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During the premiere of The Rookie season 7, Jenna Dewan's Bailey Nune was mysteriously missing, but the character's absence is only temporary. Dewan joined the cast of the ABC police procedural TV series in season 3 as John Nolan's new love interest, and Nathan Fillion's character has never been the same. Bailey showed up on Nolan's doorstep only wearing a towel after getting locked out of the house she was dog-sitting at, and the two have been together pretty much ever since.
ABC releases new episodes of The Rookie season 7 on Tuesdays at 10 pm ET. Season 7 contains 18 episodes.
Bailey does it all — she is a firefighter, EMT, Army Reserve Lieutenant, Capoeira instructor, former backup dancer, and Nolan's wife as of The Rookie's 100th episode. After her terrifying run-in with the best Rookie villain (Rosalind Dyer) in season 5, Bailey proposed to Nolan, and he said yes. The couple got married and decided they wanted to have children in season 6. Unfortunately, though, Jason Wyler's prison escape at the end of the season 6 finale threw a wrench into Bailey and Nolan's plans.
Why Bailey Is Absent In The Rookie Season 7 Thus Far?
Bailey Is Deployed With The National Guard
When The Rookie season 7 premieres, it has been a few weeks since Jason escaped from prison with Oscar Hutchinson, and Bailey is nowhere to be found. However, as Nolan reveals, there is a good reason for her absence. Bailey is currently overseas, deployed with the National Guard (one of her many jobs), explaining her disappearance in the ABC police procedural series.
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Nathan Fillion |
John Nolan |
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Richard T. Jones |
Wade Grey |
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Alyssa Diaz |
Angela Lopez |
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Eric Winter |
Tim Bradford |
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Melissa O'Neil |
Lucy Chen |
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Mekia Cox |
Nyla Harper |
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Shawn Ashmore |
Wesley Evers |
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Jenna Dewan |
Bailey Nune |
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Lisseth Chavez |
Celina Juarez |
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Deric Augustine |
Miles Penn |
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Patrick Kelehe |
Seth Ridley |
Even though Nolan undoubtedly misses his wife, he agrees that her temporarily leaving Los Angeles is for the best. With Jason on the loose, it's unknown what could happen to Bailey. Her ex-husband likely wants revenge for Bailey and Nolan's involvement in his arrest, and it is only a matter of time before Jason strikes. However, Jason's plans don't unfold during The Rookie season 7, episode 1, and they won't materialize in episode 2 either, because Jenna Dewan will still be missing from the cast during the hour.
The Real Reason For Jenna Dewan's Absence Explained
Dewan Was On Pregnancy Leave
Bailey missing from the beginning of The Rookie season 7 wasn't a storytelling choice as much as it was a necessity due to behind-the-scenes matters. Jenna Dewan gave birth to her and her husband's (Steve Kazee, who plays Jason in The Rookie) second child, Rhiannon Lee Kathryn Kazee, on June 14, 2024 (per Parade), which is around the time when filming for season 7 commenced. As a result, Dewan's Bailey had to be absent from the first handful of episodes because of the actress' new baby.
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Dewan was on pregnancy leave when The Rookie season 7 cast and crew filmed the premiere and episode 2. So, Bailey's absence is for logistical reasons instead of narrative ones. Sure, the character's deployment makes sense — both in terms of her work and her desire to be out of the country in the wake of Jason's prison escape. Bailey missing from The Rookie season 7 also unfortunately prolongs the season 6 finale's cliffhanger, but there was no way for the ABC crime drama series to avoid it.
When Will Bailey Return In The Rookie Season 7?
Dewan Is Expected To Appear In Episode 3
The good news is that Jenna Dewan's Bailey is only missing from the first two episodes of the 2025 season. According to showrunner Alexi Hawley, Dewan returns as Bailey in The Rookie season 7, episode 3, "Out of Pocket," which airs on Tuesday, January 21. However, the character will not be present for the entirety of the hour. Hawley told Screen Rant, "I mean, Jenna had a baby, so we see her at the end of episode 3, basically."
Then, episode 4 [of The Rookie season 7], "Darkness Falling," will probably circle back to Jason's escape and feature Bailey and Nolan coming face-to-face with her ex-husband, who also happens to be a convict.
Based on The Rookie showrunner's teases concerning Bailey's return, Dewan's character will not play a significant role in episode 3's story. Instead, the audience will likely see Bailey come back home from her National Guard deployment and reunite with her husband when "Out of Pocket" comes to a close. Then, episode 4, "Darkness Falling," will probably circle back to Jason's escape and feature Bailey and Nolan coming face-to-face with her ex-husband, who also happens to be a convict. However, only time will tell what happens to Bailey upon her return to The Rookie season 7.
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The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force's oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.
Release Date October 16, 2018
Creator(s) Alexi Hawley
Seasons 7
Showrunner Alexi Hawley
Source: Parade
English (US) ·