'The Rookie' Kills Off Major Character Monica Stevens
Warning: The following contains major spoilers for Season 8, Episode 17 of The Rookie.
The Rookie has removed one of its central characters from the show for good. In the April 27 episode of the ABC series, Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan) met her demise — which seems like a long time coming but many of the characters appeared to mourn her, despite all her nefarious actions.
The crooked lawyer who had been double-crossing law enforcement and criminals was gunned down in what she thought was her getaway in the season’s penultimate episode titled “Dead Ringer.”
How Did Her Death Play Out?
After saying goodbye to her ex-fiance Wesley (Shawn Ashmore), the only person other than herself she seemed to ever really care about, Monica was picked up by a driver to get to LAX. But when she alerts the driver that she missed the turn, the driver responds, “No I didn’t,” before pulling the vehicle over. Monica has just one request to her assassin: ‘Not in the face.’ The shooter obliges, shooting Monica twice in the chest and abandoning her on the side of the road.
Her death marks a significant shift in the show’s dynamic that should wrap up dangerous storylines involving the corrupt criminals Monica took on.
What Regan Said of Her Farewell
Regan, 44, shared some behind-the-scenes photos in a farewell post on Instagram on Tuesday. “Ya either love her, hate her, or love to hate her, but I am certainly going to miss Ms. Stevens,” the actress wrote. She then expressed “all the gratitude in the world” to series creator Alexi Hawley for “the last four joyous years getting to play her.” Regan also thanked Ashmore and series star Nathan Fillion and the rest of the cast and crew. “Love you forever #rookiefam,” she added.
Regan, who also co-starred on Agent Carter, White Collar, 9-1-1 and The Last Ship, admitted that she was “not surprised” by her character’s fate after Monica had “escaped multiple assassinations and prison time and being thrown in a wood chipper.” She told TV Insider: “When her number was finally up, I wasn’t surprised. I thought, fair enough. She’s had an amazing run, four years on this show. I’m only filled with gratitude.” She said of her shady character: “I was thrilled that she lasted as long as she did. If you play with fire, as long as she has, eventually you’re going to get burned.” Regan added: “I felt like it was inevitable. Either at some point, she was going to go to jail, or she was going to die.”
The Season 8 finale of The Rookie airs on Monday on ABC. The show was renewed for a ninth season earlier this month.
