Yahoo Lifestyle The Rookie Boss Warns of More ‘Conflict’ Ahead for Nyla and James — in ‘Unexpected Ways’
The following contains spoilers from the Jan. 14 episode of ABC’s The Rookie.
Fans of The Rookie‘s Nyla/James romance are understandably on edge in the wake of Season 7’s second episode, in which one half of the duo had to wonder aloud “if we got married too fast.”
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Setting the state for the frighteningly introspective moment was James (Arjay Smith) giving his LEO wife a heads up that “a few” of his community activist friends would be coming over that night, to discuss new action items in the wake of the LAPD corruption scandal from last season.
When Nyla (Mekia Cox) rolled in that night, after a long day at work, she was met by far more than “a few” strangers — more like 20. And one made a beeline for Nyla, to demand her insight on the state of the LAPD, versus the “party line.” James hurried in to soothe tensions, but that did not save him from being accused of arranging an “ambush” for Nyla.
Later, after each spouse admitted to being “pretty mad” with each other, it was Nyla who raised the question of their swift courtship/marriage. After all, the thing that she loves — police work — is in direct conflict with what her husband loves, community activism.
The two were able to reach a warm detente at the close of Tuesday’s episode, but that does not mark an end to the drama on tap for the marrieds.
Rather, far from it.
“That [ambush scene/fallout] becomes something that we lean into,” The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley tells TVLine.
“That tension has always been baked into their relationship — he’s a community activist, and the community he serves has had some really problematic relationships with police officers. And he is married to a police officer,” Hawley notes. Harper, meanwhile, “knows the LAPD is not perfect, at all, but how does she go to work everyday and come home and not feel judged?
“So yeah, we’re going to lean into and really push on that conflict,” Hawley previewed, “in some unexpected ways.”
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