The upcoming season of The Rookie just got a lot more promising. The Nathan Fillion-fronted series was recently confirmed for an eighth season on ABC. In addition, one of Season 7’s standout characters has just been promoted to a series regular. Miles Penn (played by Deric Augustine, All American) had a rough start in the series. But after a season of knockdowns and hard-learned revelations, this smooth-talking tough guy has managed to gain the respect of viewers and his fellow officers. Here’s why Augustine’s promotion is only a good thing and why the eighth season of The Rookie can’t get here fast enough.
The beginning of the seventh season of The Rookie saw two new rookies joining the precinct. As the cocky know-it-all Texas trainee, Miles was a clear problem child in comparison to his eager though slightly clumsy fellow rookie Seth (played by Patrick Keleher). With a big attitude and a charm as thick as that exaggerated Texas accent, Miles was a tough sell. But thanks to solid character development and Augustine’s good-natured persona ushering in that saccharine charm, this character has become a great addition to the team. Even though The Rookie Season 8 hasn’t aired yet, it’s already looking promising.
Miles Penn Could Become a Star on ‘The Rookie’
From his debut in The Rookie, Miles Penn had a bit of a rough start. The Texas transplant made a big impression on viewers and fellow officers with his brash and rule-breaking ways. This may be more acceptable for established characters who have already been positioned for chaotic good — Nolan often skirts the line, and most recently, his wife, tipping off a hitman to kill her abusive ex-husband, was handily swept under the rug. But for a rookie officer with no established background, Miles came in hot. His eagerness to prove himself resulted in him disobeying orders, failing to cover his partner, and worse… disrespecting the Chenford dynamic. With such grave injustices stacking against him, whether he would survive was questionable.
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Not only has Miles survived, but he has also become a refreshing addition to the cast. They’ve dialed back his hitting on everything in the name of ‘charm’. With the introduction of his homelessness, his derailed future as an upcoming football star, and his attempt to hold on to his hometown relationship, Miles’ vulnerability and backstory have shaped him into quite an intriguing character. He initially started as a character who was backed into a police career. But viewers have now seen Miles embrace his future in a policing career instead of chasing the shadows of what his life could have been.
‘The Rookie’ Excels at Creating Flawed Heroes
The Rookie has a history of developing antagonistic characters, and their faults often become part of their charm. From the beginning of the series, hard-edged Tim had an attitude that was hard to swallow. And now this tough Sergeant, who has proved himself insightful and sensitive (in his own way) to his trainee’s needs, is one of the most likable characters of the series. The guarded Nyla Harper took some getting used to as well. The former undercover officer had secrets upon secrets and then dabbled in wearing them at a moment’s whim. Now Harper is a steady and reliable figure who is one half of one of the greatest relationships in the show (in her partnership with Lopez, not James, never James).
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Miles’ promotion to series regular gives an exciting start to the upcoming season. After a season that included several misses, including the lack of actual police work, the mishandled (and boring) Jason Wylder storyline, and the travesty of whatever Season 7, Episode 15 was supposed to be. However, Season 8 seems poised to pick up the intensity from the start. But fans don’t have to wait to unpack the drama. The seventh season of The Rookie still has one episode before the season finale, which airs on May 13. The Rookie airs on Tuesdays on ABC and is streaming on Hulu.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
