In The Rookie Season 6, Episode 4, titled “Training Day,” viewers were introduced to a new serial killer case—the Pentagram Killer—which initially seemed straightforward but quickly became more complicated. Despite the episode’s title, which might imply a focus on training or police procedural aspects, the main storyline revolves around a murder tied to a long-unsolved series of killings, adding another layer of intrigue and tension to the show’s already dynamic mix of characters and cases.
While The Rookie is primarily about the lives of beat cops, it frequently delves into darker, more intense investigations, including those involving serial killers. With a history of high-profile cases—like Rosalind Dyer and her deadly protégés—The Rookie doesn’t shy away from complex and sometimes gruesome criminal cases. The Pentagram Killer case, however, brings a different dynamic to the series, blending mystery with the aftermath of a tragic personal discovery.
The Pentagram Killer: Who Is He?
In “Training Day,” the investigation begins when Officer John Nolan (played by Nathan Fillion) and his rookie partner Officer Celina Juarez (played by Lisseth Chavez) discover the body of Cheryl Budny in a park bathroom. The body bears the signature pentagram carved into her midsection, a hallmark of the infamous Pentagram Killer. This killer was active in the 2000s, with a string of unsolved murders targeting middle-aged women. When the case is connected to the past killings, it sparks a media frenzy, and the officers begin running down leads, hoping to crack the case.
However, the investigation takes an unexpected turn when a woman named Opal Jesper contacts Nolan and Juarez. She claims that her late husband, a commercial fisherman, was the original Pentagram Killer. Opal presents compelling evidence—California driver’s licenses belonging to the killer’s previous victims—leading Nolan and Juarez to suspect that Opal’s husband may have been the murderer.
The news of Opal’s discovery breaks open a media storm. The press swarm her home, creating chaos and forcing Opal into a corner. In a desperate attempt to escape, she accidentally injures a reporter, further complicating her involvement in the case.
A Twisted Tale of Copycat Killers and Personal Tragedy
The twist in this case is revealed when Opal confesses that her husband died seven years earlier, meaning he couldn’t have been responsible for Cheryl Budny’s murder. This raises the unsettling possibility of a copycat killer, someone mimicking the original Pentagram Killer’s methods. This revelation throws everything into disarray as the police now have to determine whether a new killer is active or if Opal’s late husband was indeed the true killer, leaving a trail of victims even after his death.
Despite the media frenzy surrounding Opal’s discovery, Detectives Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) and Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) are left with no concrete suspects for the Pentagram Killer’s past murders. Their investigation takes a turn toward the people in Cheryl Budny’s life. They find that Cheryl had many enemies, especially from her workplace, a school where she had been targeted by a colleague, Conrad Battaglia. After a series of hostile exchanges, Conrad ultimately confesses to Cheryl’s murder, though he claims it was an accident. In an attempt to mislead investigators, Conrad tried to make her death look like the work of the Pentagram Killer. However, Conrad’s fate takes another twist—he is killed before he can be arrested, leaving the case unresolved.
The Significance of “Training Day” and The Pentagram Killer Case
While “Training Day” is primarily about Officer Aaron Thorsen’s (Tru Valentino) return to duty after surviving a shooting, the Pentagram Killer case becomes the central criminal focus. The title of the episode serves to highlight Thorsen’s journey as he undergoes a high-pressure, emotionally taxing day of training with Tim Bradford (Eric Winter). Bradford’s tough-love approach pushes Thorsen to prove that he’s mentally and physically ready to return to the force after his traumatic ordeal.
However, the murder investigation becomes a pivotal storyline in the episode, particularly as the officers discover that the Pentagram Killer may still be active. The juxtaposition between the personal struggles of the officers and the cold, calculated nature of the serial killings underscores the unpredictability and danger of their profession. In typical The Rookie fashion, the case is messy, complicated, and full of twists that keep both the characters and the audience on edge.
The Pentagram Killer’s Legacy
The Pentagram Killer isn’t as deeply woven into The Rookie’s overarching storyline as previous villains like Rosalind Dyer, but his introduction adds another layer of depth to the show’s portrayal of crime and justice. Unlike Dyer and her acolytes, who were methodical and driven by an almost cult-like belief in their actions, the Pentagram Killer represents a darker, more tragic type of villain—one whose motivations are tangled in the complex webs of personal grief and human error.
Opal Jesper’s involvement also highlights the deep personal costs of living with such a dark secret. Her life is shattered by the revelation about her late husband, and the police’s interest in her only deepens her isolation. The case, while resolved in a sense, ends on a somber note as the consequences of her actions—both in revealing her husband’s secret and inadvertently injuring a reporter—haunt her in the aftermath.
What’s Next for The Rookie?
While the Pentagram Killer case seems to be wrapped up by the end of “Training Day,” the consequences of Opal Jesper’s actions and the lingering mystery of the copycat killer continue to hang over the characters. The Rookie thrives on these complex investigations that blend personal drama with criminal intrigue, keeping viewers invested in both the cases and the lives of the officers involved.
With the show entering its seventh season, it’s clear that The Rookie is continuing to evolve, incorporating more serialized elements into its otherwise episodic structure. The Pentagram Killer case may not be as central to the long-term narrative as some other arcs, but it serves as a reminder that the world of The Rookie is always filled with new and unexpected challenges, both for the officers and the viewers.
