In an interview with ScreenRant, Cox talked about how Nyla’s mother choosing to raise her to be too trusting, pushed her in the opposite direction. She mentions how this helped her to understand Nyla better, and how she, as a mother herself, actually related to her character’s mother, Ruth more. She also mentioned how it was fun to play that side of the character, and find out more about her. Check out Cox’s comments below:
ScreenRant: Season 7, episode 17 reveals that Nyla’s mom raised her to be a bit too trusting, which pushed her in the opposite direction. What was it like learning that information and applying it to the character this late in the show?
Mekia Cox: I actually really enjoyed learning that information because for me, in reality, I’m probably more like the mother, me as Mekia Cox, but I now understand a little bit more about Harper, knowing that her mother was the way she was, and sometimes that happens. We see a thing, and we go, “That’s not exactly what I want to be. I want to do the opposite of that.”
And that’s kind of what she ended up doing. And you kind of see why she’s gotten so hardened because she’s seen ways her mother was too soft and she saw that be a negative for her. It was really nice for me to get to see that and play that and know also that she did have this loving mother, this mother who really loved her.
She wasn’t out here with parents that she hates or anything like that, but that also hardened her into who she was. And I’m sure when she got into the field that she got into, she realized being soft does not work for her, at least, and she went the opposite way.
What This Means For Nyla’s Future
The Character Reconnecting With Her Mother Might Influence How She Chooses To Raise Her Own Daughter
The storyline with Nyla and her mother revealed pertinent information about Nyla’s childhood that helps explain why she is the way she is. As Cox points out, Harper has a great relationship with her mother, but understands that the soft approach Ruth took often led to negative outcomes, so she decided to go in the opposite direction. There is no doubt this has made Harper one of the hardest and most standoffish characters in The Rookie, and she has found it difficult to let people in. However, the recent reconnection with her mother might inspire her to change this.
Of course, Harper had to choose the path that fit her personality, and being soft was not the right approach for her, but Ruth clearly did the best she could to try to raise her daughter well.
Our Take On Nyla’s Childhood Reveal
Season 8 Could Reveal More About Her Formative Years
As one of the most interesting characters in The Rookie, it’s fun that viewers get to find out a little more about Nyla’s formative years, and how her mother chose to raise her, and the impact this has had. With The Rookie season 8 getting a renewal, there will be more future opportunities to explore Harper’s backstory, as well as whether her approach to motherhood is influenced by her own upbringing. The Rookie has a great cast of characters, and Nyla is central to this, so delving into her formative years will be a fun step for the show to take.
