After eight seasons, The Rookie has outgrown being a simple procedural

Last week’s episode “His Name Was Martin” began as a kooky, zombie-themed case and quickly became a life-or-death moment for Sgt. Lucy Chen when an agitated Martin, exposed to a volatile chemical at Westview Psychiatric Hospital, attacked her. Lucy killed Martin in self-defense, and the follow-up episode, “Aftermath,” focuses on the trauma she faces afterward as she navigates confronting his sister and the fallout of the incident.

Melissa O'Neil’s performance anchors the hour, showing Lucy’s vulnerability and moral reckoning.

the rookie, lucy chen, melissa o'neil, his name, aftermath, westview psychiatric, volatile chemical, self-defense, trauma, moral reckoning