Is ‘The Rookie’ ending? Melissa O’Neil’s post alarms fans about the show's future
The ongoing Season 8 of 'The Rookie' has been hailed by many as the show's best season to date. However, a recent social media post from Melissa O'Neil, instantly recognizable as Lucy Chen from the ABC show, has sparked speculation about the show's future on the network. Given that the show hasn't yet been renewed for a ninth season, O'Neil's post assumes added significance.
Things are finally looking up for Chen on 'The Rookie', as Season 8 saw her being promoted to the rank of Sergeant. The character is also at the convergence of several narrative threads, with the most prominent being her burgeoning relationship with Tim Bradford, Eric Winters's son. Taking to her Instagram handle, O'Neil wrote a heartfelt essay replete with gratitude for being part of the long-running show. The post read, "Being a part of @therookieabc and having the opportunity to continue to tell Lucy Chen’s story this year has been such a blessing in my life! 💛"
Nevertheless, the show's future was allegedly thrown in jeopardy by the second paragraph of O'Neil's post, one which displayed a remarkable sense of bidding farewell. "One of the wild elements of this business is that nothing is ever certain. Nothing promised is a guarantee. Season 8 has been a marathon of sorts, an ambitious adventure and the show feels stronger and more exciting than ever." TVInsider confirmed that several audience members were rather alarmed by O'Neil's reference to the television industry's uncertainty.
O'Neil also took a moment to thank the entire cast and crew of the police procedural show. She expressed her gratitude to the entire spectrum of writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, editors, sound designers and engineers, lighting crews, grips, and production assistants in no uncertain terms. She then went on to conclude her post by highlighting, "My fellow cast, I don’t know how it’s possible, but familiarity has not dulled my awe of you even a little bit. Thank you for being a source of inspiration and camaraderie. To be 8 years in on a project and in close enough proximity to watch everyone growing and expanding in their capacity, artistry, and precision is such a gift. I’m so proud to be a part of this show. I sincerely hope @therookieabc gets to come back for Season 9."
However, in the absence of an official confirmation, speculations surrounding a potential cancellation of 'The Rookie' are nothing more than rumours. Given ABC's previously established renewal schedule, the network usually bides its time before greenlighting a future season of an ongoing show. The continued success of the eighth season will no doubt play an important role in determining whether a ninth installment is on the cards. Until then, 'The Rookie' Season 8 airs new episodes on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
