The Rookie: Most Heartbreaking Scenes On The Show

From John Nolan’s personal struggles and Lucy’s tragic moments to waiting to see if Wesley dies in The Rookie, the popular police procedure has had some extremely sad moments during its run. These moments often hit fans from out of nowhere because The Rookie is known for including a fair amount of humor to combat the serious nature of the police job. As a result, when tragedy arrives, it often cuts deep. The Rookie even gave a touching onscreen tribute after the tragic Annie Wersching death on January 29th, 2023, which many consider to be the saddest moment in the series thus far.

Throughout the first six seasons, John Nolan faces danger, betrayal, and death as he faces the complications of working as a new officer at his later age. With The Rookie season 6 finishing its run in 2024, there are likely more heartbreaking moments to come, but the saddest The Rookie moments so far have already left an impact on audiences. From important character deaths to big character arcs, the actors have delivered some genuinely emotional performances, and it is one of the many reasons fans love to tune in every week.

10

Bradford Sees His Wife Again

Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”

When the pilot began, Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) seemed like a tough, unlikable character. He seemed cold and lacked emotion when paired up with new rookie Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil). He took his job more seriously than anyone else introduced at that start, making him stand out. However, one shocking plot twist in The Rookie’s pilot episode explains his demeanor and attitude. Tim Bradford’s arc is tragic from the very start.

The show changes everything about Tim when he first encounters his wife, Isabel, a former detective who has fallen into drug addiction and barely recognizes her husband. Bradford tries to reason with her and even gives her his money, all in front of his new rookie, Chen. This moment provides great insight into why Tim is as hard on the outside as he is, and it’s a fantastic introduction to a season-long arc. Bradford’s face when he sees Isabel showcases the true heartbreak.

9

Nolan Walks With Capt. Andersen

Season 1, Episode 16: “Green Light”

Captain Zoe Andersen’s death remains one of The Rookie’s most devastating deaths. Everyone in the department loved and respected Anderson, and she was one of the people fighting to make real change in a department with its fair share of corruption. She ruled with kindness and had an impact on everyone’s lives. A death fitting the character she was, she goes out bravely and defiantly in the episode “Green Light.”

Captain Zoe Andersen dies, taking out the gang that captured her and John Nolan, saving his life in the process. As he was in the situation with her and owes her his life, it hurts to see Nolan walk with her body while everyone raises their hand to honor the deceased captain. Nolan whispers a soft apology to Andersen before they take her away, the heartbreak on his face more than evident.

8

Lucy’s Family Doesn’t Show Up

Season 3, Episode 10: “Man Of Honor”

Lucy Chen is one of the most beloved characters in The Rookie. Dealing with many obstacles throughout the show, she becomes stronger and shows that having a heart is necessary even in policing. That’s why it’s so devastating when Lucy graduates from being a rookie, only to see her family refusing to support her in her career and milestone moments. The Rookie previously showed that her parents do not support her career choice, as they are both psychologists, and she joined the department in rebellion against them.

In “Man of Honor,” her mother, Vanessa, shows up at the graduation dinner Lucy is making to persuade her to quit. It’s sad to see everything Lucy has had to go through, with the only support coming from the family she has found at work and no support from the one she has at home.

7

Nolan Shares A Moment With His Ex-Wife

Season 3, Episode 12: “Brave Heart”

John Nolan’s character endures a lot in The Rookie, but one of his most challenging moments is when his son, Henry (Zayne Emory), ends up in the hospital with a heart condition. The series had introduced Henry before (as a college student with a fiance), and John loved and wanted the best for his son, so this was a rough moment for him. However, this episode also introduces the character of his ex-wife, Sarah (Emily Deschanel), for the first time.

It was bittersweet to see them still exist as a unit for the sake of their son despite finding happiness apart. It’s a delicate topic and The Rookie handled it well in the episode “Brave Heart.” Luckily, Nolan’s son had successful surgery and later recovered, but there is still nothing quite as heartbreaking as the fear of losing a child.

6

Jackson Gets Brutally Beaten

Season 3, Episode 5: “Lockdown”

In one of the best plot twists of the show, Jackson West (Titus Makin) finally manages to expose a racist cop but ultimately suffers the consequences. Doug Stanton was one of the major antagonists on The Rookie, and sadly for Jackson, he was his training officer. Even though Jackson quickly realized the kind of a man and a cop Stanton was, he couldn’t do much about it.

That changed after a heartbreaking moment when Jackson gets badly beaten by four suspects in “Lockdown,” and Stanton watches instead of providing backup to his fellow officer. By activating his chest camera, Jackson proves Stanton’s guilt and cowardice. Even as the medics wheel him to the ambulance, he takes time to appreciate that justice sometimes works in mysterious ways. Jackson died the following season, but at this moment, one of his saddest moments was followed by a brief moment of pride.

5

Tim & Lucy Talk Through A Door

Season 1, Episode 20: “Free Fall”

Tim Bradford is no stranger to a near-death experience, as someone shot him early in the series. However, his brush with a deadly virus in the season 1 finale is one of the scariest moments. He shares what he thinks are his final moments with his rookie, Chen, through the door, admitting to her that he wants to go out on his own terms.

It is heartbreaking to see a strong man like Tim admit that in such a vulnerable way, but it ultimately makes sense that Tim would want to choose how his life ends. Tim holding on to agency in a situation that feels out of control isn’t surprising, but his admission, combined with his rookie’s assurances, makes this scene hard to watch. It indicates how far they’ve come and why they’re considered two of the best partners on The Rookie.

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4

Angela Finds An Unconscious Wesley

Season 2, Episode 10: “The Dark Side”

“Fallout” sees a false missile alert and sends several people into an underground bunker, including Angela Lopez’s boyfriend at the time, attorney Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore). During this incident, a prisoner stabs Wesley and tries to escape, leading to Wesley needing emergency surgery and dealing with PTSD after the event. This situation leads to a scary moment down the line.

Following “Fallout,” the show took its time to showcase Wesley struggling after his injury. Wesley has been drinking more, spending all his time at the bar, and taking pills to numb the pain. Angela comes home to find Wesley passed out on the couch from too much alcohol mixed with some pills. She freaks out, slapping him awake, and the fear she feels is palpable. Luckily, Wesley agrees to seek professional help after Lucy Chen’s kidnapping situation (which also happens in this episode) puts things in perspective.

3

Detective Harper Opens Up To Chen

Season 2, Episode 12: “Now And Then”

When Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) joined The Rookie cast as Talia Bishop’s replacement, many fans had mixed feelings about her. But she became a good fit for the show and the department in general. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Harper shows just how much she cares when she opens up to Lucy about her assault after she notices her struggling in the episode “Now and Then.” Harper asks explicitly to ride with Chen when she realizes her kidnapping has taken its hold on the young officer.

Harper uses the painful personal experience to wake Chen up and make her see that she needs to deal with her trauma before it’s too late. It’s a chilling scene in which her tough exterior makes more sense than before. The fact that she shared the story with Lucy to help her shows the strength of her character.

2

Lucy Goes Back To Her Empty Apartment

Season 4, Episode 1: “Life And Death”

Though the Season 4 premiere was packed with intense and heartbreaking moments, one that stood out was Lucy going back to her empty apartment after Jackson’s death. The look on her face when she entered what used to be Jackson’s room – his bed unmade, his pajamas still tossed on the bed – made it clear that she was still processing. The Rookie has had several deaths, but this small moment showing what remains after a friend dies is heartbreaking.

The action-packed events after his death made sure none of them got the time necessary to grieve properly, and it showed. This touching moment doesn’t last long before Lucy gets interrupted by a phone call from Tim, but her facial expression says more than words ever could. Still mourning the loss of one friend, she is forced to take action to prevent another from facing the same fate.

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1

Bradford Finds Lucy’s Burial Site

Season 2, Episode 11: “Day of Death”

One of the most heartbreaking moments in The Rookie is when the team finds Lucy after her abduction. From the brilliant editing of the scene (the lack of intense music made it even better) to the delivered acting performances, this scene in “Day of Death” helps to make it one of the best episodes of The Rookie. Fans were with Chen as she seemed to grow closer and closer to death by the moment.

Officer Tim Bradford digging through the desert dirt with his bare hands to find his rookie is heartbreaking. However, Melissa O’Neil’s stunning performance as Lucy clings to Tim for her dear life, sobbing, truly makes this one of the most (if not the most) heartbreaking scenes on the entire show. Having beloved characters finding hope in each other helps make The Rookie one of the best police procedurals on television.

The Rookie

The Rookie is a police procedural television series that stars Nathan Fillion as police officer John Nolan. At 45 years old, John becomes the oldest rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department. The show premiered on ABC in 2018.

Release Date

October 16, 2018

Seasons

6

Showrunner

Alexi Hawley