When it comes to The Rookie, viewers have learned to expect the unexpected. Nothing goes smoothly for Nolan and his co-workers, and they end up in situations that require them to think outside of the box. Because the characters are in danger every time they clock into work, police procedurals have especially high stakes.
The nature of the series makes it more difficult for The Rookie to catch fans off guard, but it has managed to create interesting storylines that lead to shocking reveals. There are numerous plot twists that have left the audience stunned and unable to predict what's next.
When Jackson Catches Stanton On Camera
Jackson's storyline with Stanton was just as powerful as it was infuriating. Stanton took advantage of the power given to him by the state and targeted people based solely on the color of their skin. His racism made him a danger to everyone, including his trainee.
Jackson getting brutally beaten was a difficult scene to watch, but little did viewers know, it was all a part of his plan. When Tim and Lucy arrived and Stanton feigned concern, Jackson turned on his T.O.'s body cam, revealing that he was caught standing idly by on tape.
When Armstrong Frames Nolan
Armstrong being the mole was shocking, but viewers could feel somewhat at ease knowing that Nolan and Harper were one step ahead of him. They spent The Rookie season 2 finale collecting evidence to expose him as a dirty cop, while Armstrong was completely oblivious to their suspicions.
It's not until the final moments of the episode that Nolan realizes Armstrong has been the one pulling the strings the entire time. While Nolan was trying to build a case against him, Armstrong was planting evidence in his house and sending the cops to his location. Because Nolan is the most intelligent character in The Rookie, outsmarting him is a challenge. However, Armstrong made framing Nolan look all too easy.
When Sterling Lies To Jackson About His Identity
Sterling wasn't a huge part of the show outside of Jackson, so there was never a reason to suspect that anything was off with him. As a famous actor in the public eye, it's surprising that he was even able to pull off a fake identity, in the first place.
His real name turned out to be Skipper Young, and the Australian accent that came out of his mouth threw both Jackson and viewers for a loop. After discovering that his boyfriend was a former student of Corey Harris, he, unsurprisingly, ended their relationship.
When La Fiera's Son Is Murdered
Despite being such a lethal villain, La Fiera wasn't heartless. Her son was proof that she was capable of comion and still held onto some semblance of humanity. Any normal parent would be deeply affected by the loss of their child, but La Fiera didn't lead a normal life.
Her son's death didn't only force her into an existence devoid of love, but it left her hungry for vengeance. Without him in the picture, she has nothing to lose. La Fiera has always been dangerous, but losing her son made her even more so.
When Captain Andersen Dies Protecting Nolan
Captain Zoe Andersen was the first major death in The Rookie, as well as a rude awakening to fans. Up until season 1, episode 16, "Greenlight," all the main characters had managed to come out of life or death situations physically unscathed. In that regard, Andersen's murder changed everything.
The show has a way of luring its audience into a false sense of security, and for a minute, it seemed as though Zoe was going to pull through. Viewers were under the impression that she had drowned at the bottom of the pool, but Andersen popped up and saved Nolan's life at the last minute. Yet, she was shot and killed before there was even time to process what happened.
When It Was Revealed That Tim's Wife Is A Drug Addict
There are many great couples in The Rookie, but, sadly, Tim and his wife are not among them. Tim acted cold and unfeeling when he was first assigned to Lucy as her training officer, and he took the law more seriously than anyone.
When he ran into a drug addict on patrol, Tim became a completely different person. He was soft-spoken, desperate, and close to tears. The revelation that the woman was actually Tim's wife, who he had been searching for during the past year, provided a lot of insight into his character.
Caleb Is Rosalind's Protégée
Rosalind Dyer might have been the focus of season 2, episode 10, "The Dark Side," but there was no reason to believe that she was going to drive one of The Rookie's most intense plotlines. Yet, Lucy's abduction was set into motion before viewers even laid eyes on its orchestrator.
Lucy hadn't dated anyone since Nolan, and it was only a matter of time before the show gave her a new love interest. Therefore, Caleb was an inevitability. It wasn't until Lucy stumbled out of the bar that it became clear something was off. Not only was Caleb Rosalind's protégé, but Lucy was his next victim.
When La Fiera Kidnaps Angela
The characters have been up against serial killers, dirty cops, and gang leaders, yet La Fiera reigns the most powerful antagonist in The Rookie. Exposing and arresting the drug lord was a pillar of Angela's plot during the third season, so viewers expected it to come to a head by the time the finale rolled around.
However, Lucy was the one in imminent danger, as she spent the entire episode on an undercover operation aimed at taking La Fiera down. She was behind bars when everyone gathered to celebrate Angela and Wesley's wedding, but the season didn't end on a happy note. La Fiera escaped the prison transport vehicle and abducted Angela on her wedding day, leaving viewers stunned.
Harper Has A Daughter
Viewers knew very little about Harper when she ed the cast of The Rookie in season 2, and there were several aspects about her that didn't make much sense. Harper had just pulled herself out of undercover work, which raised a lot of eyebrows. She was incredible at her job and had devoted an immense amount of time to building her fake persona.
No one understood why she would want to return to patrol and move in the opposite direction. Yet, everything about Harper fell into place the moment it was revealed that she had a daughter. While there were once a million questions surrounding her character, Harper's child answered all of them.
When Armstrong Is Betrayed
If there's one thing about The Rookie that is somewhat predictable, it's Nolan's ability to get himself out of any situation. However, this was the first time Nolan was genuinely at a loss. Even if viewers believed that Nolan was going to escape from the junkyard with his life, there was no way of knowing how.
Reuben turning on Armstrong was the last thing anyone saw coming, and Nolan would have been shot on sight if it had gone any other way. In the end, Armstrong was killed by his allies, rather than his enemies.