Who is Seth Ridley? Who Plays Him in The Rookie?

The sixteenth episode of ‘The Rookie’ season 7 marks the return of Seth Ridley, a controversial figure within the halls of the Mid-Wilshire division who was fired from the department because of a fake cancer diagnosis. The character did not gain any fans during his first stint at the police station, showcasing a tendency to pick the shortcut route when presented with difficult circumstances. In episode 16, the LAPD cops find themselves awkwardly maneuvering past Seth’s previous shenanigans, desperate to stay away from him because of his numerous lies. However, the situation is not so simple, especially for Nolan, who has to work in close proximity with the rookie and try his best to understand/change his ways. As a result, we see Seth in a different phase of his journey, adding to his complexity as a character. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Seth Tries to Make Amends For His Past Mistakes

At the beginning of season 7, Seth was introduced as part of the new crew as he started training under Lucy. While the arrangement seemed like a great learning experience for him and a moment to shine for Lucy, things took a swift turn as we saw Seth delve into murky territory as he repeatedly failed to carry out his tasks in the most diligent manner. It even led to Lucy and Tim being put in the way of life-threatening danger. Additionally, things were further complicated by the fact that Seth had fabricated numerous elements of his backstory, such as his cancer diagnosis. When the truth came out that he had faked the health problems, the cops at the Mid-Wilshire division realized that Seth was a pathological liar who only wished to serve himself. As a consequence, he was fired from the force, albeit threatening a lawsuit against the department.

In the sixteenth episode, titled ‘The Return,’ we see Seth come back to the precinct, an act that adversely affects the rest of the force. People shun him on every corridor, treating him like a disease everywhere he goes. However, Seth seems to take it as a challenge and tries to show a better version of himself as he is taken under the wing by Nolan. His previous TO, Lucy, tries to avoid him as much as possible, but this is quickly debunked because Tamara is in a relationship with him and wants her friend to give Seth a chance. Despite the animosity, Nolan sees a different side to Seth as the rookie takes his job seriously and performs a massive act of sacrifice at the end, saving his new TO’s life from a gunman. However, in the process, Seth loses a leg, leaving his police career in jeopardy. Still, his better nature comes out as he comes clean about lying in the past and how he messed everything up.

Patrick Keleher Breathes Life Into Seth’s Contentious Characteristics in The Rookie

Unlike the other cops on the force, Seth isn’t the most likable presence due to his attitude. However, the character seemingly enters a redemptive arc in episode 16, which is captured in a vulnerable and human light by Patrick Keleher. Despite leaving the show after the tenth episode of season 7, he is brought back to continue Seth’s journey. The actor insisted that his character is looking to rectify his errors and understands the gravity of his problems. “He wants to be a good cop. That’s why he started being a cop in the first place. He wants to make a difference. But God, lying is just deep in his roots, and I wonder if we’ll ever go into Seth’s past if we’ll ever see him as a child. What happened to him? So I think he’s always trying to do the right thing, but it just gets mixed up,” Keleher stated.

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While Seth’s future in the LAPD hangs in the balance following his leg amputation, Keleher believes that things could still be far from over. “You never know what’ll happen,” the actor said, referring to his career at the Mid-Wilshire. Outside his work on ‘The Rookie,’ the actor has primarily gained recognition for starring in numerous short films such as ‘Where Are the Strawberry Fields?,’ ‘Frick!,’ ‘The Creature Under the Bed,’ and ‘Dr. Alan Venture Man.’ He has also dabbled in writing and directing, a sign of his multi-faceted talents. Although his character may not be the most pleasant in ‘The Rookie,’ there is undoubtedly room to explore Seth’s real reasons for lying constantly and what led him to become the person he is today. At the same time, he is on the path to atone for his past mistakes and making the best of his situation moving forward.