Abhiroop Das
Created by Alexi Hawley, ABC’s ‘The Rookie’ brings to life a carousel of rookie officers rising to the rank of veterans within the Los Angeles Police Department. The show started with John Nolan and Lucy Chen learning their way through the demanding police life, and by the eighth season of the procedural cop drama series, they are among the most competent officers on board. Naturally, it is now their job to raise an army of equally competent rookies, and with that, Miles Penn and Seth Ridley are introduced into the mix. While Miles goes on to flourish as a trainee, Seth both struggles with and engineers many of his own problems, resulting in a tragic conclusion by the end of the seventh season, with a very slim chance of a comeback in sight. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Seth Returns in The Rookie Season 8 to Kickstart His Redemption Arc
One of the many surprises stored in ‘The Rookie’ season 8 episode 3 comes with the return of Seth Ridley, the former rookie officer who joined the LAPD with Miles Penn last season, but exited not long after. The legend surrounding Seth’s exit is two-fold, as he first lost his badge on account of his pathological lying. While the rookie managed to make his way back into the force, he ended up in the middle of a shootout, saving Nolan’s life but getting shot in the process. The wound in his leg was deep enough to require a below-the-knee amputation, which effectively ended his police career. Although it initially appeared that Seth’s leg injury meant that he would no longer be a part of the show, the eighth season proves that idea wrong, showing that his arc still has a lot left to offer.
Instead of being a part of the episode’s police procedural narrative, Seth appears in one of the sub-arcs, with Miles paying him a surprise visit. The two of them were best friends in the last season, and while their dynamic ended on a sour note, Miles believes it’s time to patch things up. That is easier said than done, however, as Seth has yet to truly move past his flaws. Initially, Miles tries to break the ice by extending familiarity with post-injury life, given his own knee mishap that cost him his professional football career. However, Seth rightfully points out the sheer gap in their experiences, as in his case, he has not only lost his career but also pretty much every social connection, forcing him into a shut-in state.
While Seth returns to the show a shell of his former, bubbly self, Miles quickly realizes that no progress can be made until the root of it all is addressed. Seth’s social isolation has less to do with his injury and more to do with all of his near and dear ones being affected by his pathological lying. Until Seth puts that habit to a permanent stop and truly apologizes to everyone he lied to, his fate is all but sealed. Realizing that, he makes a pact with Miles, promising not to utter another lie under any circumstances, so that Miles can help him rebuild his life from scratch. With this positive finish to the episode, it is likely that the next chapter in Seth’s story is beginning, and will be well-covered going forward in the eighth season.
Actor Patrick Keleher’s Return Might Widen the Show’s Storytelling Scope
With Seth and Miles rekindling their friendship and promising to work together in the future, there is a strong likelihood that Patrick Keleher will return to the show as a regular. While the actor told NJ in May 2025 that he had “no idea” whether he would return for the eighth season of the show, it appears that the writers’ room found a way to weave him back into the narrative. With this, Keleher has a chance to shine a light on different aspects of his character other than the cop persona, which can pave the way for Seth to become one of the most compelling presences in the show. However, given the show’s dedication to an episodic storytelling format, which introduces a new police mystery each week, it can be hard to consistently integrate Seth into the narrative.
Moreover, taking the writing and pacing challenges into account, it is probable that Keleher will not be returning as a main character but will have brief, consistent reappearances that string together a larger narrative arc. While talking to ScreenRant, he elaborated on what he believes is in store for Seth, stating, “I was talking to one of our ex-LAPD officers on set. And he’s like, ‘Yeah, man. You lose a leg, you’re out. But you never know. You never know what’ll happen.” It appears that Seth’s unpredictability as a character has gone from a weakness to a strength in season 8, as it opens the door for a variety of new developments, both in terms of character dynamics, with Miles and even Juarez, as well as from a plot perspective.
Read More: The Rookie Season 8 Episode 1 Recap: Are Lucy and Tim Moving in Together?
