<em>The Rookie</em> season 8 may finally see Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) get back together, but the series nearly featured an entirely different romantic relationship, hinted in its original pilot script. While The Rookie season 8 is coming soon, the show’s run has proven that there have been changes made on the fly to the original plans creator Alexi Hawley had for the characters.
With Tim and Lucy’s relationship something that was clearly leaned into once the show got off its feet, the series has been able to work its way through casting changes, storyline shifts, and measures beyond its control like strikes and pandemics throughout its run. While the fortitude of the show is impressive, the original plans are still interesting for long-time viewers and die-hard fans.
As The Rookie has continued to develop Tim and Lucy’s relationship, it’s become clear that others, like John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) came to light slower and more deliberately than the central couple. Although the main relationship on the series isn’t always Nolan’s, he was nearly pulled into a completely different dynamic than what The Rookie’s viewers see on screen.
The Original Pilot Script of The Rookie Featured Nolan & The Late Captain’s Flirty Banter
Captain Andersen Was A Major Part Of The First Season
As The Rookie’s first season chugged along, viewers got to know the trio of rookies and their training officers, as well as the Mid-Wilshire captain, Zoe Andersen (Mercedes Mason). Captain Andersen was a higher-up for the main cast, and because she had more of a figurehead position, wasn’t on the show as frequently as others. In the original pilot, however, she was a focal point.
The script, written by Hawley and clearly revised prior to shooting, shows that Nolan and Andersen shared a considerably more risqué, flirty connection. In the script, we see dialogue where Nolan asks Andersen if he can buy her a drink, pointing out how inappropriate it would be in a flirtatious manner. The direction it appears the show was going in could’ve seen sparks between the pair.
The Rookie’s Captain Zoe Andersen Met A Tragic Fate, Instead
Andersen’s Death Was A Difficult Tragedy For The Show
Although Andersen and Nolan’s connection in the script saw the two of them flirting quite a few times on the page, it never came to fruition in the version of The Rookie’s pilot that was aired. Instead, Andersen became a pivotal figure in the show’s first season when she was killed in the line of duty. Andersen’s arc shifted the tone of Nolan’s rookie year in a drastic way.
The Power Imbalance Romance Trope Ultimately Fit Tim & Lucy’s Character Arcs
Tim Being Lucy’s Superior Officer Is Still A Struggle
Although Nolan and Andersen’s relationship could’ve been an interesting look at the authority figure / underling dynamic, the power imbalance romance trope ultimately went to Tim and Lucy instead. With Andersen’s character gone, Tim and Lucy’s dynamic shifted to a sustainably flirtatious level over the course of the following seasons. Still, some have mourned what could’ve been with The Rookie’s potential relationship between the Captain and her officer.
Source: ScriptSlug
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