The Rookie is mainly focused on the LAPD cracking cases and keeping the city safe — but fans also tune in for the show’s cop couples.
At the top of that list is officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and his wife, firefighter Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan).
Warning: Spoilers below from The Rookie season 7, episode 5.
During the Tuesday, February 4, episode of The Rookie, viewers witnessed Nolan’s greatest fear come true when Bailey’s ex-husband, Jason (Steve Kazee), came after her following his escape from prison last season.
Although Bailey was kidnapped and involved in a car crash at the hands of Jason, a hitman managed to take out Jason before Nolan and his fellow officers could secure the scene. When Bailey was discharged from the hospital — she suffered superficial wounds — Nolan discovered a burner phone in her jacket.
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He realized that Bailey had been texting the hitman, which could become a problem for the police officer .
Mekia Cox, who plays officer Nyla Harper, exclusively told Us Weekly that Nolan discovering Bailey’s secret will become a big story line moving forward.
“Their relationship is so sweet and beautiful and fun to watch, but this is a break of trust,” Cox, 43, said of the TV couple, noting that they “haven’t experienced” this deception before.
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She teased it’s “something that is going to be hard to navigate, but something that they’re gonna have to figure out.” Cox confirmed that Jason’s memory through this hitman connection will continue to haunt them.
When it comes to Harper’s own marriage, Cox told Us that things are “a little tenuous” between the detective and her husband, James Murray (Arjay Smith).
“There’s been a lot that’s been tugging at the both of them,” Cox said, noting that James doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Harper about how the LAPD has handled bad cops in the past.
The actress noted, “What he does is almost in direct conflict with what she does. It didn’t have to be [and] it actually really shouldn’t be, but unfortunately with the way it is, it kinda is.”
Cox added that Harper and James have been “butting heads” over work, explaining that as season 7 moves forward, their relationship is “tested a little bit.” She shared, “There are events that happen that really show the depth of both of their characters.”
Fans have already seen Harper’s strength this season after she was attacked by a serial killer during episode 4. Although Harper identified her attacker as Liam Glasser (Seth Gabel), she wasn’t able to prove it and put him away just yet.
That case will bleed into her romance, according to Cox, who told Us that the “trauma” will “seep into other relationships.”
Cox added, “Her hyper focus on these sort of things does tend to alienate others around her sometimes.”
While married couples Harper and James and Bailey and Nolan have issues this season they aren’t the only ones. Exes Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) will also face a few hurdles.
“That whole relationship is a tease,” Cox said with a laugh. “There’s the constant like ebb and flow. The constant like, ‘Will they, won’t they?’ You’re gonna see a lot more of that this season.”
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She confessed that both the viewers and the actors on the show will constantly ask, “Will they? I want them to. Are they gonna?’”
During season 6, Tim broke up with Lucy because he was uncomfortable that he got her into a messy situation at work on his behalf. Throughout this season, the exes have seemingly become friends again as they battled over who has the best rookie.
In the season 7 trailer, Lucy and Tim find themselves in close quarters and Tim is shirtless. The clip hints that they might not be able to stay platonic for long.
The Rookie airs on ABC Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
