The Rookie's Most Hated Character Deserves to Be Loved for a Heartbreaking Reason
He deserves recognition for what he has been through.
Summary
- The most hated character on The Rookie is not really a villain.
- He has been through a lot in his life and is a better person for it.
- The character has many endearing qualities.
Like any procedural drama, ABC's The Rookie has an ensemble cast of characters that changes from season to season. While Nathan Fillion's John Nolan remains the central character and the ultimate fan favorite, the antagonists hated by viewers change.
In Seasons 4 and 5, Elijah Stone was the main antagonist of the show. In Season 6, his corrupt lawyer, Monica Stevens, took his place as The Rookie's villain. But interestingly, they're not the characters universally hated by fans. One of the younger officers in John's department, Aaron Thorsen, regularly takes the brunt of the audience's scorn. And frankly, he doesn't deserve it.
A Journey Full of Bumps
When Tru Valentino's Aaron Thorsen was introduced in Season 4, he immediately became the most hated character on the show. And for good reason.
The son of a popular rapper, Lincoln Flex Thorsen, Aaron had lived a lavish life of comfort and privilege, which he flaunted on his TikTok account and became a famous internet personality. Of course, his character was anything but pleasant.
Spoiled and arrogant, Aaron had no regard for other people and treated the world like his oyster. But things changed for him when, while studying in Paris, he had to face a kind of serious, if not extreme, comeuppance. His best friend and roommate, Patrick Hayes, was butchered in their apartment one night, and Aaron, who found his dead body, became the prime suspect and spent over a year in French prison.
Although Aaron managed to be acquitted of the crime he didn't commit, his previous life was ruined, as he was condemned to infamy and no other friend of his, no person from his former life wanted to know him. But despite all this trauma, Aaron found the strength and resilience to move on with his life and make things right, so he enrolled in the police academy and became an officer.
The Embodiment of Perseverance
During his time with the police, Aaron has demonstrated his most appealing qualities. He has a great sense of humor and an infectious personality. He has proven to be a quick learner and a brave and dependable officer.
More importantly, he doesn't crack when the going gets tough, showing that he's a strong person and a master of his own life. In the Season 5 finale, Aaron and Celina are seriously wounded by some armed assailants they were chasing, and he nearly dies from blood loss. And yet, after so much tragedy and a near-death experience that must have refreshed his memory of that fateful night in Paris, Aaron has remained strong and full of life. If that doesn't make him lovable, what could?