Seth’s Shocking Sacrifice In The Rookie Season 7 Episode 16 Unpacked By Patrick Keleher
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Rookie season 7, episode 16.
When Seth Ridley was kicked out of the LAPD training program, it seemed safe to say that we hadn’t seen the last of the character. The Rookie season 7, episode 16 focuses on Seth’s return, as well as the effect his presence has on the rest of the team. The installment confirms that he and Tamara have been in a relationship since they met in “The Mickey,” despite Lucy warning her former roommate of his lies.
During a high-stakes call, Seth steps out from behind cover to save Nolan from a gunman. He is shot and rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, where his leg is amputated. With his future as a law enforcement officer now in question, Seth comes clean to Tamara about his compulsive lying. Tamara ends their relationship, and viewers are left wondering where Patrick Keleher’s character goes from here.
Related
The Rookie Showrunner Addresses Season 7 Episode 15’s Loose End: “It’s Very Much In My Head”
Exclusive: The Rookie showrunner discusses whether Liam Glasser could be freed from prison after his remarks in season 7’s true crime style episode.
ScreenRant interviews star Patrick Keleher about Seth’s sacrifice in The Rookie season 7, episode 16, and what it means for the character’s future.
Keleher Has Discussed Seth’s Backstory With The Rookie Showrunner
“We think he grew up in a lower-class family, but he was friends with a lot of upper-class kids.”
ScreenRant: When Seth was first kicked out of the program, did you know he would be coming back for this episode?
Patrick Keleher: I did. Well, all I knew was the writers and the producers would say, “It looks pretty good.” But nobody confirmed that I was back in this season or a later season. I had no idea until I got a call from my agent saying, “They want you back for Episode 16.” So when I got fired, I really didn’t actually know if I was coming back or not. And it was scary. It’s like losing your job, really. It’s getting laid off, in a way, except it’s very theatrical.
What was Seth’s intention when he walked back into the precinct? Did he want to be honest this time around?
Patrick Keleher: Yeah. He really does. 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.
If you’ve come up with any Seth lore, I’d love to hear it.
Patrick Keleher: I’ve got so many papers. As an actor, if you’re not given a backstory, you create a backstory. Alexi and I had a conversation very early on in the first couple episodes. Alexi says, “We think he grew up in a lower-class family, but he was friends with a lot of upper-class kids, and to fit in from a very young age, he would lie about being in the upper class.” And that’s where it all started. So we’ll see if that actually is true or not, if that gets locked in.
Seth’s Injury May Not Be The End Of His Law Enforcement Career
“I think that it left on a very positive note.”
Seth made a pretty heroic sacrifice and saved Nolan. Were you surprised?
Patrick Keleher: Yeah. It’s a good thing that he saved Nolan, right? But his leg is gone. I remember reading that, and I was like, “God.” I have no idea. I still don’t know what that means for Seth to be legless. What does that mean as a cop with the LAPD? I remember when I came to set one day, 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.
Nolan does say, “This doesn’t have to end your career.” Do you see Seth still trying to pursue this field in some way?
Patrick Keleher: That’s a great scene. The whole season, it’s always negative. He’s always lying. But that’s one of the only scenes where he really does the right thing with Tamara, and he finally tells the truth about the cancer. We never know. And Tamara’s the only one who he actually tells the truth to. I think that it left on a very positive note. It might shoot us back up, so we’ll see.
It felt like this could be the beginning of a redemption arc. Do you know if you’re coming back to the show?
Patrick Keleher: I have no idea.
So you’re done for season 7?
Patrick Keleher: Yeah. I am done in season 7.
Keleher Believes Seth And Tamara Could Reconcile Down The Line
“I’d like to see more, just as a friendship. Even if it’s not a relationship, I think they work well together.”
Do you think that he and Tamara could ever reconcile? He seemed to be a changed man in that hospital scene.
Patrick Keleher: Yeah, I think so. I think there’s hope. They’re great together. There was a scene that was cut. There was an opening scene where Tamara and Seth arrived at the police station, and it was the very opening of the episode, and you just get to see their chemistry a little bit more, and they’re great together.
Dylan is such an awesome person. I really got along well with her. So I’d like to see more, just as a friendship. Even if it’s not a relationship, I think they work well together, and especially that drug bust that they did. It’s cool. They’re a good team.
How do you think Seth feels about Lucy? Does he resent her, or does he understand she had to report him for what he did?
Patrick Keleher: Good question. I don’t think he has resentment towards her. I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s any resentment.
Seth and Miles get into a fight in the locker room. You and Deric seem like such good friends in real life, so how was doing that stunt together?
Patrick Keleher: I love Deric. That was a great scene. That was a really fun scene to shoot. He actually hit me during it, but that always happens. I think he’s really his best friend. I think there’s more hope in that relationship than any of the other relationships.
Enjoy ScreenRant’s primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check “Network TV” in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.
About The Rookie Season 7 On ABC
Created And Executive Produced By Alexi Hawley
John Nolan, once the oldest rookie in the LAPD, has used his life experience, determination and sense of humor to keep up with rookies 20 years his junior. Now recovering from a gunshot wound and feeling the effects of his age, John and the team welcome two new rookies and continue the hunt for two dangerous escaped prisoners who have very personal vendettas.
Check out our other interviews for The Rookie season 7:
The Rookie season 7 airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and is available to stream next-day on Hulu.
