The Rookie Season 7 Finale Review: A Disappointing Ending to a Lackluster Season

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Here we are again — another disappointing finale of The Rookie that feels much more like a regular episode than one that closes out a season. ABC’s police procedural series seemed to be regaining its footing towards the middle of season 7. However, the last few episodes of The Rookie season 7 have simply been dull and dissatisfying. Of course, there have been some highlights, and “The Good, the Bad, and the Oscar” isn’t without some good moments.

In season 7, episode 18, we learn that Nolan has been keeping up with developments concerning Oscar Hutchinson since his escape in the Rookie season 6 finale. This comes as a surprise given that Nolan hasn’t mentioned Oscar since the beginning of season 7. Nevertheless, Nolan tracks Oscar’s next movements and gets permission from Lieutenant Grey to serve as a detective for a day alongside Harper to find the criminal. They do, but Oscar ultimately gets away. Then, at the end of the season 7 finale, Monica returns after having made a deal for her immunity.

The Rookie Season 7 Finale Doesn’t Feel Like A Finale

Season 7’s Last Episode Fails To Raise The Stakes

Despite Monica’s sudden return at the end of “The Good, the Bad, and the Oscar,” the episode never gives the impression that it’s a finale. The Rookie season 7, episode 8 actually felt much more like a finale. It was able to pull in more than one storyline (the wildfire, hunting down Liam Glasser, and the Sixth Street Devils) that all seemed to connect in a way that made sense and was highly entertaining. Episode 8 even ended with a better cliffhanger than episode 18. Essentially, The Rookie season 7 finale is missing high stakes.

Instead of wholly focusing on Oscar and Monica’s returns, The Rookie season 7, episode 18 wastes time on irrelevant, episodic storylines (aka “cases of the week”). It’s unclear why the hour includes a case about a woman catfishing her husband and the Eastern Front targeting Miles. Both cases are solved by the finale’s end, meaning they could’ve been in any other normal episode. Perhaps the Eastern Front will return. However, the finale doesn’t spend enough time on the storyline to leave an impression, and will likely be forgotten about it by the time season 8 rolls around.

As for the Oscar and Monica of it all, The Rookie fails to do right by the villains. Nolan pulling out his Oscar research is completely out of the blue. Oscar has been missing for a long time, and we haven’t heard anything about him since the season 7 premiere. The antagonist’s return just feels convenient rather than natural. Now, Oscar has escaped again, delaying giving his arc the closure it so desperately needs so that the show can move on to bigger and better things. He probably won’t even pop up again until The Rookie season 8 finale.

Ultimately, it’s hard to care about Monica’s return when we don’t have an inkling of what it means for the characters or season 8.

Meanwhile, Monica’s episode 18 appearance is anticlimactic. Aside from her brief stint in The Rookie season 7, episode 11, the show has been avoiding Monica. Consequently, it’s difficult to be excited about her coming back, especially because she has very little screen time in the finale. If The Rookie had dropped a few teases about Monica’s whereabouts and plans throughout season 7, perhaps I’d be singing a different tune. However, that’s not the case. Ultimately, it’s hard to care about Monica’s return when we don’t have an inkling of what it means for the characters or season 8.

“The Good, The Bad, & The Oscar” Doesn’t Make Good On Its Promises Regarding Tim & Lucy’s Reunion

Tim & Lucy’s “Talk” Is One-Sided

The Rookie season 7 finale’s big draw was that it would include Tim and Lucy’s reunion. Instead of having the characters sit down and have a mature and honest conversation about their relationship, though, the episode ends without any concrete resolution for Chenford. Yes, Tim starts the aforementioned, all-important talk near the hour’s end. However, Lucy falls asleep, not hearing anything he said, making it unclear whether they have officially rekindled their romance.

Tim and Lucy will likely be back together in The Rookie season 8. But I can’t help but feel frustrated by how season 7 has handled their story. They haven’t earned a reunion as the series has failed to properly develop their newfound dynamic and prove how Tim has changed, making him the man he thinks Lucy deserves. The Rookie needs to show, not tell. Now, it’s unclear where Tim and Lucy stand and how their relationship will be different this time around (if they are back together).

How The Rookie Season 8 Can Learn From Season 7’s Mistakes

The Show Must Do A Better Job Of Developing Its Villains

If The Rookie season 8 wants to right the ship, it needs to make a few changes. For starters, the ABC series must fully commit to developing Monica’s arc and making her the Big Bad. Now that the season 7 finale has teased her return, I expect Monica to have a big presence in season 8.

The show also has to raise the stakes. These last few episodes were quite boring and forgettable, and that’s because nothing felt like it would have a big impact on The Rookie and its characters. As for Chenford, the writers should just leave their breakup storyline in the past and start from scratch with a better, more thoughtful arc in The Rookie season 8.

The Rookie returns with season 8 during the 2025–2026 network TV season.

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