The Rookie – The Watcher – Evaluate: Like An Imposter

“The Watcher” – THE ROOKIE, Pictured: Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper and Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez. Picture: Disney/Mike Taing © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

Recap:

The episode begins with Nolan and Celina pursuing a suspect on a rooftop, solely to find the suspect tied up in a room. A mysterious man wearing black salutes them from under, revealing he’s the one who tied the suspect. In the meantime, James searches for his keys at dwelling, getting ready for a gathering with the captain. Nyla helps him discover them of their daughter’s play kitchen. She mentions that she’ll be on patrol tonight, and James insists she speaks on the dinner he’s internet hosting with group activists, hoping to reassure them concerning the division’s efforts to eradicate corrupt officers. Reluctantly, Nyla agrees.

Miles wakes up in his automobile, prepared for work with a bag of his belongings. Tim meets him within the car parking zone, teasing him about trying like he is heading for an extended deployment. Miles quips {that a} heavy backpack is nice for cardio, a tip from his highschool soccer coach. Later, it’s revealed to be a plain garments day, and Celina is each nervous and excited. Lucy reassures her, sharing her personal struggles with adjusting to plain garments and advising Celina to give attention to dealing with issues herself. Tim, nevertheless, warns Nolan that if Celina fails, it displays on him as her T.O. He suggests Nolan ought to undertake a harder method, not like his ordinary type.

On the station, there’s pressure as James and Wesley meet with the captain, whereas Angela and Nyla cross paths with Detective Graham, who will get beneath Wesley’s pores and skin together with his banter. Roll name begins, with Tim declaring Seth’s tardiness. He’s not impressed (however extremely amused). Tim briefs the crew on a vigilante referred to as the “Masked Avenger” who’s been taking issues into his personal palms. He orders foot patrol to claim the police’s presence locally, emphasizing that they can not let the vigilante overshadow the police pressure.

Celina and Nolan reply to a house invasion name, and regardless of her preliminary anxiousness, Celina makes the fitting name in securing the sufferer. Nevertheless, Nolan steps in to deal with the state of affairs, undermining Celina’s authority. She confronts him afterward, declaring how his actions unintentionally strengthened biases in opposition to her as a Latina officer. Tim and Miles, on foot patrol, face off with a lady who flirts with Miles (and he flirts again), resulting in a conflict over professionalism. Seth and Lucy, additionally on patrol, deal with a group grievance concerning the vigilante, with Seth taking the lead. Lucy praises him for his efforts, however there’s nonetheless room for enchancment.

Later, the vigilante is apprehended, revealing himself to be a retired officer. He insists he wasn’t answerable for the capturing however claims to have been attempting to make the neighborhood safer. Nevertheless, his alibi checks out, and it’s revealed there’s a copycat on the unfastened. Celina, Lucy, and the crew cope with a tense state of affairs involving a household in search of vengeance over a teenage lady’s dying. A shootout ensues, with Celina displaying spectacular abilities as she talks down the mom, who seems to be the copycat. The mom is arrested, however not earlier than almost taking one other life.

On the finish of the shift, Miles confides in Celina and Seth about his dwelling state of affairs, revealing that he’s been dwelling in his automobile and is going through an ultimatum from Tim to discover a correct place to remain or face termination. Celina provides an answer and makes a name to assist him out. Nyla, in the meantime, returns dwelling to a home filled with group activists. She’s annoyed with James for turning their dwelling into an impromptu assembly spot with out consulting her. They’ve an emotional dialog concerning the pressures of their jobs and their marriage.

The episode wraps with Tim, Nolan, and Lucy having drinks collectively at a meals truck, reflecting on their rookies and the challenges of being T.O.s. Tim receives a FaceTime name from Miles, who’s quickly moved in with Smitty within the RV park. Tim provides him a cross for now; he’s purchased himself one other shift.

Ideas:

I simply must say: The primary two episodes of this season have been spectacular. Going again to the roots of the present actually has been mentioning all of the nostalgia in one of the simplest ways attainable. It’s displaying that the present can develop and evolve, however maintain to the components that made us fall in love with it. Nolan being extra within the mixture of the solid has additionally been an enormous assist in making the story really feel cohesive.

This episode particularly was a gut-punch — and I imply that as a praise. The present’s all the time been nice at balancing humor and enjoyable with the extra emotional moments, and this complete episode was an ideal instance of that. The story of the outdated man capturing his granddaughter was a tear-jerker. The visitor actor was phenomenal and had me feeling all the emotions.

And, say what you’ll about Chenford’s breakup, however the wager has been fantastic, and Tim has been displaying up for Lucy within the small ways in which he promised. Enlightening recommendation? I’m not stunned in any respect.

Character of the Week: Celina Juarez

Celina was a straightforward selection for Character of the Week, as a result of it was her Plain Garments Day — and he or she crushed it! When she’s confronted with the tense state of affairs, she stays composed, makes the fitting name to have the sufferer lock himself within the toilet, and is poised after they enter the home. It’s a serious second of development for her. Celina didn’t simply react to the state of affairs; she took cost in a approach that made it clear she’s prepared for the challenges of being on the pressure. However then, Nolan steps in, takes over the state of affairs, and it was a intestine punch as a result of, regardless of every little thing Celina did proper, her authority was undermined.

But, that did not cease her. She was fast to name Nolan out (about time!) in a peaceful, skilled dialogue. It is a failure on Nolan’s half as a TO, and it was refreshing to see.

Then, her speech on the finish of the episode. Simply good. Emotional and gut-wrenching and displaying that Celina actually did should make it by means of her rookie 12 months, regardless of her rocky instances.

Ship of the Week: Jayla

James and Nyla had a little bit of a bumpy experience this episode, however the nuance of their relationship has all the time been attention-grabbing. We have not gotten a lot of them currently, so I am actually joyful that we’re getting some scenes on this season. And, on high of that, it is a complicated storyline that has the potential to tug at heartstrings. The episode did a incredible job of displaying how the emotional weight of being in regulation enforcement can seep into private relationships, and the way, at instances, it takes extra than simply love and good intentions to make issues work. They’re two folks with the identical morals however completely different views, and, ultimately, really love one another to fulfill midway and attempt to discover a path by means of.

Ultimately, what made this storyline so sturdy was that it felt so true to life — there’s no simple repair for the problems James and Nyla face, however their willingness to acknowledge them and maintain pushing ahead is what made me join with them extra. It’s a reminder that relationships, particularly these beneath pressure, require fixed work, understanding, and a little bit of grace.

Subsequent Time:

We cannot have an Superior Preview subsequent week’s episode, however you could find the identify, synopsis, and promo under!

“Out of Pocket”

Forward of Bailey’s return dwelling, John appears for clues to find Jason Wyler. Then, Tim and Lucy swap rookies; a pleasant face resurfaces on the station, and Wesley feels unsettled over Angela.

What have been your ideas on “The Watcher”? How are you feeling about this season? Remark under all of your ideas about The Rookie!

You’ll want to catch The Rookie reside on ABC at 10PM on Tuesdays—or make amends for Hulu the following day!