‘The Rookie’ 3×03 Review: “La Fiera”

We’re back one more week! In this episode, The Rookie continues the courageous line of social commentary that we loved from last week, and if we thought they couldn’t do better, we were wrong.

 Here we go!

If there is one thing that this episode has clearly shown us, it’s racism. In all aspects.  For example, we have seen a mature woman who was watching a Black woman give birth and the only thing that concerned her was her beautiful bed and her precious pillow.

Seriously, you racist bitch, can’t you just let her give birth and fight for her life in peace and then worry about whatever nonsense you want? Human beings have very little in the way of hearts sometimes. My first reaction to that situation would not be to remove the pillows from that woman’s head, it would be to help her and, when I make sure that she and her baby are okay then, maybe, I would worry about how, when or why.

Just like that misogynistic and racist “doctor,” who barely even bothered to look at the patient, who didn’t listen to her and, of course, assumed that the man is the one in charge.  You can fuck off, Doctor!

The lack of heart seems to be a constant today.  Just like misogyny and classism.  And much more with people of another race or another country, or with women. That sucks and needs to be changed. We also have to show it.  So I like that this show is still brave, like last week.

And the best part is that this courage continues. Necessary police reform and systematic racism in the police force was something this show had to deal with.  We liked how the show did it in the previous episode but, honestly, it was a very pleasant surprise that they not only kept at it, but also gave it all the focus it deserves.  We are too used to seeing these issues and the following week, in the next episode, it is over, that story no longer continues, as if the problem has been fixed.

And no, it doesn’t end. And the show isn’t pretending like it’s over.  We’re here for this. Doug, as he already guessed since last week, causes many problems.  Cops like him are a problem in and of themselves.  Again, on patrol with West, the racist comments, the prejudices are back … and West endured it as he could, biting his tongue and thinking that it would only be for a little longer.

Until everything has reached a point of no return.  Doug chased and pointed his gun at a boy for being Black, since he was not even a suspect, since he was wearing a jacket of another color than the one they were looking for.  But he was Black and that was enough for Doug, he didn’t hesitate to follow him and aim at him and, later, at his entire family with the gun.  And when Tim comes to see what is happening, he says that he wants to imprison them all.

Just because they didn’t lower their heads when he passed, just because they were Black.  Here Tim makes it clear that he’s not going to allow it but … for the wrong reasons.  He tells Doug that he caught the wrong man but Tim, dear, loved and adored Tim, THAT’S NOT THE FUCKING PROBLEM.  The problem is that Doug is a fucking racist who has terrorized an entire family just because they are not white.

And what about West?  Well, he is uncomfortable, frustrated, almost on the point of supporting the family, but he struggles.  He has an internal debate between his principles, what he knows to be correct and the hierarchy of command, everything that he has been taught about supporting his superior on the street, everything that he has learned and lived since he was little.  He is paralyzed because things escalated so fast and he doesn’t know exactly what to do.

In the end, when he asks the family for forgiveness, his eyes are filled with tears because he is ashamed.  The uniform that has always filled him with pride, the one that he always dreamed of wearing, shames him more than anything in this world.  And this can not continue.  So seeing that Tim wasn’t going to do anything, he decides to go straight to the top.

But West is disappointed. I mean, he expects much more understanding from someone who belongs to the Black community just like him and that he is sure has had to endure that racist behavior many times but Grey does … nothing.  And this is also a disappointment for us.

Seriously Grey?  You have been in the police force for many years, you know perfectly well what happens, you know what those policemen are like, you know how it feels and, even so, you do … anything?  It’s only until Tim comes along and, finally, ratifies what West says, that Grey reflects.  It shouldn’t take Tim’s word and support for Grey to do something about this but … we appreciate that at least he will.  Just … not enough.

A sanction.  One bad mark on his file and it’s over.  Doug will be back out there.  He will make racist comments again, he will make decisions based on prejudice, and he will again terrorize Black people.  No, it is not enough.  And West has the guts to stand up to Grey and tell him to his face that doing that is like doing nothing.  That it is not enough and that he who is up there, came so far … he more than anyone should know it and he should fight to change something that is wrong.

We’re rooting for you, West!  We are so proud of him, so proud … there are just no words to describe it.  Because it’s true, it’s not just that it’s not enough, it’s that Grey just … settled.  Yes, he suffered a lot to get to where he is but once he got there … he just settled into his position, got carried away by the maelstrom of paperwork and forgot what was happening on the streets, forgot how it felt to be Black and feel terrified to see the uniform.  That’s why he’s mad, because he’s upset that West reminds him of his own sins, actually, Grey is mad at himself.

As for Tim, he is worth mentioning.  At last, he tries.  Lucy is disappointed in what West tells her, so she doesn’t hesitate to blame him.  Tim Bradford, as always, continues to excuse himself.  He’s always dealt with shit like that.  It exists.  So let’s ignore it.  Well no, Tim.  As West says very well at the end, silence is complicity.  There is no ambivalence here.  Either you are with the racists or against them.  And if you don’t report what’s going on, if you don’t try to change it, you’re part of the fucking problem and you have to educate yourself.

Tim does just that. Lucy’s words sink deep and that, together with that terrified family … he knows that he has to do something.  That he is being part of the problem.  Bradford decides to be part of the solution.  So he supports West with everything and apologizes to him.  West accepts his apology but doesn’t accept the shitty excuses from him.  He is not there for that. Us neither.

And this … this story is brave and so well told.  It is social commentary because this is exactly what happens in our society.  There are racist policemen, there are policemen who are part of the problem and others who seek solutions.  The policemen who are part of the problem can be educated, those who are racists, must be fired from the police force in a sudden way.  Racists will always be racists.  But their punishments are not enough, they are just beginning to scratch the surface.

And I like that a show denounces absolutely everything.  I think they should put this episode in real police academies, even schools, colleges and universities.  I think that everyone should see how a racist acts and what it means for a family to be terrified like that.  Because this is another point that the episode has: we feel EVERYTHING.  The pain, the anguish, the tension, the frustration, the urge to cry … EVERYTHING.  And everyone should feel it.  Maybe, like this, we will all have more heart.

In another vein, I really liked how Angela’s case got mixed up with what her old team was investigating.  Also, they have introduced us a new story between her and ‘La Fiera’ because I’m sure we will come back to this later in the season.

It seems to me an interesting dynamic because they are both strong and determined women, they are each on one side of the law but if that were not the case … I think they could even be very good friends.  And I’m looking forward to seeing how all of this unfolds because ‘La Fiera’ not only knows that she is pregnant – something that if she has noticed, her partners will soon notice – but also where she lives.

At this moment, there is no threat … but they both know that they will be enemies if they meet again and that ‘La Fiera’ has located Angela so quickly … it puts a lump in my throat because her family may be in danger  … and neither of them is going to stop doing what they think is necessary to protect their family.

As a last note, we have Nolan and his mother. Their relationship is a mess, but it works … sometimes.  Harper is right in what she says.  His mother raised him alone and she wants to check that things are okay, but that’s not exactly the right way to do it.  So I’m glad that in the end, they finally spoke for real and started over.

By the way … I still see a huge connection between Harper and Nolan.  Could something happen between them between now or at end of the season?  I bet yeas.

And here ends our The Rookie review. We will be back next week with a new one!

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t hesitate to share it with us in the comments below.

The Rookie airs Sundays at 10/9 on ABC.