The Rookie has always balanced its light procedural charm with heartfelt character growth, but Season 7, Episode 12 proved that even the show’s signature optimism can sometimes work against it. In this episode, John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) takes on a brand-new rookie — only for that storyline to be wrapped up and forgotten by the time the credits roll. It’s a classic Rookie setup with a surprisingly hollow conclusion, one that leaves viewers questioning why the show even introduced the character in the first place.
A New Rookie with Promise
At the start of the episode, Nolan is paired with Officer Kyle Miller (played by guest star Jordan Calloway), a confident but inexperienced transfer who’s eager to prove himself on the streets of Los Angeles. From his first scene, Miller brings a mix of charm and arrogance — the kind of rookie energy that both challenges and complements Nolan’s calm mentorship style.
The setup feels familiar in the best way: a veteran cop taking a new recruit under his wing, trying to pass on lessons about integrity, instinct, and restraint. It’s the foundation of The Rookie as a series — the constant cycle of learning and growth that defines both Nolan and the LAPD’s Mid-Wilshire Division.
But where previous rookies like Lucy Chen, Jackson West, and Celina Juarez were given room to grow, Miller’s time on-screen feels like a short-lived experiment.
A Promising Dynamic That Ends Abruptly
Throughout the episode, Nolan and Miller clash over approach and attitude. Miller’s overconfidence leads to mistakes — a near-botched arrest, a suspect confrontation that spirals out of control — but it also highlights Nolan’s evolution as a mentor. Viewers get glimpses of Nolan’s compassion and patience, the qualities that have made him one of the department’s most grounded officers.
For a moment, it seems like the show is setting up a longer-term arc: Nolan stepping into a true leadership role, guiding a new generation just as Harper once guided him. However, the final act undoes all that potential.
After a heated incident involving excessive force and a reckless decision during a high-stakes chase, Miller admits he’s not cut out for fieldwork. By the episode’s end, he decides to transfer out — essentially writing himself out of The Rookie as quickly as he was written in.
Why the Episode Feels Emotionally Empty
This abrupt conclusion leaves the storyline feeling underdeveloped. The show invests a full episode into building Nolan’s new dynamic, only to abandon it without payoff. Fans expecting a slow-burn mentorship arc — something to parallel Nolan’s own rookie journey — are left hanging.
The emotional beats don’t land because there’s no time for them to breathe. Nolan gives Miller a heartfelt goodbye, but the moment feels procedural, not personal. Unlike Chen’s early struggles or West’s tragic death, Miller’s exit lacks resonance. It’s as if the writers wanted to explore the idea of Nolan as a mentor again but couldn’t commit to the long-term consequences of that setup.
The Rookie’s Ongoing Pattern
This isn’t the first time The Rookie has flirted with meaningful subplots only to move on too quickly. From the brief introduction of potential love interests to underused supporting officers, the show sometimes sacrifices continuity for pace. It’s a double-edged sword: the fast storytelling keeps episodes self-contained and accessible to casual viewers, but it also undermines the emotional depth that long-term fans crave.
In this case, Nolan’s rookie storyline had the potential to say something powerful about mentorship, growth, and generational change in policing. Instead, it played out like a filler plot — entertaining but ultimately disposable.
What It Could Have Been
Had the writers decided to keep Miller around, he could have become a mirror for Nolan’s younger self — idealistic but naive, passionate but impulsive. Watching Nolan navigate those parallels could have deepened his own arc, showing how far he’s come since his early days at the LAPD.
Moreover, Miller’s challenges could have tied into The Rookie’s larger themes of accountability and resilience. Imagine if Miller’s mistakes forced Nolan to confront his own biases as a training officer or made him question whether the system truly supports growth and learning. There was rich narrative potential here — but the episode seemed more interested in checking a box than exploring an idea.
A Missed Chance for Nolan’s Development
One of The Rookie’s greatest strengths is John Nolan’s capacity for reinvention. Every season pushes him to adapt — whether as a rookie, a field training officer, or a mentor. Episode 12 should have been a milestone in that ongoing evolution. Instead, it feels like a step sideways.
By introducing and discarding a rookie in one episode, the show unintentionally cheapens Nolan’s growth. Training someone new should be transformative, not transactional. It’s the kind of emotional journey that The Rookie has handled beautifully before — which makes its absence here all the more noticeable.
Final Thoughts
The Rookie remains one of ABC’s most consistent and likable dramas, but Season 7, Episode 12 serves as a reminder that not every storyline needs to be self-contained. The introduction of Kyle Miller could have reenergized Nolan’s narrative, giving fans a chance to see him truly step into a leadership role. Instead, the episode hits reset just as quickly as it begins.
Fourteen episodes into Season 7, Nolan deserves a storyline that builds, not just one that blinks in and out between commercials. Hopefully, as The Rookie continues toward its 2026 season, it remembers that character arcs — like rookies themselves — need time, patience, and a little faith to truly grow.
