The Rookie Season 7 Premiere Addresses Aaron Thorsen’s Exit

The Season 7 premiere of ABC‘s hit police drama The Rookie addressed the absence of Officer Aaron Thorsen, played by Tru Valentino, who exited the show after three seasons. The episode, titled “The Shot,” revealed that Thorsen has transferred to the North Hollywood precinct, marking a low-key departure for the character.

Valentino joined the series in Season 4 as Thorsen, a former TikTok star turned LAPD officer. His character faced significant challenges, including being wrongfully accused of murder and later grappling with emotional trauma after being shot. Despite his popularity among fans, showrunner Alexi Hawley cited creative reasons for the character’s departure, leaving the door open for a potential return.

“Tru [Valentino] is a great actor, and he was a huge part of our show for several seasons,” Hawley told TVLine. “We’d love to have him back in some capacity. It just ultimately felt like, creatively, for where the show was going, that we needed to pivot a bit.”

Valentino addressed his exit on social media, expressing gratitude for his time on the show and hinting at a possible return. “You never know who may pop back up in the Mid-Wilshire Precinct,” he wrote on Instagram. “Until then, 7 Adam 19, this is Officer Thorsen, over and out!”

The Season 7 premiere also introduced two new rookies: Miles, a transfer from Texas played by Deric Augustine, and Seth, a struggling newbie portrayed by Patrick Keleher. The episode focused on John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) recovering from a gunshot wound while the team hunted two escaped inmates with personal vendettas.

The Rookie airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, following High Potential and Will Trent. Fans can stream the Season 7 premiere on Hulu.