If you would like to read my review of last episode of The Rookie, click here.
Synopsis: Sergeant Grey informs Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop that they are going to have a movie director as a ride-along during their patrol after a fun afternoon granting the wish of a Make-A-Wish kid as honorary police officer Kaydence Patton. Meanwhile, Officer Bradford is tested once again after he learns that his wife, Isabel, has been arrested for drug possession. (TVGuide)
Writer: Robert Bella
Director: Cherie Nowlan
Rating: TV-14
Running Time: 43mins
Airs: Tuesdays at 10pm on CTV (Canada)/ABC (United States)
“The Ride Along”starts off with the captain recounting the events of the day as the LAPD engaged with the number one criminal on the FBI’s most wanted list and their star officer Kaydence Patton lead the charge. Turns out Kaydence is a Make-A-Wish recipient who has captured Nolan posing as her wanted criminal as the LAPD thanks her for her service.
Nolan is berated by his friend for being a hermit and not embracing his single lifestyle and advises him to enjoy what LA has to offer. At roll call, West insists that Nolan join them for some after work fun, but he isn’t really feeling it. Turns out the LAPD is dealing with the worst type of assignment that a patrol officer can face: VIP ride along which is gifted graciously to Nolan and Bishop. The VIP is famous movie director Rupert Payne (Jonno Roberts) and Nolan loves his movies, but they are told to avoid any serious action to protect their asses from any lawsuits.
On patrol, West informs Lopez that she and Bishop are in the running for an open detective position and she appreciates the heads up. They enter a noise complaint to find a guy shocking himself for an adrenaline rush and hope he can connect him to whoever sold him the stolen hospital equipment. They bring in the suspect, but hope to go up another rung on the food chain to get a bigger fish. Lopez brings this information to Grey saying they could take out high profile target Lawrence Abuto. He is pleased, mentioning that she should take the detective exam, but then reservations about this high risk situation. The captain informs Lopez that the intel was false and the Lopez got over ambitious and sloppy.
Bradford chastises Chen for her laissez-faire attitude when he is called into Grey’s office. Turns out Bradford’s wife was arrested for drug possession with intent to sell and Bradford is unsure on what to do. Grey pulls the detectives aside to get some more information for him and Bradford, but there is no getting out of this one and Bradford needs to decide if he’s going to be a cop or a suspect’s husband. Grey asks if he needs a day, but Bradford wants to finish his shift to distract himself.
After bringing a suspect in, Bradford enters Isabel’s cell and questions her decisions and how bad the situation is. He learns her drug dealing boyfriend stashed a lot of heroin on her and she can’t go to jail or else she’ll get killed for being an ex-cop. She begs Bradford to help and he does so by breaking into her apartment to find the stash her boyfriend hid at her place so it doesn’t get pinned on her. As Bradford goes to leave, Chen confronts him to remind him that he is a good cop and he can’t change who his wife is. The next morning, Grey informs Bradford that they found a kilo in her apartment showing Bradford put it back and took his side in the situation.
On the ride along, Payne tries to entice Bishop and Nolan with Lakers tickets to go to a shots fired situation, but the opt to do some real police work and take him to a noise complaint. The house is dusty and hasn’t been maintained in months where a very decayed body is sitting on the couch. They call around to try to find next of kin and a death certificate, which bores Payne, but Nolan takes him aside to discuss how the real world works.
They respond to another call with a domestic disturbance, but things escalate when one of the men has a knife. They learn the man has an intellectual disability and are able to diffuse the situation to the amazement of the director. As they talk to the family, Payne starts to film them causing some of them to get agitated and shove him to the ground which astounds him. At the end of the ride along, Payne invites Nolan and Bishop to a get together which Nolan decides is best to accept.
At the party, Nolan feels out of place and becomes a spectacle when he arrests a scumbag for spiking someone’s drink. He apologizes for ruining the party, but Payne says they’ll be the talk of the town. They discuss the distance between themselves and their kids when the director opens up about making mindless action films, but Nolan reassures him that his films bring families together. Payne asks about the kid from earlier and if he’ll get the treatment he needs, but Nolan says the system only deals with problems, but never helps prevent them.
On patrol the next day, Rupert calls to tell Nolan that he tried to offer the family some money, but they didn’t take kindly to it and attacked him. While the brother Malcolm doesn’t want the money, his greedy friends do causing Bishop and Nolan to rush to the studio lot. They engage in a gun fight followed by a foot chase through a city street studio set. Bishop subdues one of the assailants leaving Nolan to deal with Malcolm who has Rupert as his hostage. Rupert grabs the gun from Malcolm, but another officer shoots him.
At the precinct, Bradford confronts his wife and apologizes for not being able to help, but she wants nothing to do with him. Lopez informs West that she’s off the shortlist for detective given her sloppy decisions and he promises to help however he can. Bishop and Lopez go to Bradford’s car and forcibly take him out for drinks to help him forget about things. As Nolan heads home, he facetimes his son, sets up a trip to LA and tells him all about his adventures with their favorite director.
Captain’s Log
- Will Nolan and Chen get back together at some point?
- Will the TOs and Rookies continue to go after big fish?
- Will Nolan’s son hit it off with someone in Nolan’s work life?
- Who will make detective first?
- Will Bradford forgive himself for his wife’s actions?
- Will Grey and Nolan become reluctant friends?
- Which rookie won’t make it the year?
Overall, this was a great episode. Each of the characters are slowly growing more and more as these charismatic people make it hard not to enjoy tuning back in every week to see what antics they get up to. Nolan’s realization of his distance from his family should set up a whole other side of his life as the story has mainly focused on his obstacles in his work life. Bradford’s situation was tough to see as he is struggling with making choices that conflict with his heart and head showing how he has become the stern and tough person he is.
Score: 8.5/10
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