If you heard an audible groan across social media this Tuesday night, it wasn’t because of a cliffhanger. It was because one of the most

polarizing figures in The Rookie history just walked back into our lives. In Episode 803, titled “The Red Place,” creator Alexi Hawley pulled a fast one on the audience by bringing back Seth Ridley (Patrick Keleher).

 

 

You remember Seth, right? The pathological liar who faked cancer, nearly got Tim and Lucy killed during a wildfire, and eventually lost his leg in a hail of gunfire? Most of us thought his story ended with that amputation and a stern lecture from John Nolan about “radical honesty.” But as it turns out, the Mid-Wilshire universe isn’t done with him yet. Whether you love to hate him or just want him to disappear, his return has sparked a massive debate about redemption and whether some characters deserve a second (or third) chance.

In a recent candid interview with Deadline, showrunner Alexi Hawley didn’t shy away from the controversy. He knows Seth is a character that gets under the audience’s skin—and that’s exactly why he brought him back.

The Challenge of True Redemption
Hawley explained that he finds the idea of “impossible redemption” fascinating. It’s easy to forgive a character who makes a one-time mistake, but what do you do with someone who has fundamentally betrayed the trust of every person they know?

The Complexity of Trauma: Seth isn’t just a “bad guy” in the traditional sense; he’s a man whose life has completely unraveled. Hawley wanted to explore what happens after the dramatic exit.

Beyond the Apology: “It’s not as easy as just calling people and apologizing,” Hawley noted. He wants to show the gritty, uncomfortable path of someone trying to find a footing (literally and figuratively) after destroying their own reputation.

H3: Patrick Keleher’s “Fine-Tuned” Performance
Hawley praised Patrick Keleher’s ability to walk the line between a sympathetic “Boy Scout” and a “creepy” manipulator. This dual nature is what makes Seth so effective as a polarizing force. You want to feel bad for him because he lost his leg, but then he opens his mouth, and the defensive victimhood starts all over again.

😈 Enter Ezra Kaine: David Krumholtz’s Masterclass in Terror
While Seth provided the emotional “ugh” of the episode, David Krumholtz provided the literal “shivers.” Known for his roles in Numb3rs and The Santa Clause, Krumholtz took a sharp, dark turn as Ezra Kaine, a villain who is arguably one of the most disturbing the show has ever featured.

The “Amon” Connection: A Marquis of Hell
Ezra Kaine wasn’t just a common criminal. He was a “monster” hidden behind the mask of a meek, unhoused man.

The Twist: What started as a simple trespassing arrest for John Nolan quickly spiraled into a nightmare involving a cold-case triple homicide.

The Psychological Warfare: Krumholtz portrayed Kaine as a man who believed he was “Amon,” a marquis of hell who commanded legions. The disturbing drawings found in his motel room and his “soulmate” obsession with his victim, Samantha, added a layer of psychological horror that The Rookie rarely touches.

H3: Outsmarting the LAPD from an Interrogation Room
The brilliance of Krumholtz’s performance was in the “turn.” One minute he’s a stuttering, timid man; the next, he’s a cold-blooded killer ready for the “main course.” He managed to outmaneuver Nolan, Harper, and Lopez by using their own empathy against them, ultimately re-traumatizing Samantha by forcing her to hear his twisted language through the police.

🛠️ Miles Penn and the Burden of Loyalty
The bridge between the Seth drama and the main precinct action was Miles Penn (Deric Augustine). Miles, who has been a breath of fresh air as a genuinely “good guy,” took it upon himself to check on his former academy friend.

H3: The Radical Honesty Ultimatum
Miles visiting Seth’s messy apartment was a study in patience.

The Confrontation: Seth was in a dark place, skipping physical therapy and wallowing in victimhood.

The Agreement: Miles offered a hand, but with a strict condition: Radical Honesty. This sets up a compelling side-arc for Season 8. Can Seth actually tell the truth, or is the “lie” too ingrained in his DNA? Miles is putting his own reputation on the line to save a man who arguably doesn’t want to be saved, and the tension is palpable.

🕯️ Lucy Chen and the Ghosts of Season 2
The Ezra Kaine case didn’t just affect the detectives; it hit Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) right where it hurts. The kidnapping of Samantha mirrored Lucy’s own trauma at the hands of Caleb Wright (the protégé of Rosalind Dyer).

H3: Survival vs. Recovery
In one of the show’s most emotional scenes to date, Lucy opened up to Samantha about being drugged, kidnapped, and nearly killed.