By Published Apr 21, 2026, 8:03 AM EDT
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Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Rookie season 8, episode 16, "Out of Time." season 8 has been ambitious, but it's at the expense of what makes it great, and ABC finally admits to that with just one line. Despite debuting late in the , the Alexi Hawley-created series immediately made an impression with its massive opener set in Prague. The episode was a rarity on network TV and was a sign of ABC's confidence in the project. The overseas-set outing was followed by a series of episodes that deviated from the typical procedural weekly fare, which was appreciated.
However, this doesn't mean that hasn't been plagued with issues. For starters, viewers have been increasingly frustrated with the prolonged stints of several villains. While it's always customary to have an overarching storyline for procedurals to intertwine with their weekly cases, there are calls for the ABC to do something new. There are also criticisms about side characters taking precious screentime from series regulars. That said, The Rookie season 8's biggest issue is a direct assault on what made it great in the first place.
Miles' Comment About Harper Highlights How Underdeveloped & Isolated He Is
After his absence, Miles Penn officially comes back in The Rookie season 8, episode 16, just in time for Mid-Wilshire to deal with an attempt at Liam Glasser's life. The attack also coincides with his custody battle with his wife, adding a layer of complication to the predicament. John Nolan and Penn are tasked to be the serial killer's designated security throughout the hour, which put them in proximity with the criminal. While one would assume that Nathan Fillion's character would have more interesting interactions with Liam, it's Miles' conversation with him that is more significant.
While clearly having fun with the situation, Liam asks Miles what Nyla Harper thinks about the LAPD having to protect him after everything that has transpired between them. The Rookie season 8's true rookie simply answers: "I wouldn't know." From the outside, this might seem like Miles is just not engaging with the criminal, but considering everything that has been happening in the show, especially with him, it gets a deeper meaning. His answer highlights just how isolated he is from the rest of the ensemble, which is due to being severely underdeveloped.
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While still a fan-favorite, The Rookie may not notice that it's slowly killing itself and the worst episode of season 8 makes that incredibly clear.
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Despite having a titular character, The Rookie endeared itself to the public by being an ensemble, which means that its characters and their dynamics are the backbone of the series. Not properly integrating Miles into the team is an issue, which is arguably the biggest indication of how separated and scattered the current year of the procedural is. There have been barely any substantial pairings throughout the year because the series has been focused on doing different things. While this isn't wrong, it shouldn't be at the expense of its core.
Why Miles Is The Key To The Rookie's Future
Nathan Fillion will always be the face of The Rookie, but that doesn't mean that ABC can diversify its storytelling to develop other characters. With the majority of its series regulars now multi-season veterans, it's time that the network starts developing a new generation of characters that can continue the show's legacy in the event that cast exits happen. Network procedurals tend to run long, and to be able to do that, rotations on their ensembles are done routinely. If viewers are not invested in Miles, The Rookie is not doing its best to future-proof its future.
Thankfully, with , ABC has time to correct this mistake. It will be great, however, if it doesn't wait until the next cycle to start shifting its storytelling approach, so that it can prevent it from getting worse.
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