The latest episode of The Rookie Season 8, titled “Baja,” aired on February 16, 2026, bringing viewers an intense undercover mission south of the border. The episode followed Nyla Harper and Lucy Chen as they went deep undercover in Mexico to investigate the murders of two young women, while back in Los Angeles, John Nolan dealt with his long-distance marriage and Miles Penn faced serious consequences for going rogue.
The ABC police procedural, which airs Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET, continues to deliver strong character-driven storytelling with its ensemble cast. Here is a complete look at the cast and characters who brought “Baja” to life.
Main Cast in The Rookie Season 8 Episode 7
Nathan Fillion as John Nolan
Nathan Fillion leads the cast as John Nolan, the former Pennsylvania construction worker who became the LAPD’s oldest rookie and is now a respected training officer. In “Baja,” Nolan found himself managing his long-distance relationship with wife Bailey Nune, who left for a five-day trial assignment in Washington, D.C. The episode also showed Nolan stepping up to help his rookie, Miles Penn, after Miles went on an off-duty stakeout that went terribly wrong. Nolan convinced Tim Bradford to give Miles a second chance, resulting in a two-week suspension and six-month extension of his training program.
Fillion, known for his roles in Castle and Firefly, brings steady authority and empathy to the character who serves as the moral center of the Mid-Wilshire division.
Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen
Melissa O’Neil delivered a powerful performance as Sergeant Lucy Chen, whose traumatic memories of her past kidnapping resurfaced during the Baja investigation. Lucy convinced Nyla Harper to go undercover with her after the team discovered two dead women who had been forced to work as drug mules for a Mexican cartel. The case hit close to home for Lucy, who used her personal experience to fuel her determination to bring justice for the victims.
In an exclusive interview, O’Neil explained Lucy’s emotional state during the episode. “I think that she’s always going to have a tender spot for women who remind her of what she went through,” O’Neil said. “I thought that that was a really clever way to tie in the hangover from that experience, that trauma that she had six seasons ago now, but to not look at it directly.”
O’Neil, a former Canadian Idol winner who also stars in Dark Matter, shared that preparing for the episode required learning to swim and taking surf lessons with co-star Mekia Cox months in advance.
Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper
Mekia Cox appeared as Detective Nyla Harper, who went undercover alongside Lucy in Baja. Harper pretended to be Lucy’s lover as part of their operation and successfully tracked down the man responsible for the murders. The undercover mission came at a complicated time for Harper, who is dealing with the fallout from Wesley Evers reporting her to Internal Affairs for using unethical police tactics.
Cox, known for her work in Chicago Med and Once Upon a Time, brings depth to a character shaped by years of undercover work rather than idealism. O’Neil praised working with Cox, calling her “an incredible artist” and noting they “have a really good time” filming together.
Eric Winter as Tim Bradford
Eric Winter played Sergeant Tim Bradford, now serving as watch commander following Lieutenant Grey’s move to the Monica task force. Bradford worried about girlfriend Lucy Chen heading into a dangerous undercover mission in Mexico. Meanwhile, he faced a difficult decision when Miles Penn went rogue, running off-the-book surveillance that led to his brief kidnapping.
Winter explained Bradford’s reaction to the situation. “Tim was more disappointed than angry,” Winter said. “Tim takes a lot of pride in the way he trains his rookies, and when someone tries to go off on a tangent, do their own thing, that tends to rub him the wrong way, for sure.”
Winter, whose credits include The Mentalist and Days of Our Lives, noted that Bradford’s growth as a character shows in his willingness to give Miles a second chance after cooling down.
Deric Augustine as Miles Penn
Deric Augustine portrayed Officer Miles Penn, John Nolan’s rookie who landed in serious trouble during “Baja.” Miles went on an off-duty stakeout with Seth Ridley to capture a criminal named Hamster, but things took a dangerous turn when Hamster pulled a gun on him. Seth reached out to Nolan for help, and the cavalry arrived just in time to save Miles.
Despite being safe, Miles faced the consequences of his actions from Tim Bradford, who initially told him he was done at the LAPD. Nolan convinced Bradford to adjust the punishment to a two-week administrative leave and a six-month extension in the training program, which will affect Miles’ career choices moving forward.
Augustine was promoted to series regular for Season 8 after recurring in Season 7.
Supporting Cast in The Rookie Season 8 Episode 7
Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez
Alyssa Diaz returned as Detective Angela Lopez, who continues to balance high-pressure cases with family life. Diaz has been with the series since the beginning, and her character has grown from patrol officer to confident detective. She is known for her work in Army Wives and Ray Donovan.
Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers
Shawn Ashmore appeared as Wesley Evers, Angela’s husband and an assistant district attorney. Wesley’s decision to report Nyla Harper to Internal Affairs continues to affect relationships within the department. Ashmore is widely recognized for playing Iceman in the X-Men franchise.
Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez
Lisseth Chavez played Officer Celina Juarez, Nolan’s former rookie who joined the force to uncover the truth behind her sister’s disappearance. Chavez has appeared in Chicago P.D. and Legends of Tomorrow.
Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune
Jenna Dewan portrayed Bailey Nune, John Nolan’s wife and a firefighter lieutenant and Army reservist. In “Baja,” Bailey left for a five-day trial assignment in Washington, D.C., leading Nolan and Bailey to give their long-distance relationship a real shot. Dewan is best known for Step Up and Witches of East End.
Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey
Richard T. Jones appeared as Lieutenant Wade Grey, who now works with the Monica task force. Jones, known for Judging Amy and Narcos, serves as the moral and professional backbone of the Mid-Wilshire Division.
Arjay Smith as James Murray
Arjay Smith returned as James Murray, Nyla Harper’s husband, who deals with the challenges of being married to a detective whose work often puts her in dangerous situations.
Felix Solis as Matthew Garza
Felix Solis guest-starred as Matthew Garza, an FBI supervisory special agent who previously crossed over from The Rookie: Feds. Solis brings intensity to the role as the team works across jurisdictions.
Michelle Núñez as Elena Flores
Michelle Núñez appeared as Elena Flores, a recurring character who adds depth to the supporting cast.
Patrick Keleher as Seth Ridley
Patrick Keleher played Seth Ridley, who joined Miles on the off-duty stakeout and called Nolan for help when things went wrong. Keleher’s character continues to be involved in storylines testing the department’s younger officers.
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Episode Background and Context
“The Rookie” Season 8 Episode 7, titled “Baja,” aired on February 16, 2026, on ABC at 10:00 p.m. ET. The episode follows the series’ new Monday night time slot, which began in late January 2026. Viewers can stream the episode on Hulu starting February 17, 2026, and in India on Moviesphere+.
The episode’s official synopsis reads: “Harper and Lucy work undercover in Baja investigating two women’s murders. Nolan and Bailey deal with their long-distance relationship.”
The investigation in Baja brought back traumatic memories for Lucy Chen, connecting to storylines from six seasons ago when she was kidnapped. The case also tested the partnership between Lucy and Nyla, who haven’t worked closely together since Season 2.
Meanwhile, the fallout from Miles Penn going rogue shows the changing dynamics at Mid-Wilshire with Tim Bradford now in a leadership role as watch commander. Bradford’s decision to extend Miles’ training program will affect the rookie’s career choices moving forward.
Where to Watch The Rookie Season 8
Viewers can watch The Rookie Season 8 on ABC during its weekly broadcast schedule on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Episodes are available for streaming on Hulu the day after broadcast. International viewers in India can watch on Moviesphere+.
The series, created by Alexi Hawley, premiered in 2018 and continues to follow John Nolan and the officers of the Mid-Wilshire Division as they navigate the intense, unpredictable nature of their jobs while uplifting the next generation of first responders.
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