who he was paired with, Aaron was versatile enough to be both a confidant and a light-hearted presence depending on what the situation called for. His friendship with Celina became a focal point of both characters’ storylines, and while they faced many obstacles, their bond remained deeply meaningful. Regardless of how the show chooses to address it, Aaron’s absence will surely be felt in The Rookie season 7.
The Rookie season 7 premieres Tuesday, January 7 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who, after a significant life event, becomes the oldest rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department. As he begins his policing career, Nolan faces skepticism from his superiors, testing his resolve to succeed in this challenging new role.
- Release Date
-
October 16, 2018
- Character(s)
-
John Nolan
, Tim Bradford
, Angela Lopez
, Wade Grey
, Nyla Harper
, Wesley Evers
, Jackson West
, Bailey Nune
, Officer Quigley Smitty
, Aaron Thorsen
, Celina Juarez
, Tamara Colins
, Talia Bishop
, Capt. Zoe Andersen
, James Murray
, Officer Jan
, Chris Sanford
, Nurse Lisa
, Dr. Grace Sawyer
, Monica Stevens
, Det. Nick Armstrong - Creator(s)
-
Alexi Hawley
- Seasons
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7
- Writers
-
Alexi Hawley
- Streaming Service(s)
-
Hulu
- Directors
-
Toa Fraser
- Showrunner
-
Alexi Hawley