In The Rookie, the line between what’s right and what’s necessary often blurs. We see characters make difficult decisions, cross boundaries, and then face the consequences of those actions, even if they were committed with the best intentions. That’s why it’s so frustrating that in The Rookie Season 7 Episode 14 ‘Mad About Murder,’ Bailey Nune wasn’t held accountable for partnering with a criminal like Malvado to end her abusive ex-husband’s life.
Ignoring the Consequences
Yes, we get it. Bailey lived in fear. Jason was a violent, manipulative man who terrorized her for years and whose mere existence continued to pose a threat to her emotional and physical safety. What she did wasn’t out of malice or revenge. It was self-preservation. But just because something is understandable doesn’t mean it should go unpunished, and that’s the line The Rookie Season 7 Episode 14 ‘Mad About Murder’ chose to ignore.
When Bailey asked Malvado for help, we’re not talking about a reaction of self-defense in an emergency situation. It was a premeditated decision: to seek out and ally with a criminal for him to do the dirty work. That carries tremendous moral—and legal—weight, which the series simply chose not to address. And in doing so, it not only diminished the seriousness of the situation but also betrayed the logic of its own universe.
Everyone in The Rookie has had to answer for their decisions. Tim dealt with the aftermath of covering up for his ex. Nolan, the eternal Boy Scout, has been put in his place more than once, even though he helped unmask a corrupt cop. But Bailey? Absolute silence. And it’s not fair that every single character had to face the consequences of their decisions except her.
MORE: Have you read our review for this episode? Check out our The Rookie Season 7 Episode 14 ‘Mad About Murder’ review!
Empathy and Accountability in The Rookie
There’s room in the stories for nuance. You can empathize with Bailey, understand her trauma, her desperation, and still expect her to be held accountable. In fact, that’s what would make a richer, more honest story: seeing a woman who, out of fear, made an extreme decision, but then had to process it, facing the ramifications and consequences of that act.
That would have been a story of real strength. Not the sanitized version of The Rookie Season 7 Episode 14 ‘Mad About Murder.’ That version implies that the ends justified the means. And Malvado died, so it’s not something they put off. Bailey—and Nolan—will simply move on as if nothing had happened.
No one is saying Bailey should have been arrested — although it would be what would happen in real life. But she did deserve to face some kind of consequence. An internal process. A firing. Even a conflict that forced her and Nolan to fear what would happen next. In short, something. Because if The Rookie can’t show that even “understandable” decisions come at a cost, then it’s failing at what it’s always done well: showing us real, flawed characters who grow through their mistakes.
This isn’t about punishing Bailey. It’s about being fair to the story. To the characters. And to us, the audience, who know that every act, even the most human, leaves a mark.
MORE: Why The Rookie’s Chenford is the Best-Built Romance in TV
The Rookie Season 7 airs Tuesdays at 9 pm on ABC.
Bailey facing no consequences has really lowered my interest in the show. Aside from the legality, there’s no way Nolan would (or should) be okay with having his career and freedom at risk for a massively stupid move by Bailey.
I don’t know what’s going on in the writer’s room this season, but that (and the annoying interviews with the creator) have killed excitement for new episodes.
Bailey circumvented the judicial system. Which, while often frustratingly imperfect at times, exists for a reason: to hold back the law of the jungle, tooth and claw, the whip and the club, blood feuds, etc. Civilization, civilized society only lasts as long as most of the people follow most of the rules whether legal, social convention, mores, basic politeness etc. Nolan is complicit: he knows a crime was committed. Just an awful awful turn of events.