The Rookie gave Monica her moment but Jason Wyler’s arc still feels unfinished

The Rookie Season 7 had some big narrative choices that impacted the future of key characters. One of them, Monica Stevens, who was played by Bridget Regan, returned in a dramatic, unexpected way. Her arc thrillingly shifted from a defense attorney to a manipulative underworld power player. Jason Wyler, played by Steve Kazee, was brought back with potential depth, but was ultimately written off without resolution. The contrast between the two arcs draws attention to a key imbalance in narrative presentation.

Monica's return was adequately dramatic and occasionally overwhelmingly expositional, but her own arc was given a tangible resolution. Her arc had culminated in her acquiring diplomatic immunity using pilfered top-secret NSA data — a twist that easily set her beyond the jurisdiction of law enforcement. Jason, however, began life as a thriving tech whiz villain before disappearing without resolution. This inconsistency has been observed both by critics and by fans and is among Season 7's most obvious oversights.

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Monica Stevens' arc in The Rookie: Constructed and definitive

Monica Stevens' return to The Rookie story was defined by purpose. Having been a corrupt lawyer involved in Elijah Stone's criminal operation before, Monica came back in Season 7 with higher stakes and more assertive control. Her evolution from off-stage legal genius to a leading figure with intelligence at the national level was a massive storytelling shift. Both her acquisition of stolen NSA data and negotiation for diplomatic immunity by the end were unclean and successful plot turns.

Though faulted for her return feeling a touch hasty and delivered with excessive exposition, Monica's storyline was geared toward reaching an undeniable destination. The finale of her journey not only wrapped up her character but planted seeds for Season 8's possible legal and political conflicts. In that sense, Monica's arc in Season 7 was both narratively self-contained and strategically impactful.

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Jason Wyler: An unfinished thread of The Rookie

Jason Wyler's path is the opposite. Initially a brainy techie in Elijah's underground operation, he showed up in Season 7 as an outlaw computer hacker — a person who could potentially have been a different kind of threat. With cybercrime growing in the real world and on TV, Jason being able to fight back against the LAPD electronically seemed like a natural evolution for the times in the show.

But this plot strand was never pursued. Following a couple of scenes previewing his skills and allegiances, Jason simply disappeared from the storyline. Monica at least had a planned exit, but Jason's storyline ended abruptly, without reason or consequence. This created an awkward inconsistency, especially given how much emphasis was put on his character's return midway through the series.

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A clear narrative imbalance in The Rookie

Season 7's treatment of Monica and Jason demonstrates a greater inequality in how The Rookie deals with recurring villains. Monica's storyline was plotted with clear motivation, legal back-and-forth, and a conclusion that wrapped up her story. Jason, however, was left dangling — neither apprehended, nor eliminated, nor even spoken of in the latter episodes. It was noted by many as a loose end that conflicted with the otherwise measured approach of the show to building characters.

Critics have complained that Jason's disappearance is not so much a creative decision as an abandoned plotline. His character could have added depth to the season — that of exploring the use of technology in organized crime — but it was wasted. Criticism on all websites, including Collider and Screen Rant, describes this imbalance as one of the largest issues left on the table by the season finale.

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No official word on Jason's future in The Rookie

There has been no confirmation of Jason Wyler's return for the upcoming season. While the open-ended nature of his departure leaves the writers with some room to maneuver, having no resolution in Season 7 leaves his tale unfinished. His sudden exit appears not to be part of a bigger reveal or behind-the-scenes plot — at least, not one made known publicly.

This makes Jason's arc a speculative best-case scenario. Without a follow-up or even a wink from the main cast or producers, his story is a jarring contrast to Monica's carefully constructed departure. Whether this is intentional or a product of shifting narrative priorities is unclear.

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Why the difference matters in The Rookie

The difference between Jason and Monica isn't just one of screen presence — it's a difference in dramatic value. Monica was allowed to grow and shape the show's political and legal framework, creating new stakes for the LAPD. Jason, on the other hand, was shown as a new type of threat and then just left hanging. It's an imbalance that feels like a promise not capitalized upon, particularly as the craft of television storytelling evolves into multi-stranded villains and stringently constructed stories.

In addition, viewers today are more sensitive to loose ends, especially when a character is introduced as central early on in a season. Jason's elimination feels like unfinished business, whereas Monica's resolution is in accord with the show's better standards of over-arc storytelling.

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The handling of Monica Stevens and Jason Wyler on Season 7 of The Rookie demonstrates the impact of character development on audience investment. Monica's, even though quick and exposition-filled, was given a firm resolution that set future plot directions. Jason's was never actually resolved, and left viewers questioning his purpose.

This imbalance in the show's stories has been consistently pointed out by both fan groups and critics, hinting at a larger debate around the agendas of the stories within the series. Whether or not Jason Wyler shows up in future seasons is unknown, but for the time being, his story will remain one of The Rookie's most unresolved plotlines.

Also read: I firmly believe this underrated character deserves a better story in The Rookie Season 8 (& it's not Monica)