The Rookie Season 7, Episode 2 Recap: 7 Biggest Moments & Reveals

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The Rookie season 7, episode 2, "The Watcher."

Following The Rookie season 7 premiere, the characters jump back into action in episode 2, "The Watcher." The hour reveals more intriguing background information concerning the two new rookies (Miles Penn and Seth Ridley), features the team working on a new case, and includes Celina Juarez coming closer to the end of her training. What the second episode of The Rookie season 7 doesn't do is circle back to Jason Wyler and Oscar Hutchinson's prison escape. Or Monica Stevens' evading capture for that matter. However, it returns the ABC police procedural series to its episodic format.

The Rookie season 7 (which contains 18 episodes) airs on Tuesdays at 10 pm ET on ABC.

When The Rookie season 7, episode 2 begins, Celina and John Nolan are chasing after a suspect. However, the job is rather easy, thanks to a vigilante. Meanwhile, Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen run into trouble with their respective rookies, and Nyla Harper experiences some trouble at home when she gets into a fight with her husband, James. All in all, "The Watcher" feels like a normal episode of The Rookie. It features stories that begin and end within the hour while also tying in overarching plotlines (like Celina's rookie year coming to a close and Wesley's jealousy teased in the premiere).

7 The Rookie Team Takes On A Vigilante Case With A Copycat

Civilians Take Crime Into Their Own Hands In The Rookie Season 7, Episode 2

The Rookie's case of the week in season 7, episode 2 revolves around a vigilante and their copycat. As mentioned above, the hour starts with the vigilante, nicknamed "The Watcher," trying to help Nolan and Celina with their fleeing suspect. "The Watcher" catches and restrains the criminal, leaving him to be caught by the two police officers. The vigilante continues their mission over the course of the hour. However, their M.O. changes when they shoot a gang member in broad daylight without being provoked to do so.

Nyla, Angela, Tim, and Miles set up a trap for "The Watcher," and they catch him.

The vigilante typically targets suspects who are actively committing crimes, but the gunshot victim is simply walking when they are hit. Nyla, Angela, Tim, and Miles set up a trap for "The Watcher," and they catch him. His name is Thomas Forsythe, a former cop, who admits he just wanted to make his neighborhood safer. However, Thomas denies shooting anyone, and his alibi proves that he didn't. So, the Rookie characters have a copycat on their hands.

After another shooting, Nyla and Angela later discover that both victims are persons of interest in the murder of a teenage girl, Sienna Sanchez. Nolan and Celina are tasked with talking to Sienna's mother, Imelda, and they find gang members surrounding her house. They realize Imelda is "The Watcher" copycat and wants vengeance for her daughter's death. When Imelda pulls a gun on one of the men, Celina talks her down, and they all get taken into police custody at the end of The Rookie season 7, episode 2.

6 Celina Passes Plain Clothes Day

Nolan Has Trouble Letting Celina Take The Reins

After two seasons of being Nolan's rookie, Celina finally reaches Plain Clothes Day in The Rookie season 7, episode 2. As some may remember, Nolan, Lucy, and Jackson West participated in the evaluation (and passed) in season 1. For Plain Clothes Day, a training officer dresses in their normal attire (as the name suggests) and only watches their rookie on the job. They are meant to take a backseat, let the less experienced officer take the wheel, and evaluate them, but Nolan has trouble doing that for Celina in season 7.

The younger Rookie season 7 character has no trouble working alone in "The Watcher." However, during a call about a shooting, Nolan takes charge, although Celina would've had it under control if he just let her try. Given their close relationship, Celina has no qualms about calling Nolan out for his behavior. Nolan later confides in Nyla and Angela about his mistake, and they help him overcome it despite his reservations about whether he is succeeding at being a TO. At the end of Plain Clothes Day, Grey informs Celina that she has passed, making her one step closer to graduation.

5 Grey Tells Nolan He Has Room For Improvement Regarding His TO Skills

Nolan Is Only In His First Year Of Being A Training Officer

After Grey tells Celina she passed Plain Clothes Day, the lieutenant turns to Nolan and evaluates his performance as a first-year training officer throughout the past couple of seasons of The Rookie. Grey explains that he hasn't done a terrible job, but there is room for improvement, which Nolan agrees with. Nolan has made his fair share of mistakes since he first started training Celina. However, given the rookie's stellar performance on Plain Clothes Day, it's clear that Nolan did something right.

Jenna Dewan's Bailey will reunite with her husband, John, towards the end of The Rookie season 7, episode 3.

Nolan's self-doubt regarding his TO skills in The Rookie season 7 likely won't end after episode 2, though. The protagonist has been insecure over his performance as a training officer since his first day on the job. If and/or when Celina is promoted, Nolan's self-doubt might remain, paving a course for his season 7 arc.

4 Nyla & James Get Into An Argument Over Policing

James Hosts A Large Gathering For Community Activists

Nyla, who has been relatively absent in the past few episodes of ABC's TV show The Rookie (including season 6), finally gets a meaningful storyline in season 7, episode 2. She and James, her husband, fight over their conflicting views. At the beginning of the hour, James informs Nyla that he's hosting some activists from the community to discuss the recent corruption scandal within the Los Angeles Police Department. However, Nyla wants nothing to do with it, knowing she will be bombarded with questions at this dinner. James convinces her to attend, though.

As The Rookie season 7 continues, it stands to reason that Nyla and James won't find a simple solution to their problem, meaning more quarrels might be in the married couple's future.

Unfortunately, when Nyla returns home from her shift, James has more guests than expected, and Nyla feels ambushed. So, she climbs out of her bedroom window and retreats to Angela and Wesley's house. The next day, Nyla and James have a real talk. Nyla admits she thinks they might have gotten married too fast. In response, James points out the great life they have built together, but Nyla pushes back about how much her work means to her and how their jobs conflict.

Nyla and James agree they must find a way to work through this. However, they will save that discussion for another day. As The Rookie season 7 continues, it stands to reason that Nyla and James won't find a simple solution to their problem, meaning more quarrels might be in the married couple's future.

3 Wesley Continues Being Jealous About Angela's Relationship With Graham

Wesley Learned About Graham's Crush On Angela In The Rookie Season 7 Premiere

During The Rookie season 7, episode 1, Wesley was tasked with sifting through Dr. Blair London's therapy sessions, and he came across one that upset him, to say the least. Detective Graham, who works with Angela, admitted to having a crush on her. Graham's infatuation with Wesley's wife doesn't sit well with him, and his annoyance and jealousy continue in episode 2.

Although a brief exchange, Wesley witnesses Graham flirt with Angela (which could be seen as friendly teasing to her). The lawyer tenses up, which James picks up on. Wesley pushes his frustration down, though, and goes to work. Wesley's jealousy won't go away anytime soon, and it's only a matter of time before Angela notices and a talk between them concerning the matter happens in The Rookie season 7.

2 Miles Finds A New Place To Live

The New Rookie Moves Into Smitty's Trailer Park

As revealed at the end of The Rookie season 7 premiere, Miles is living in his car. Tim finds out in episode 2, though, and confronts his rookie. Miles explains how finding a nice and affordable apartment in Los Angeles is difficult and that he doesn't exactly have the means to pay for one (he has mysterious debts to pay). But, Tim doesn't care and instructs Miles to find a place to live before the end of the day. Or else, Tim will wash him out for illegally residing in his car.

The Rookie Season 7 Cast	Character
Nathan Fillion	John Nolan
Richard T. Jones	Wade Grey
Alyssa Diaz	Angela Lopez
Eric Winter	Tim Bradford
Melissa O'Neil	Lucy Chen
Mekia Cox	Nyla Harper
Shawn Ashmore	Wesley Evers
Jenna Dewan	Bailey Nune
Lisseth Chavez	Celina Juarez
Deric Augustine	Miles Penn
Patrick Kelehe	Seth Ridley

When Tim confronts the new Rookie season 7 character, viewers learn that, in college, Miles was on track to become a great running back in the NFL. Unfortunately, he injured his knee while jumping off the roof at a frat party, prohibiting him from playing football. Miles' story is seemingly much more complex than it was after the premiere, and his character will only grow as the season continues.

1 Seth Opens Up To Lucy About His Cancer Diagnosis

Seth's Cancer Might Be Back

At the beginning of The Rookie season 7, episode 2, Seth is one second late to roll call, resulting in his superiors chastising him. Lucy's rookie makes more mistakes later in the day. For example, Seth doesn't get the license plates from a fleeing vehicle after a shooting, and Lucy and Grey reprimand him once more. Grey asks Lucy if Seth has what it takes, and she can't give him a clear answer. Just as it appears Seth will wash out of the program, he has a heart-to-heart with his training officer that turns things around.

Seth has a weight off his chest, and Lucy now knows how to help him to the best of her ability in The Rookie season 7.

Seth admits to Lucy that he was late the day before because of a doctor's appointment. Four years ago, Seth was diagnosed with cancer and his odds of surviving were slim. Nevertheless, the young man went into remission. Sadly, Seth's cancer might have returned, though. His routine blood work came back as "irregular," and he is still waiting for results to tell him what's happening. However, in the meantime, Seth has a weight off his chest, and Lucy now knows how to help him to the best of her ability in The Rookie season 7.