The One Missing Character Who Must Return For Jesse Stone 10 (Not Viola Davis' Molly)

If Jesse Stone 10 happens, then Kathy Baker's Rose MUST return. While each Jesse Stone movie is designed to be somewhat standalone, they are best viewed in order. They all feature recurring characters and arcs, so it's just a richer experience to view them as a series. Now Blue Blues has ended talk of Jesse Stone 10 has become more concrete, with star Tom Selleck stating he'd love to return as the troubled Paradise police chief.

That said, it's been a decade since the last TV movie, Lost in Paradise, which was also notable for the absence of several familiar faces. Stephen McHattie's Captain Healy was missing for the first time - as was Kathy Baker's Rose. Following Viola Davis' Molly exiting Jesse Stone with the fourth movie Sea Change, Baker's Rose stepped in to take her place. Rose soon became one of Jesse's closest friends, and is one of the few people he'll open up to; she always tells him the truth when he needs to hear it too.

Kathy Baker's Rose Must Return For The Next Jesse Stone

Rose was last seen in Benefit of the Doubt

Rose left the police force after Jesse was fired from his chief role in Innocents Lost, and seemingly moved on with her life. Baker's last appearance was in Benefit of the Doubt, where she and Kohl Sudduth's Luther (AKA "Suitcase") refused to return when Jesse was reinstated. While Luther later changed his mind, Rose was entirely absent from Lost in Paradise. The character was missed too, so if Jesse Stone 10 comes together, Rose really needs to make an appearance.

Given the decade-long gap between sequels, she and Jesse may be both retired from Paradise PD at this point. Even so, there's no reason Baker's Rose couldn't be part of the next chapter, either as a cameo or as a featured player. Naturally, the latter would be ideal, as it would give Selleck and Baker plenty of scenes together.

While Davis' Molly was also a great character, the series didn't get a chance to flesh her out in the same way. Rose, on the other hand, went through various personal dramas - including getting divorced - during her time on Jesse Stone, which was another way she and Jesse bonded. It would be disappointing for the next film to come together and leave a return from Baker.

Why Kathy Baker Didn't Come Back For Jesse Stone: Lost In Paradise

Kathy Baker wasn't short of work in 2015

While the Jesse Stone series built a staple of reliable supporting characters, the three year gap between Benefit of the Doubt and Lost in Paradise saw a few actors unable to return. Kathy Baker had schedule conflicts with Lost in Paradise, and in 2015 alone appeared in movies like Blake Lively's The Age of Adaline or TV series Big Time in Hollywood, FL.

In a way, Rose's absence only added to Jesse's sense of isolation in the most recent entry, but after such a long break, Rose should definitely appear in the next Jesse Stone. It should go without saying that Luther needs to appear, with Kohl Sudduth and Tom Selleck being the only actors to have appeared in every instalment to date.

Jesse Stone

Created by

Robert B. Parker

First Film

Jesse Stone: Stone Cold

Latest Film

Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise

Cast

Tom Selleck, Kohl Sudduth, Kathy Baker, Stephen McHattie, William Devane

Movie(s)

Jesse Stone: Stone Cold, Jesse Stone: Night Passage, Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise, Jesse Stone: Sea Change, Jesse Stone: Thin Ice, Jesse Stone: No Remorse, Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost, Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt, Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise

Character(s)

Jesse Stone, Luther "Suitcase" Simpson, Captain Healy, Dr. Dix, Rose Gammon

The Jesse Stone franchise is a series of television films based on the novels by Robert B. Parker. The series follows Jesse Stone, a former LAPD detective who becomes the police chief of the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. The films are noted for their character-driven plots, focusing on Stone's battles with alcoholism, his troubled past, and the crime investigations he leads.

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