If you’ve been following ABC’s The Rookie, you know John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) are usually the “steady”

ones. While Tim and Lucy juggle slow-burn pining and Angela and Wesley dodge cartels, Nolan and Bailey have always felt like the calm in

the storm. But as we dive into the heart of 2026’s episodes, the writers have officially thrown a curveball that makes an LAPD shootout look like a Sunday picnic.

 

 

This isn’t just about forgetting an anniversary or a disagreement over dinner. We are talking about a massive ethical and legal crisis that strikes at the very core of who John Nolan is: a man of the law. For the first time, the “perfect” marriage is showing cracks, and they aren’t the kind you can just patch up with a heartfelt talk at the kitchen island.

The biggest shocker of Season 7 involves the return—and ultimate demise—of Bailey’s abusive ex-husband, Jason Wyler. While fans expected a showdown, nobody predicted that Bailey would be the one to orchestrate a “shadow” solution.

The Crime: In the eyes of the law, this is conspiracy to commit murder or, at the very least, aiding and abetting an extrajudicial execution.

The Discovery: Nolan found the burner phone. Imagine the man who spent seasons refusing to shoot a serial killer (Rosalind Dyer) discovering his own wife essentially green-lit a hit.

H3: The Moral Compass in Tatters
John Nolan’s entire identity is built on his moral high ground. He’s the guy who follows the manual, even when it’s inconvenient. This curveball forces him into a “No-Win” scenario:

Option A: Turn in his wife and watch her go to prison, effectively ending their life together.

Option B: Protect her, destroy evidence, and become the “dirty cop” he has spent his career despising.

💔 The Heartbreak of the Adoption Denial
As if a criminal conspiracy wasn’t enough to strain a marriage, the couple faced a devastating blow on the personal front. After deciding against IVF in Season 6, they turned their hopes toward adoption.

The “Danger Magnet” Penalty
In the Season 7 episode “Three Billboards,” a social worker delivered the crushing news: their application was denied. The reason? Their lives are simply too dangerous.

Professional Risk: He’s a cop who gets shot at; she’s a firefighter who runs into burning buildings.

Personal Risk: The constant threat from people like Jason and Oscar Hutchinson makes them a liability in the eyes of the state.

H3: The Silent House Tension
This denial has left a void in their marriage that words can’t fill. While showrunner Alexi Hawley confirmed the couple has “made peace” with it being just the two of them, the underlying grief is palpable. When you take away a shared dream, what’s left? In the 2026 episodes, we see this grief manifest as irritability and a lack of communication.

🕵️ Is This the End of “Bailan”?
Rumors have been swirling across Reddit and Twitter: Are they writing Bailey out? With Jenna Dewan’s real-life pregnancy requiring some creative filming (and her character being “deployed” for the start of the season), fans are worried this “curveball” is the beginning of an exit storyline.

H3: The Gaslighting Controversy
A vocal part of the fandom is actually upset with how the marriage tension is being handled. Some feel Bailey is “gaslighting” Nolan by being angry at him for being upset about her contact with a hitman.

The Fan Perspective: “How is Nolan the one who has to apologize for his wife committing a felony?” is a common refrain in the 2026 discussions.

The Writer’s Perspective: This friction is intentional. It shows that even the best people can become unrecognizable when pushed by trauma.

💡 Why the Curveball Works for the Show
While it’s hard to see our favorites suffer, this is exactly what The Rookie needed. A procedural can get stale if the leads are too happy for too long.

Humanizing the Hero
By making Nolan “bend” his morals for Bailey, the show is humanizing him. He’s no longer just a “boy scout”; he’s a husband who is willing to lose his soul to save his wife. It’s a darker, grittier side of Nathan Fillion’s performance that we haven’t seen since the early days of Castle.