Why fans think Bailey from The Rookie needs to be killed off

The Rookie’s Bailey Nune was initially introduced as a minor character in season 3. She eventually became a leading character, after a romantic arc with protagonist Jonathan "John" Nolan, played by Nathan Fillion.

While Nune (portrayed by Jenna Dewan) is going through pregnancy and expecting her third child, she has been rumored to be temporarily leaving the show. But this does not seem to have anything to do with the actress herself.

Nune, as a character, has survived multiple fantastical situations, with her chemistry with Nolan often coming into question. While a range of major characters in the past have been killed off in The Rookie, Nune, owing to apparent plot armor, has been put into multiple life-threatening situations and has survived each time.

That may be down to a bit of stagnancy when it comes to the overall narrative, which is now inching towards its seventh season. But fans have often argued that protagonist John Nolan deserves a better romantic arc, considering the kind of questionable and toxic acts that Bailey has committed in recent seasons.

With season 6 having concluded in May 2024, fans continue to look for ways in which Bailey’s character arc can be ended for various reasons.

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Why Bailey should be killed off in The Rookie, according to fans

Bailey Nune has already undergone several critical moments through seasons 5 and 6. The show is not a stranger to killing off major characters, and Bailey was rumored to follow the trend set by the deaths of Zoe in season 1 and Jackson in season 4.

Episode 14 of season 5 saw her barely escape death; she was seen going after an armed shooter alongside her husband. However, she survived and is still a major part of the show.

A recent episode also saw her be involved in a drowning incident, but she was resuscitated after spending 4 minutes underwater.

In the past, fans have also claimed that Grace Sawyer has better chemistry with Nolan.

The narrative stagnation arising out of Bailey's multiple brushes with deaths means that a departure will see new energy in the show, aside from creating a fresh narrative that revolves around Nolan being grief-stricken.

Furthermore, considering how Nolan is well and truly in love with Nune, the only way the protagonist's love life can be updated is in the form of the death of his current wife. That will allow him to delve further into the chemistry he shares with Grace Sawyer.

Hence, the major argument against the character stems from the fact that she is not everybody’s favorite partner for John Nolan.

Furthermore, the kind of ‘plot armor’ that has seemingly been given to her, along with the range of talents that she possesses, means that the character in itself is fantastical. All this, when coupled with her multiple brushes with death, suggests that the narration will benefit from her absence.

Bailey's death will also spice things up for the upcoming season 7 of the show. It will put a further layer on the story of The Rookie's protagonist, as the two have also been seen planning a family in recent episodes.

Not only will a potential death bring about some much-needed change of direction in The Rookie, but it will also bring more realism, considering that Bailey is not expected to be a part of the upcoming season 7.

Currently expecting her third child, Jenna Dewan will likely not appear, at least in the first few episodes, which means the creators will need to explain her absence. While a potential death might be a bit sudden, it would solve multiple issues that The Rookie is currently dealing with, not least with respect to explaining Jenna Dewan's absence from the upcoming episodes.

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Regardless, Bailey is well and alive in the series, with The Rookie set to announce the release of its 7th season in the coming weeks.