“The Network” is a jam-packed episode that tries to balance personal fractures, systemic corruption, and a high-stakes federal operation and for the most part, it succeeds. Where it stumbles is also where The Rookie keeps stumbling lately: its ongoing insistence that Monica is somehow a trustworthy asset, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Still, between sharp investigative work, a compelling moral puzzle, and the very welcome return of Aaron Thorsen, this episode delivers far more highs than lows.
Aaron Thorsen’s Return: A Win the Show Barely Explains
Let’s start with the obvious: it is genuinely great to have Tru Valentino back as Aaron. His reintroduction is effortless, rolling into the parking lot in a flashy sports car, immediately clicking back into the group dynamic, and reminding everyone why his absence felt so unnecessary in the first place. Aaron brings a specific energy to the show: confidence without arrogance, emotional intelligence, and a lived-in understanding of wealth, power, and the criminal elite that few other characters can credibly access.
Which makes the question unavoidable: why did they ever let him go? Aaron’s background makes him uniquely suited for storylines exactly like this one, deep-cover proximity to apex predators, moral gray zones, and social circles the LAPD can’t normally penetrate. His chemistry with Lucy and Tim snaps right back into place, and his undercover scene with Kadeer is one of the episode’s strongest. Calm, transparent, and emotionally grounded, Aaron sells the idea of a man repaying a debt without posturing. It’s a reminder that the show lost something when he left, and gained it back the moment he returned.
The Network Plot: Smart, Tense, and Well-Structured
The central premise, a next-generation, million-dollar encrypted phone network used by the global criminal elite, is one of the more compelling “big bad” concepts The Rookie has introduced. The FBI’s plan isn’t about arrests but infiltration, patience, and long-term surveillance, which gives the storyline a refreshing sense of realism and restraint.
The execution is equally strong. Elena’s cyber expertise grounds the tech-heavy explanations, while the ticking clock inside Kadeer’s building delivers real tension. The pivot from stealth operation to full raid feels earned once Kadeer catches on, and the action sequence: firebombs, vent escapes, cross-team coordination, is chaotic without being confusing.
Nolan’s inclusion in the operation makes narrative sense, especially once the blueprints come into play. And Garza trusting him to “figure it out” reinforces Nolan’s evolution into a cop whose value lies less in physicality and more in judgment under pressure.
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| “The Network” – THE ROOKIE. Pictured: Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey and Nathan Fillion as John Nolan. Mike Taing/ Disney ©2026 Network. All Rights Reserved. |
Lucy, Celina, and the Deputies: One of the Episode’s Best Arcs
The investigation into the ambushed sheriff’s deputies is classic Rookie detective work at its best. Lucy’s instincts, paired with Celina’s willingness to question assumptions without overreaching, create a smart, methodical unraveling of what really happened. The fact that Lucy hesitates to voice suspicion because the suspects are cops is an important detail. This is the show acknowledging how institutional loyalty can cloud justice.
The eventual reveal, that the deputies shot each other during a personal conflict and tried to frame Arroyo, is grim but believable. It also reinforces the episode’s broader theme: authority does not equal integrity. Angela and Nyla’s final interrogation scene is deeply satisfying, especially watching both deputies scramble to be the first to flip.
Monica: Exhausting, Implausible, and Still Somehow Trusted
Here’s where the episode falters. The Monica storyline is beyond tired. At this point, the more unrealistic plot element isn’t the secret satellite phone network, it’s that the LAPD, FBI, or anyone continues to believe Monica is acting in good faith.
She has repeatedly demonstrated that she serves only herself, yet every task force meeting treats her like a necessary evil instead of an active threat. Her final scene, casually warning another criminal power broker that the network is compromised, only reinforces what viewers already know: Monica is not an informant, she’s a parasite.
The real issue isn’t that she’s duplicitous; it’s that the show keeps asking us to accept that seasoned law enforcement professionals don’t see it. At some point, the question stops being “what is Monica planning?” and becomes “why is anyone still listening to her?” The storyline desperately needs either escalation or closure, because spinning the same wheel is undermining the stakes.
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| “The Network” – THE ROOKIE. Pictured: Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez and Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen. Mike Taing/ Disney ©2026 Network. All Rights Reserved. |
Nolan & Bailey: The Argument That Changes Everything
The episode’s most emotionally raw moment comes not from gunfire, but from Nolan and Bailey’s confrontation. What starts as a debate about career logistics turns into something far more unsettling: incompatibility.
Nolan’s realization, that Bailey’s restlessness isn’t ambition but avoidance, is devastating. His question, “What are you afraid will happen if you stop moving?” cuts straight to the heart of their relationship. This isn’t about DC. It’s about whether stability is something Bailey actually wants, or something she tolerates until the next opportunity appears.
The fact that neither of them realized how angry Nolan was until it spilled out makes the moment feel painfully real. This isn’t a dramatic breakup speech; it’s the sound of a marriage hitting a fault line it may not survive.
Final Verdict
“The Network” is a strong, ambitious episode that excels in its procedural storytelling and character work, even as it drags a worn-out villain behind it. Aaron’s return injects fresh energy, the FBI storyline raises the stakes in meaningful ways, and Nolan’s personal reckoning adds emotional weight that lingers long after the action fades.
If the show can finally stop pretending Monica is anything but a liability, The Rookie could turn this momentum into one of its strongest arcs yet. As it stands, “The Network” proves the series still knows how to juggle spectacle and substance, when it trusts the right characters to carry the load.
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