Seth’s shocking exit in The Rookie Season 7: What really happened in Episode 16? Patrick Keleher explains

Seth Ridley first appeared in The Rookie Season 7, as a fresh recruit partnered with Officer Lucy Chen. He came across as eager and full of potential initially, but it didn’t take long for people to realize he was a compulsive liar.

In Episode 10, Chaos Agent, Seth was dismissed from the LAPD after repeatedly lying about serious personal matters. He told stories about a girlfriend’s death and claimed he had cancer. Asked for proof, he refused, leading to his removal from duty.

However, in Episode 16, The Rookie surprised viewers when Seth returned to the department through the Field Training Officer program. His reappearance caught Lucy and the rest of the team off guard. Patrick Keleher, who plays Seth on The Rookie, spoke about the character's return and much more in an interview with Screen Rant.

Patrick Keleher on Seth's return and exit in The Rookie Season 7

In The Rookie, Seth’s character stood out not for heroism but for manipulation. His constant lies created tension on the team and put Officer Chen in a difficult position. She initially defended him, but even she couldn't overlook the pattern of constant lying. Seth’s exit felt final, and most fans believed they had seen the last of him.

However, he returns in Episode 16 of The Rookie and saves Nolan from getting shot, risking his life and career. Seth gets shot instead and, unfortunately, has to get his leg amputated to survive, which makes it uncertain where his career is headed. Patrick Keleher, in a recent interview with Screen Rant, was asked if Seth wanted to be more honest when he returns to the precinct. In response, he said:

''Yeah. He really does. He wants to be a good cop. That's why he started being a cop in the first place. He wants to make a difference. But God, lying is just deep in his roots, and I wonder if we'll ever go into Seth's past, if we'll ever see him as a child. What happened to him? So I think he's always trying to do the right thing, but it just gets mixed up.''

Fans were quite surprised by Seth's return on The Rookie. When asked if he knew Seth was going to return again, Patrick said:

''I did. Well, all I knew was the writers and the producers would say, "It looks pretty good." But nobody confirmed that I was back in this season or a later season. I had no idea until I got a call from my agent saying, "They want you back for Episode 16." So when I got fired, I really didn't actually know if I was coming back or not. And it was scary. It's like losing your job, really. It's getting laid off, in a way, except it's very theatrical.''

Seth’s return adds a new layer of drama to The Rookie. It opens up possibilities for a redemption arc, but it also carries the risk of repeating past mistakes. Given his recent injury, it is unlikely that Seth can return to his career as a police officer. The series protagonist Nolan, however, is hopeful. Asked about the particular scene of Nolan encouraging Seth, Patrick said:

''That's a great scene. The whole season, it's always negative. He's always lying. But that's one of the only scenes where he really does the right thing with Tamara, and he finally tells the truth about the cancer. We never know. And Tamara's the only one who he actually tells the truth to. I think that it left on a very positive note. It might shoot us back up, so we'll see.''

On Seth's returning in The Rookie, Patrick stated:

''I have no idea.'' He added that he is ...done in Season 7.

While Seth will not return in Season 7 of The Rookie, he might come back in future seasons. Just because he got amputated, it does not mean he has no future on the show. The writers can whip up something new and exciting for him.

New episodes of The Rookie come out every Tuesday on ABC at 9 p.m. ET.

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