Thankfully, ABC Is Finally Fixing The Rookie’s Oddest Character

Published Aug 4, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things She has spearheaded the effort to make the site an authority on broadcast shows, initially starting with The Big Bang Theory franchise, NCIS, and One Chicago before taking on the specialization in general. Ana has also covered a wide-spread of topics in the past — from franchises like, the MCU and Star Wars, to classic TV favorites, such as Frasier and MASH. Ana brings clarity and enthusiasm to every story she tackles—whether reporting on new releases or offering deep dives into fan-favorite franchises. Her coverage translates complex entertainment developments into engaging, audience-focused content. The Rookie is finally fixing its most out-of-place character in season 9. ABC's fall 2026 lineup pushes the return of the Alexi Hawley-created series to 2027, but that doesn't mean that there have been a scarcity of updates about what to expect from the show. Between its cast being engaged with the fan base on social media and the team doing various press activities, the off-season has brought some valuable information about what to expect from the police procedural when it returns with fresh episodes this winter. Proof of how popular The Rookie has become was season 8's special international-set premiere, followed by a series of creative cases mixed with traditional police work. People in Mid-Wilshire also underwent some major changes, including Grey joining a different FBI task force, prompting Bradford and Chen to be promoted. Elsewhere, the rest of the ensemble was subjected to their own personal growth journey, effectively setting up an interesting The Rookie season 9. Specifically, however, it's exciting that the series is finally doing something about its strangest player. The Rookie Season 9 Promises To Address Bailey's Restlessness Disney Following their magical honeymoon in Prague, Bailey and Nolan's marriage was hit with a big challenge in The Rookie season 8. When presented with a good job opportunity, Jenna Dewan's character raised it to her husband to discuss. Despite both promising to have a united decision, the pair still ended up in a conflict, as it boiled down to Bailey wanting to move to Washington DC for a job, but Nolan didn't. At one point, Nathan Fillion's character pinpointed the issue with his wife and why Bailey hasn't found her place in The Rookie — she's perpetually restless, always changing paths, as if she's afraid to settle. While answering questions about The Rookie season 9, Hawley revealed (via TV Insider) that a big part of Bailey's character arc is coming to terms with what Noland told her during their argument in season 8. This means that the character will delve deep into the real reason why she has the need to constantly move and change. Once the reason is pinpointed, then The Rookie can start finding Bailey's true path. Read his full comment below: “You guys have been through a lot the last couple of seasons. I think for Bailey, she’s got to navigate — the words that Nolan said to her during the [eighth] season about being pathologically, the need for movement, are going to resonate. So, how do you slow down when you’re an overachiever? I think Nolan is navigating a new rookie this season at some point. So, how’s that going to go? There’s still a lot to do.” How The Rookie Can Better Use Bailey During their intense argument, Nolan cited several roles that his wife has had throughout her stint in The Rookie. Bailey was a firefighter, a solider, an emergency medical technician, and even a capoeira instructor. Most recently, she was part of a think tank in the Pentagon, which, safe to say, is already done, as season 8 ended with her back in Los Angeles. Being multi-faceted is great, as there's a wide variety of scenarios that Hawley can use her in. The drawback is that she doesn't really have any specialty, so it feels like she's just bouncing from one place to another. The best way to use Bailey is to set up her own Nolan Mid-Wilshire story. This doesn't mean that she is joining the precinct. Instead, The Rookie should do a proper hero's journey for her, as she finds her true purpose. Nolan's late start as part of the police force was the original crux of the series, and the same personal story blueprint was used on other characters, although varying in prominence and smaller details. The Rookie has long-established Bailey to be capable at pretty much everything she tries, but she needs a specialization, so the show has a clear way of utilizing her. Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series. SIGN UP NOW! The Rookie 6/10 Release Date October 16, 2018 Network ABC The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force's oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.