
After getting to play Seth Ridley on The Rookie season 7, Patrick Keleher believes Seth should put his lying abilities to good use: in undercover work. Seth’s time on The Rookie seems to be over after he got shot in the leg while on duty and had to get the limb amputated during season 7, episode 16. Not only is Seth’s career as a cop possibly over, but his fiancée Tamara also gives back the ring he gave her and breaks up with him after Seth finally reveals how often he lied to her.
ScreenRant: What are your hopes for Seth if he returns in season 8?
Patrick Keleher: That he comes back as an undercover police officer, and they get to use his lying as he works his way up to being undercover. I think you’ve got to go through a couple of detective things, so I’m not sure how that works out, but that would be the ideal scenario. He gets to do undercover work.
What Does Seth’s Possible Return Mean For The Rookie Season 8
Seth Could Go Undercover
Keleher’s desire for Seth to return as an undercover cop is an intriguing one. As the audience knows, Seth is a great liar and manipulator who is skilled at convincing people of what he wants them to believe. It’s a trait that made him one of the most hated villains on the show, but he could use that skill in a redemption arc in The Rookie season 8. While it may take a lot of work, Seth could get back into everybody’s good graces by convincing Sergeant Grey (Richard T. Jones) that he would be perfect for the job of going undercover.
Nonetheless, it will take a long time for everyone to trust Seth again if they decide to bring him back next season, and that goes for the audience and characters alike. Seth hasn’t done himself any favors, and the only person who seems willing to give him a chance is Nolan. Keleher may want Seth to redeem himself as an undercover cop, but it would be a question of whether Seth would continue to atone for his past or fall back into his old, duplicitous ways, causing further rifts between him and his colleagues.
Our Take On Seth Returning To The Rookie Season 8
Seth’s Return Will Be Met With Pushback
Seth does deserve another chance to redeem himself. Even though he isn’t a trustworthy character at this point, his storyline remains captivating from start to finish. Becoming an undercover cop could be the right move to win everyone’s favor again. However, Seth’s former training officer, Lucy Chen, might be the last one to approve of the return of her former trainee. He’s made too many mistakes in her eyes, and her opinion means a lot to Grey, which he would take into account.
Seth’s possible return in The Rookie will undoubtedly be met with pushback in the beginning, but there is a chance that if The Rookie season 8 brings Seth back as an undercover cop, he could redeem himself. Either way, he added an interesting and unique dynamic to the team. It would be worth exploring how he handles it – and everyone handles him – now that his lies have been exposed.