The Rookie has offered its fair share of twists and turns this season as regards its most beloved characters. Recent events have seen Chenford set on the pathway to reconciliation, which is exciting for Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter). But while one couple might see their wishes come true, another will have theirs dashed on the rocks. Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) and her husband, John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), have enjoyed a beautiful romance, and part of their journey has centered around expanding their family. With Bailey deciding against IVF in Season 6, adoption became the next likely option. However, those hopes might never be fully realized.
In The Rookie Season 7, Episode 13, “Three Billboards,” the couple set their adoption plans in motion, as they decided to meet a social worker and turn in an application. It is a process that ends in denial, as the social worker admits that the couple may never be able to adopt due to the amount of danger in their lives, despite applauding their characters. While the show is known for revisiting previously abandoned story threads, showrunner Alexi Hawley reveals to Screen Rant that the plan was to highlight to reality of other real-life couples. “I think it has. I think that’s a road, sadly, with a lot of low points for them. But I think that’s also a reality for lots of people. The part, [especially], where they couldn’t have a kid biologically was very recognizable,” Hawley said.
It’s A Dangerous Road to Go Down For Bailey and Nolan in ‘The Rookie’
Hawley goes on to confirm that Bailey and Nolan have made peace with the fact that they’ve only got one another, given the extreme dangers in their lives. “I do think that, at the end of the day, just the sheer volume of near-death experiences that they both have on the daily… obviously, first responders can adopt, so we’re not saying that, but [it’s] the reality of their unique situation,” the showrunner said. “But I think they’ve come through it and, for now at least, have made their peace with [the fact] that it’s just the two of them.”
With John, a police officer, and Bailey, a firefighter, the couple have a ton of danger in their professional lives. But as Season 7 has showcased, the pair also attract a level of danger in their personal lives as the return of Jason Wyler (Steve Kazee), Bailey’s abusive ex-husband, showed. Quizzed on if the the couple were both “danger magnets,” showrunner Hawley replied, “They really are, which is why the show works. If they were less danger magnets, the show wouldn’t be as fun.”
Tune in to ABC on Tuesdays to watch new episodes of The Rookie. You can also catch up with past episodes on Hulu in the US.
