The Rookie Season 7, Episode 9’s Ending Is A Reminder Of Its Best Pairing That ABC Has Forgotten

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The Rookie season 7, episode 9, “The Kiss.”

Throughout The Rookie season 7, episode 9, the focus is on James’ survival and clearing Harper as a suspect, but by the hour’s end, it becomes obvious what (or, should I say, who) the story is really about, and it all circles back to one epic pairing. In the wake of the midseason finale’s cliffhanger, the ABC crime drama returns with James’ life hanging in the balance. Unfortunately, once word about Kylie kissing James gets out, the Rookie season 7 characters’ new objective is to prove Harper had nothing to do with the shooting.

Following the midseason premiere, The Rookie season 7 has eight episodes remaining before the finale, which will likely air in May. ABC releases new episodes on Tuesdays at 9 pm ET.

Thankfully, James survives, his attacker is apprehended, and Harper’s name is cleared of all wrongdoing at the end of The Rookie season 7, episode 9. Harper also learns that her husband didn’t actually cheat on her. As many will recall, Kylie kissed James in episode 8 and he immediately rejected her. While the reunion between Harper and James when he wakes up is heartwarming and highly emotional, one of Harper’s other scenes in “The Kiss” is much more memorable and reminds viewers of one of the show’s best relationships.

The Rookie Season 7, Episode 9 Ends With A Fantastic Conversation Between Nolan & Harper

It’s One Of The Best Scenes In The Series

Nolan is the witness who saw Kylie kiss James in The Rookie season 7, episode 8, and feels awful about it in episode 9. He hates that he’s part of why Harper is hurting so much. However, the only thing Nolan can do is track down the gang member (Connor) who shot James because he couldn’t help Harper directly. Once Connor is caught and James makes it out of surgery, though, Nolan finally talks with Harper, and their meeting results in one of the best, most emotional scenes in The Rookie.

All along, the relationship that The Rookie season 7, episode 9 is highlighting isn’t Harper and James’ — it’s Nolan and Harper’s. When Nolan gets a moment alone with Harper, he explains just how he has been feeling and how much she means to him. Nolan, with tears in his eyes, says:

“I really did not like having to lie to you. You are — and this is going to sound goofy when I say it out loud, but you are in no small way my hero. And that’s not just because you’ve helped me out of some really tough spots, but because there’s just no one better as a cop, as a mom, and as a human. You just… I know you had a hell of a day, and I just hate that I was in any way a part of that.”

Harper, who also starts crying, expresses her gratitude towards Nolan and surprisingly hugs him, albeit hesitantly. She isn’t exactly a touchy-feely person, let alone a hugger. So, Harper hugging Nolan is a big deal and demonstrates how strong their bond truly is in The Rookie season 7.

Why ABC Has Sidelined Nolan & Harper’s Relationship In The Rookie

The Show Has Focused On Other Pairings

The heartfelt moment between Nolan and Harper in season 7, episode 9 is a reminder of how their onscreen dynamic used to be. Honestly, I had forgotten how close the two Rookie characters are. It wasn’t until “The Kiss” that I remembered their old dynamic. Sadly, Nolan and Harper haven’t shared many significant, memorable scenes as of late, making it easier for viewers to push the pairing to the side and focus on others. That doesn’t erase their history, though. During an interview with TV Guide, Nathan Fillion discussed Nolan and Harper’s relationship and emotional scene in episode 9. He said:

“These are two people who are close. These are two people who, if you remember, started off incredibly antagonistically, but Nyla Harper has come a long, long way — as has John Nolan, just as far as his knowledge base in the job. But they have really built a friendship, a relationship of integrity, over the years, and again, John does not want to be the one to cause Nyla pain.”

Nolan and Harper, as Nolan’s training officer, formed a tight bond during the earlier seasons. However, once Nolan graduated from being a rookie and Harper resumed her detective work, there weren’t many reasons to group them together. Changes in the character structure and story ultimately kept them apart. Thankfully, The Rookie season 7, episode 9 gave the writers a reason to “reunite” Nolan and Harper and prove how their relationship is one of the most complex, developed, and best in the series.

How The Rookie Can Revive Nolan & Harper’s Partnership In The Rookie

Nolan & Harper Need More Scenes In Season 7

The end of The Rookie season 7, episode 9 gives the show the perfect excuse to revive Nolan and Harper’s dynamic. They just shared one of the best moments in the ABC series, reminding viewers of their close bond. So, going forward, The Rookie could easily incorporate more scenes and team-ups featuring Nolan and Harper, continuing to build and strengthen their partnership, which would only make season 7 better.

Source: TV Guide