The Rookie (3×05) Lockdown Review

For our review of the last episode of The Rookie, click here.

Synopsis: Officer Nolan is taken hostage by a man with nothing to lose; Officer Jackson and his training officer, Officer Doug Stanton, reach a tipping point in their relationship that could end Jackson’s career. (IMDb)

Spoilers Below

Well that episode certainly took a turn, and used an unrealistic excuse to get there. Yes, the reign of TO Doug Stanton appears to be over for now after a cat and mouse game between him and Jackson. It was only a matter of time until this end result happened, but at what cost? Let’s jump into what happened in Lockdown!

Nolan, after passing his exam, is tasked with front desk duty at the precinct. That is until he goes into the parking lot and becomes the hostage of a potential bomber (Josh Stewart) who wants the LAPD to release someone from their custody. As the officers locked inside learn more about the man, the prisoner in question and their lack of connection, it soon becomes evident that this was all a con to allow for someone to gain access to the precinct. Luckily, Harper is able to apprehend the suspect and soon after Nolan calms down his kidnapper. It wasn’t a boring storyline, just felt like the catalyst for what was to come, even if the over the top bomb threat turned con seemed a little out there.

Of course the big story of the week is the ongoing chronicles of Doug Stanton. Obviously there is some tension in the department now with Bradford and Chen both gunning for Doug, but Jackson decides to play the apologetic rookie to gain favor with his TO. That is until an unwarranted stop makes him already turn back on his word to have his partner’s back and soon it’s a pissing match between the two of them. Doug will get Jackson fired, Jackson will get his dad to remove Doug’s “racist ass.” This is a boiling point for this relationship and soon it’s going to explode.

And unsurprisingly it does moments later. With all other officers stuck in the precinct due to the threat, Jackson and Doug are the sole patrol on the streets meaning he has no backup. Cue a few moments where Jackson keeps telling Doug his actions were wrong and maybe, just maybe he can turn over a new leaf. That is until a call results in Jackson confronting three large men who then with the help of a fourth proceed to kick the living crap out of Jackson. Doug turns the corner to see, but quickly ducks out and decides not to help his disobedient boot.

By this point Chen and Bradford have been able to leave the precinct and arrive on scene to find Doug running around saying he cannot find Jackson. Eventually, they find him laying lifeless on the ground, bloodied and bruised. Thankfully, he is still breathing and through his swollen eyes he is able to turn on Doug’s bodycam, forcing it to document the previous two minutes of unrecorded footage. This is all the proof Grey needs to take away Doug’s gun and badge, but seems like he will be back with a vengeance.

This storyline has been the obvious highlight of this season and this twist with the epilogue at the hospital is an emotional backbone that not only characters like West and Grey weren’t able to explore before, but was sorely needed. West was relegated to a background character last year and finally he gets to do something with purpose making his character the most interesting of all in season three. It’s only a matter of time until Doug strikes back and with what force and connections who knows, as it seems everyone in all departments love him. But with Grey and Commander West, head of IA on their side, it is going to be quite the battle.

Meanwhile in other news, Lopez has learned that their baby doesn’t have Fragile X Syndrome giving her an instant sigh of relief. A bit odd that she decided to take the test without Wesley, or that we didn’t get a moment where she told him the results, but her reasoning made sense. Who knows what she would have done if the results were positive.

Captain’s Log

• Will Harper start seeing this father from school?
• Will dealing with Stanton cause issues for Jackson, Chen or Bradford? How far will it go?
• Will we see more of Tamara, the new puppy for Chen and will that be the cause of her being held back?
• Can Nolan ever make detective?

What did you think of “Lockdown”? Let me know in the comments below!

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.