Upamanyu Biswas
In episode 15 of ‘The Rookie’ season 7, titled ‘A Deadly Secret,’ a familiar character from the past returns to the show as we delve into a cryptic disappearance case. The episode is narrated in the style of a true crime documentary, shining a spotlight on Abigail, who we previously saw in a stable relationship with Henry in season 3. However, in season 7, episode 15, she goes missing while capturing footage on a secret facility where all manner of eerie occurrences take place. Her inclusion brings an element of personal stakes in the narrative, especially because of Nolan’s connection to her via his son. Despite those links, the story reveals many new details that spell bad news for Henry and Abigail’s relationship, taking it in a new direction while crafting an exciting mystery to dive into. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Abigail Turns to Filmmaking After Her Seeming Breakup With Henry
Abigail was first introduced in the series as Henry’s fiancée. They met in college and later broke the news about their relationship with Nolan. Later, Nolan learned that Abigail was involved in an arson case when she retaliated against her ex-boyfriend for revenge porn. She even expressed her interest in becoming a cop herself. However, her prior arson offense would have been a big hurdle to pass, especially for the purposes of recruitment into the force. In season 3, she decides to support Henry emotionally and mentally as he goes through an open heart surgery. She is grateful when the operation is successful, following which she decides to stay by his side and take care of him as he recovers from his health scare. That is Nolan’s last encounter with her in the show before her reemergence in season 7.
In ‘A Deadly Secret,’ Nolan reveals that Abigail is the missing person they are trying to find in their latest case. He states that Abigail and Henry are no longer together, citing a major change in their relationship. It turns out that after her breakup, Abigail went down a path of filmmaking, working on a project of her own. However, following repeated financial issues and creative changes, she focused her efforts on recording footage of a mysterious psychiatric facility known as Westview. During her investigation, she finds several instances of supernatural occurrences and the presence of demonic elements that compel her to investigate further. Nolan manages to rescue her after conducting a thorough search of the institute, and we learn that a bigger criminal conspiracy is at play at the hospital, which is brought to light because of Abigail’s dedication.
Madeleine Coghlan Stars as Abigail in The Rookie
Abigail’s larger-than-life presence is captured and embodied by Madeleine Coghlan, who also serves as a writer on the series. Although her character shares a personal connection to Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan as his almost daughter-in-law, she has previously appeared alongside the actor on his hit series, ‘Castle.’ She is mostly confined to a guest starring role in ‘The Rookie,’ mainly appearing in scenes with Nolan’s son, Henry. However, in season 7, she gets to spread her wings further, showcasing her fiery side as she takes on the monumental task of filming a documentary on a seemingly haunted psychiatric hospital. Showrunner Alexi Hawley shared that “it was a really fun way to make the true crime episode personal for Nolan and then get to showcase Maddie some more.”
While Madeleine shows her vibrant side in ‘The Rookie,’ the actress has also lit up the screen as Beckett Wilson in ‘Lucifer,’ Maddy in ‘Johno and Michael Try,’ Tiffany in ‘Wendell and Vinnie,’ Maxine in ‘Holidays,’ and Zoya in ‘Puppy Place.’ Additionally, she has appeared in short films such as ‘Defibrillator,’ ‘We Have Notes,’ ‘The Trip,’ ‘The Holiday Suspects,’ ‘Bob and the Amazon,’ and ‘Oh, Sorry.’ Her acting credits also extend to music videos, showcasing the range of her performances. In ‘The Rookie,’ she provides more personal attachments for Nolan while also dredging up material that can be touched upon in various ways. Considering her character’s breakup with Henry, it is bound to be a point of discussion at some point in the series, adding more weight to her presence.
