With great performances from cast members including Firefly star Nathan Fillion and Jenna Dewan and fast-paced cases that are investigated in every episode, The Rookie remains a beloved TV drama that is never boring. The series premiered on ABC in 2018 and follows rookie LAPD officer John Nolan (Fillion) as he starts his second act. The Rookie combines all the action of a classic procedural with a sense of humor. Every episode also follows Nolan’s personal life, including his long-term romance with Bailey Nune (Dewan).
Throughout his journey, Nolan tries to help as many people as he can and bonds with many coworkers, which includes Talia Bishop (Afton Williamson). As fans enjoy each new episode of The Rookie season 7, let’s reflect on Bishop’s character arc and why she left the ABC drama.
What Happened To Bishop On The Rookie?
Talia Bishop left The Rookie after season 1 because she gets a new job. Fans find out what happened to this character in The Rookie season 2, episode 1, “Impact”: Jessica (Sarah Shahi) and John Nolan talk about how Bishop is now working as a Special Agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). She decided to leave the LAPD and move onto the next phase of her career.
Since Bishop mentors Nolan and trains him as a new LAPD officer, she’s an important character. The working relationship between the two characters is compelling and is one reason why The Rookie is such a popular and well-written police TV drama.
Whether appearing briefly in Deadpool & Wolverine or portraying Richard Castle on Castle and John Nolan on The Rookie, Fillion is likable, and his characters are always riveting to watch. Nolan learns more about Bishop as they work together, and she shares that she was in the foster care system. She says one of her most memorable quotes in The Rookie season 1, episode 4, “The Switch” when talking to a child who is also in foster care. She says:
“I grew up in the system – four foster families by the time I was your age, each of them worse than where you are now. At first, I was angry all the time. It was unfair, you know? Every other kid got to have a happy childhood. But you got to get past that. … The sooner you stop feeling sorry for yourself and do what has to be done, the better off you’ll be.”
The best crime dramas are only compelling if their characters grow and change, and it would have been interesting to see how Bishop grew as a character if she had stayed on the show. The Rookie fans would have enjoyed watching her past season 1, but unfortunately, The Rookie season 1 finale was the last time viewers saw Bishop. Nolan and Bishop both have a strong moral compass, which makes things complicated at work. For instance, Bishop doesn’t write down one of her foster siblings because he is a convicted felon, but it’s a bad idea not to share that information.
What other TV and movie roles has Afton Williamson played?
Autumn on A Gifted Man (2011-2012)
Alison Medding on Banshee (2014-2015)
Kara Sloane on Blindspot (2015-2016)
Officer Wiggins on The Night Of (2016)
Katie Myers on Shades of Blue (2017)
Tiffany Watson in Still Here (2020)
Fillion, who will appear in Lanterns, has some great scenes with his co-stars, and that includes Afton Williamson. After Bishop leaves, Nolan works with Sgt. Grey (Richard T. Jones), and later in The Rookie season 2, Nolan is partnered with new character Detective Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox).
Why Did Afton Williamson Leave The Rookie?
Talia Bishop (Afton Williamson) on The Rookie
According to Us Weekly, Afton Williamson left The Rookie after season 1 because of alleged “bullying from executive producers” and “racial discrimination from the hair department.” Williamson also alleged harassment from Demetrius Grosse, who guest starred as Detective Kevin Wolfe in the first season. The actress alleged she was assaulted at the wrap party for the series.
Williamson shared in a post on Instagram, “I was asked to return this season, and promised that ‘everything was handled.’ The investigation hadn’t even begun and Season 2 had already started filming. I turned it down and I walked.” Entertainment One, the production studio that makes The Rookie, investigated. Their statement reads, “those identified in Ms. Williamson’s allegations did not conduct themselves in an unlawful manner or demonstrate behavior inappropriate for the workplace.
