‘The Rookie’ Boss Explains Why Monica Died: ‘It Was Time’
What To Know
- The Rookie killed off Bridget Regan’s Monica in the penultimate episode of Season 8.
- Showrunner Alexi Hawley explains the decision.
Given the situations Monica (Bridget Regan) had been able to escape up until the penultimate episode of The Rookie Season 8, it was a shock to see her killed off — and very much dead, with a lingering shot of her body. (“Alexi wanted to be like, ‘She’s dead, dead. She’s dead. Dead, capital D, Dead, period,'” Regan told us with a laugh.)
But why did that happen? When TV Insider spoke with showrunner Alexi Hawley recently, we had to find out.
“It felt like it was time. Ultimately, it felt like she’d escaped a lot of things,” he explained. “And I never like to just tread water or feel like we’re telling the same story over and over. So I think it just felt like it was a natural end. And yeah, it felt like we needed to give her a really powerful ending.”
Before her death, Monica had a touching goodbye with her ex, Wesley (Shawn Ashmore), one that Hawley called “so powerful.”
“Those two actors are so brilliant. When I talked to Monica about it, I did tell her I’d give her a Viking death, and it felt like — but I remember talking to her in Prague about Monica and sort of layering in trying to keep the dimensionality of that character going. It’s very easy to fall into, she’s just a villain, but I thought we did a really good job this season with showing the cracks in that armor she wears every day,” he said. “I just think that that scene was so powerful where she’s like, ‘I know every move I made, but I still don’t understand exactly how I got here,’ was really emotional.”
That will be the last time we see Monica. “We don’t do a ton of flashbacks. So I think that story is told,” Hawley pointed out.
Regan told TV Insider she wasn’t “surprised” by Monica’s death. Rather, “I was thrilled that she lasted as long as she did. If you play with fire as long as she has, eventually you’re going to get burned. And as I said to Alexi and everybody, I was like, ‘She’s not on her ninth life. She’s on her 37th. She’s escaped multiple assassinations and prison time and being thrown in a wood chipper,'” she pointed out. “But what I was surprised by was just how incredibly sad I was for her. Not that she died, but that she never truly flipped, that she actually succumbed to the dark side and couldn’t find her way back. And I felt like there was this version of Monica that could have been something else, but she just could never get there. So to me, that was the real heartbreak of it all.”
Will you miss Monica? Let us know in the comments section below.
The Rookie, Mondays, 10/9c, ABC
Conversation12 Comments
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U
Real Sorry to see her go! She was one in a million to bring the character to life. Will miss her talent greatly! She did such a great job! She went out with a bang! Great job!!!!! Thank-you for that!!!
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T
I think that it’s unfair that all female villains die and male don’t.
She could have just gone to prison.
This feels.. like an excuse
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A
Don't start with that. It has nothing to do with Monica being a woman. She was just villain who's time was up do to her actions.
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P
Well past time. Oscar next, then find a way to be done w STRandy and the interview episodes
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N
I think Oscar should have died before her, but was really tired of seeing her get away with so much. It kind of brought the show down, as they are all cops and attorneys. Please get rid of Oscar next and then bring on a new set of degenerates, and Elijah should never come back, kinda been there and should, as I said, move onto a new villain.
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A
mommy come back
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B
Good actress, annoying character who outstayed her welcome.
She should have got a bullet in the head a couple of seasons ago. Her endlessly smug attitude & constantly getting away with everything was incredibly irritating to watch. Seems to be a theme with most of the recurring villains on the show (see also the current smug lawyer with the serial killer client). It's just bad writing.
I can't believe they tried to make us feel sorry for her at the end with all the sad music & the main cast borderline crying over her corpse. It was laughable.
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C
I think she’s was very good brilliant they make you think she’s was a sociopath or deff had tendencies to be one but in the end she’s actually shows some kind of emotions when she’s says goodbye to Wesley. I think that was the only person she’d ever loved. After he broke her heart any normality she had died. and she’s had so much hate helped her cross to the dark side. I wish they didn’t kill her off she’s reminded me a character that could have been on the show the Ozark, ,she’s had that’s kind of character to me. I deff feel she’s kept its interesting.
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P
Glad to see her go as she brought the show dynamic down way past low. But lasting as long as she did is not a surprise given Alexi Hawley's poor understanding of characters. The Rookie is the perfect example of a show that lasts in spite of the lack of skill of its show runner. We watch because we love the talented actors and their characters despite the ridiculous scenarios they are forced into and the absurd lines they are given. Imagine what the show could be if a talented writer/executive producer took over!
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M
It was time. Time to move on
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A
If the director takes his reason seriously ("Ultimately, it felt like she’d escaped a lot of things,” ) and apply this reason on the cast, he should kill everyone. Lol. That's the point of this kind of silly shows. So what is really in behind the scene?
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B
Frankly it was past time for her to go. She caused more hate, hell and discontent for everyone concerned. More trouble than she was worth. Greedy opportunistic witch didn’t care who got hurt long as she got what she wanted. Lasted way too long!!
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