The Rookie has produced numerous great villains over the years, and once Monica Stevens finishes her business in season 8, one of them should return to replace her. ABC’s police procedural series is bringing Monica back for what is hopefully her swan song. She has been a nuisance to the characters since season 5, and it’s time for the show to move on.
At the end of The Rookie season 7, John Nolan and co. reunited with Monica when she made an immunity deal. Bridget Regan’s evil character essentially used blackmail and information to get what she wanted, but she also undoubtedly has a nefarious plan up her sleeve. Fans must wait until season 8 to learn more (and to see which villain takes Monica’s place).
Elijah Stone Was Last Seen In The Rookie Season 5
The Rookie Characters Put Elijah In Prison
Brandon Jay McLaren as Elijah Stone in The Rookie season 5, episode 17.
Given how much the writers seem to love Monica, it wouldn’t be too surprising if she stuck around for the entirety of The Rookie season 8. However, they should wrap up her story as soon as possible. Monica’s villain arc has dragged on for too long, and it’s well past time for it to end. Once it does, Elijah Stone must return.
While Elijah is another antagonist who overstayed his welcome, his character didn’t get much closure in The Rookie season 5. Elijah’s story would have been wrapped up nicely in a bow had the ABC cop TV show cut it off after the law enforcement officers arrested him. Instead, we saw Elijah meeting Oscar Hutchinson in prison.
Oscar is one of The Rookie‘s notorious villains. He has been locked behind bars since his first appearance in season 1, but Monica helped him and Jason Wyler escape during The Rookie season 6 finale. Before that, though, Oscar crossed paths with Elijah. Their shared scene teased that they would team up to get revenge, but that plan seemingly never came to be.
Oscar Hutchinson Is Still On The Run Following The Season 7 Finale
Nolan Let Oscar Get Away
Matthew Glave as Oscar Hutchinson and Nathan Fillion as John Nolan in The Rookie
Instead of teaming up with Elijah, Oscar partnered with Jason and Monica to escape prison at the end of The Rookie season 6. As far as we know, Oscar and Elijah don’t plan to seek vengeance against those who put them behind bars and kept them there. In fact, we have no idea what Elijah is up to, while Oscar’s status is much clearer.
Nolan and Nyla Harper found Oscar during the season 7 finale of The Rookie. Unfortunately for them, he got away. Oscar first kidnapped Nolan and forced him to do his bidding, aka digging for buried diamonds. Harper and a kid with a drone saved the day, though, allowing Nolan to get away from Oscar, who then jumped aboard a getaway helicopter.
Now, Oscar remains at large, and Monica is back. As such, The Rookie characters have a lot on their hands in the upcoming episodes of the ABC police procedural TV series. They certainly don’t need another antagonist to deal with, but the best way to close out Oscar and Monica’s villain arcs is to bring back Elijah in The Rookie season 8.
The Rookie Season 8 Should Feature Oscar Teaming Up With Elijah
The 2 Villains Have Unfinished Business
Matthew Glave as Oscar Hutchinson in The Rookie season 5, episode 17.
Season 8 of The Rookie can kill two birds with one stone (pun unintended) by reuniting Oscar with Elijah and giving closure to both of their stories. Oscar can break Elijah out of prison, and they can devise a revenge plan. This all shouldn’t happen until Monica is out of the way, though, and Oscar and Elijah can replace her as the show’s main antagonists.
Once Monica’s villain arc is over in The Rookie season 8, Nolan and the other characters can deal with their Oscar (and hopefully Elijah) problem. It would just be too much if the two stories coincided with one another. Monica, Oscar, and Elijah are all major antagonists, and trying to keep up with all of them would only end in confusion and frustration.
As a result, Elijah would be the perfect replacement for Monica in the future episodes. Then, the writers can bring Oscar and Elijah back together and make good on their previous promise that the two would team up against the officers of Mid-Wilshire Station. They have unfinished business, and season 8 would be the perfect time for them to take action.
Of course, this should all end with the two Rookie villains back behind bars or possibly dead — whatever it takes to end their respective stories. Only then can the popular police procedural move on to new antagonists (which is sorely needed). The series needs a fresh start concerning villains, but this can only be achieved by wrapping up every existing criminal’s arc.
Ultimately, when The Rookie season 8 premieres, the show must bring closure to three villains — Monica, Oscar, and Elijah. We already know Monica will appear at the beginning of the season. So, The Rookie can conclude her story by midseason before bringing Oscar and Elijah back into the fold to wrap up their villain arcs.
The Rookiereturns with season 8, which will consist of 18 episodes, in early 2026.
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Tori Garrett, Chi-Yoon Chung, Michael Goi, Sylvain White, Lisa Demaine, Lanre Olabisi, Bill Johnson, David McWhirter, Liz Friedlander, Daniel Willis, Toa Fraser, Anne Renton, Jon Huertas, Cherie Nowlan, TK Shom, Rob Seidenglanz, Valerie Weiss, Barbara Brown, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, SJ Main Muñoz, Nelson McCormick, Marcus Stokes, Adam Davidson, Anna Mastro
Writers
Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert, Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff
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