The Rookie episode argues Aaron Thorsen should never have left
Details reported by Collider note that The Rookie Season 8, Episode 5, "The Network," marked the first appearance of Officer Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) since Season 6.
The Collider piece says Thorsen's earlier exit was poorly handled: he was written out off-screen with a single line in the Season 7 premiere, described as transferring to North Hollywood because officers there wouldn't know he was a patient of corrupt psychiatrist Dr. Blair London, who was selling officers' secrets to Monica Stevens.
Thorsen's return to Mid-Wilshire to work on a task force using Monica's intelligence, combined with the fact that other officers who were Dr. London's patients faced no fallout, undermines the show's earlier reasoning for his transfer. The Collider writer suggests Thorsen does not need to rejoin the main cast but should continue appearing as a recurring guest to advance his unfinished arc, and that his brief return was a welcome moment.