Hope's Pick: Top 10 Episodes of "Rookie Blue" [Contributor: Hope]

There are two things I discovered while writing this post. Firstly, that I really need to re-watch Rookie Blue from the beginning through the season six finale. It’s been entirely too long since I have. And secondly, that it is very, very hard to narrow down seventy-four episodes to the top ten. That’s when I made some ruthless decisions… and just barely cut my list down to the necessary ten. These are some of the episodes I felt were pivotal, funny, or just simply well-done. They are the ones that stand out in my mind when I think of pure examples of Rookie Blue's greatness. However, there are still 64 other episodes out there that I loved to pieces.

So, join me in a – chronological – look down memory lane. If I almost caved in and renamed this post "Hope’s Top 15 Episodes" (one slippery slope away from "Hope’s Top 74 Episodes"), I certainly couldn’t bring myself to pick favorites out of my favorites. Therefore, numbers don’t equal any sort of ranking. And to keep from these turning into full-blown reviews, I’ll just highlight, in paragraph or so, why they made the cut.

WARNING: 

Spoilers ahead for the episodes discussed and possibly for others.

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Strong Women Series #7: The Women of 'Rookie Blue' [Contributor: Hope]

When Rookie Blue started, it began with five rookies – three women and two guys. That should’ve tipped us off right there about this series’ attitude towards women. After all, the executive producer/creator is a woman. All three creators, in fact, are women. With that in mind, and in the spirit of Jenn's It’s A Man’s, Man’s World post, I thought I’d see how Rookie Blue measured up in terms of female representation in the writers' room.

The results? 53 of 74 episodes were written by women. That’s (rounding up) 72% of the series. And only 3 of those 53 were co-written with a man. You have to look ahead to episode seven of season one to find the first episode penned by a man. SHOWS SUPPORTING LADIES, folks. I’m so incredibly proud of this series for so many reasons, and this is just another one to add to my list.

Moving on to our main cast of ladies: all of these characters are strong women. They’re cops, so of course they have physical strength and a required amount of emotional fortitude. But that’s not the point, is it? Being strong, to the rest of us, isn’t that simple. It’s awesome seeing female cops take down criminals of all kinds. Truly. They’re amazing role models... but NOT just because of their tactical skills; they're role models because they’re human. They have emotional scars, individual fears, and moments when they break down and cry. Sometimes, on a call, they’re scared and don’t know what to do – even when they’re not technically rookies anymore. Their hair gets messed up and they look bedraggled after a rough day – like they would in the real world – and they don't really care. They act completely dorky and awkward. They admit when they’re wrong and they make sure they’re acknowledged when they’re right. They command respect, and follow the rules and what their consciences tell them is right. They fall in love and get their hearts broken and then go right back out to solve crimes and protect their citizens. They’re best friends with each other, despite their differences. They’re competitive as cops, but they’re not petty towards one other. In fact, even when they’re not getting along, they seem to follow our motto here at Just About Write: Ladies Supporting Ladies.

So let's celebrate what makes each of these ladies truly strong.

WARNING: Spoilers for episodes scattered throughout the series follow. If you haven't seen the whole series, proceed with caution.



CHLOE PRICE
a.k.a. Quirky Ray of Sunshine

Chloe is the kind of person who means only good. She babbles until she simultaneously drives everyone collectively crazy and earns their endearment. She gets in over her head, she’s fiercely loyal, and she makes mistakes. She brings something to the show that no other character has. The other characters are funny. Some of them are more optimistic than others. But no one else had this level of energy or quite this level of optimism.

However, Chloe’s more than just comic relief, which she easily could have been in any other show. When she was shot at the end of season four, her husband came onto the scene. Her secret husband she had never mentioned to anyone, let alone Dov. She explained that Wes, her husband, was controlling and jealous. He took the free spirit that is Chloe and turned her into someone she wasn’t. So she moved on. She didn’t get a divorce; she just moved on with her life. She didn’t think about it clearly (example: Wes had control over her medical care), and she didn’t think about it clearly when she erased the camera footage that showed Wes kissing her. Which leads to her and Dov breaking up instead of trying to work past everything that had happened to them. Chloe moves so quickly that she sometimes simply doesn’t stop and think things through or have a serious conversation. She just keeps moving.

We see her overcome that in "Ninety Degrees," when she confronted Dov about their complete avoidance of the topic of Wes. She hadn’t been denying that she’d been in the wrong. That wasn’t the significance of this moment. Rather, this scene forced her to stop and slow down. It forced her to drop a lot of her babbling humor, which – like Gail’s sarcasm, for example – is her own defense mechanism. This moment let her be open, doubly honest (let’s face it, she’s usually pretty honest), and serious, which was exactly what she needed to be in that instance.

However, there’s nothing wrong with her the way Chloe is. This is simply example of how she got in her own way. That’s part of my point, actually: all the things that get in these characters’ ways are also integral pieces of who they are. Flaws don’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. It’s clear that Chloe owns who she is and rather enjoys it (something we should all strive for).



GAIL PECK
a.k.a. Queen of Snark

Gail has many walls, and she uses her A+ level sarcasm skills to act as her first – and effective – line of defense. Gradually, we see her open up more. She becomes an integral part of the circle of friends. Her snark becomes more good-natured. She tries to adopt a child, which – can you even imagine season one Gail wanting to do that? This was a major move for her. Then she chooses to NOT keep trying to adopt that child, because she believes someone else will do a better job. She doesn’t win here, and Gail Peck likes to win. She gives in, she admits to her flaws… and she moves forward.

I don’t think I’d realized how much Gail had lightened up over the seasons until we saw her momentarily regress after Steve was arrested. Her walls came back up. Her snark was amped back up, top-notch. She was falling apart inside and her reaction was to act like she had everything together and push everyone away in the process. Let’s face it: a lot of us have that reaction. We live in a society where strong means not crying, not falling apart, and most certainly, not showing that the world is getting to you. But one of the strongest things Gail has ever done was let Sadie go with the other family and cry, right there in the Black Penny. She stopped pretending to be strong and simultaneously showed just how strong she was. It’s easier to run away, to push others away, to hide our emotions. Call it avoidance or procrastination; it’s the easy way out. And the easy way out isn’t usually considered the strong way out. Gail came to terms with what she had to do. She stopped pretending that the repercussions of what her brother did didn’t get to her. She was honest, brave, and strong.

Gail might have acted like she didn’t need anyone or care what anyone thought about her, but she really did. She wanted everyone to know she was strong and brave, so she acted tough and independent. A lot of this had to do with her family and the standards they’d set for her.

That wasn’t right for her though. Gail did need others, and she found people that helped her along the way. Her friends and co-workers let her into their lives, even if she was hesitant about letting them into hers. And it was with the rookies that she truly became herself.



TRACI NASH
a.k.a. Pillar of Loyalty and Common Sense

I feel like Traci doesn’t get the focus she deserves. She’s a single mom who always puts her kid first and somehow balances her demanding job atop it. Traci worked her way up to detective quickly which, for the record, makes her the only rookie to make detective before the season six finale. She lost her fiancé, Jerry, and yet kept moving forward. She was kidnapped and gave her attacker a good piece of her mind. Her boyfriend blew up the evidence locker and she vowed never to see him again, just like that. Even more, she’s always been there for the others, especially Andy. She’s good-humored and pretty optimistic, but also realistic and grounded.

Traci’s the only female rookie not in a relationship as of the season six finale. And I liked that. She has her son. She has her friends and coworkers. Theo’s father wasn’t such a good guy, and she was better off without him. She almost married Jerry, a good guy. He died. And frankly, Traci could have continued to be single for the remainder of the series after that, as far as I’m concerned. Jerry’s death was sudden and shocking and heartbreaking. More than that, he died in the line of duty. And yet, her next relationship was with Steve, another cop.

Steve wasn’t Jerry. He shared some characteristics with Gail, but he lacked her heart of gold. Traci turned her back on Steve the moment it was confirmed he was the one who planted the bomb. She did it to protect her son, out of loyalty to her friends, and also for herself. She’d been in a volatile relationship with Theo’s father. She’d been in love with someone who was a really good person, and would have probably been a wonderful stepfather for her son. Traci didn’t have to settle for Steve. There was that nice cop from the season five finale who kept telling her about fairytales; they could have brought him back in, and implied that she would date him. But the writers didn’t have to and they didn’t, and I think it was the right choice. Traci was happy in the season six finale. She had her son and her family of friends. She didn’t need a knight in shining armor to make her happy. She’d built herself a life that did that just fine.

(Shout-out to Noelle, who happened to be in the GIF I chose. She’s awesome. Bonus GIF follows.)



And last but not least...



ANDY MCNALLY
a.k.a. Super Cop of Imperfection

Out of all the rookies, I always related the most to Andy. She has the most similar personality to my own. She’s awkward at times. She’s dorky, stubborn, a true rule-follower, and competitive. And she has faults. Plenty of them.

When we first meet Andy, she’s green. Very, very green, like all the rest of the rookies. And when she’s scared by problems in her personal life, she runs away. She grows past that but that flaw is never something that’s meant to make us look unkindly upon her character. It’s a flaw. If we didn’t have flaws, we’d be very boring, static people.

This series has always been about all the rookies, but in many ways, Andy has been our main character. She falls for Luke –– he cheats on her. She falls for Sam –– he pushes her away. So she runs away (in this instance I do think it was right for her to distance herself from Sam, but that’s beside the point). She falls for Nick, and he’s so, so good to her. But she realizes she never stopped loving Sam and to be fair to all three of them, she breaks up with Nick and tries one more time with Sam. All those decisions take bravery and strength. And the whole time, she’s learning. By season six, she stops running away, even though she’s faced with one of her toughest problems yet. She shows so much character growth. If there’s one thing Andy’s refused to do, it’s settle. Sticking around and working things out isn’t settling; it’s pushing towards an ideal. But it takes two people to work things out, and finally Andy and Sam were both able to take their problems and make a commitment to work through them.

Unfailingly, Andy has also never compromised her role as a police officer. She’s beyond excited to try and train to be a "super cop." She almost misses her own wedding to help those who needed her. Even on her first day, she arrests Sam and firmly stands by her decision to do so. She adheres to the rules of being a cop, and she only bends them when they’re standing in the way of true justice. She’s considerate of others’ feelings but when it comes down to it, she speaks her mind and does what she ultimately has to do. She gives second chances. She maintained a friendly relationship with Marlo, and she’s genuinely happy for Sam about being a father, even if it hurts her so deeply. She helped Nick when he was passed out in one of the conference rooms (remember the muffins?). She gives advice and genuinely wants to help anyone and everyone. She’s competitive but not cruel or negative. She owns her flaws, says what’s bothering her, and isn’t afraid to show the world that she’s not only a "super cop," but also imperfectly human. And that’s what makes her a perfect example for others to follow. THAT’s what makes her a strong woman.



In television, there are a lot of tropes. There’s nothing necessarily bad about some tropes, but others tend to take reality and skew it. Television, whether we want it to or not, influences the way we think about the world and its people… and ourselves. We think about the situations characters are forced into and the decisions they make, and we learn by example. We compare ourselves to those characters. And when those characters are "super cops"… well, shows can make the mistake of turning the characters into unattainable pillars of emotional and physical strength, and the audience ends up relating to the characters less, all the while being harder and harder on themselves.

Instead of all of that, Rookie Blue built relatable characters. The four main female characters of the series aren’t slight variations of each other. They’re unique and quirky and well-rounded. And they’re all strong, in their unique ways. They each bring something to their job, their team, their circle of friends, that the others don’t. They take the television standard of a strong woman and blow it to pieces. Because people can fit into one broad category and yet be completely different kinds of people. There isn’t a cookie-cutter recipe. They are human. We are human. And as a result, Rookie Blue becomes all the more realistic and influential. We connect with these characters because they’re not superhuman –– they’re human beings with flaws. They joke. They laugh. They break down crying. They solve crime and fight for justice. They care about each other and fight with each other and experience life together. They grow together. And you can’t grow if you don’t have flaws. They show plenty of courage in their line of duty, but a good deal of their courage is shown in overcoming their flaws: something we can all aspire and relate to.

These four ladies have set wonderful examples for all of us as humans. Not by being perfect examples of how we should act, but by having flaws, growing past them, and changing. They’re realistic, eclectic, and unique characters who are strong on their own terms and in their own ways. I only wish I could have gone through and re-watched every Rookie Blue episode before writing this post, because there is so much more about these characters I could discuss. I also wish I could’ve stopped and talked about the acting of Missy Peregrym, Charlotte Sullivan, Enuka Okuma, and Priscilla Faia, but I personally know little about acting, other than that theirs is brilliant. But it all boils down to the fact that these are well-written, well-rounded, imperfect, specific, realistic, and complicated characters.

That is what has made them such strong, fascinating characters to watch.

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Rookie Blue 6x11 "74 Epiphanies" (How Far We've Come) [Contributor: Hope]

"74 Epiphanies"

Original Airdate: September 3, 2015

Here we are. And here I am, trying to figure out where to start. This was an amazing episode. There was a nice bit of drama, plenty of wedding problems, and a good last fifteen minutes or so dedicated to just the characters and their happiness. The writers took the time to slow the moments down, pause a little on each character, and… well, I’ll get more into specifics in a moment, where I’ll also address that last scene. (Which was perfection, in my opinion.) Whatever happens, "74 Epiphanies" marked the end of an era. And the beginning of a new one, fingers, toes, and everything crossed.

Once again – but even more so than usual – this episode reminded me just how well-written these characters are. Their dynamics, their deeply-ingrained friendships, their growth, and their ability to speak paragraphs to one another with just a look… that is the stuff of real life. It takes a masterful show with masterful writers, producers, directors, cast, and crew to accomplish that. As a writer, if I could someday create something half as realistic and layered and well-loved, I’ll have achieved my goal. All the character growth lead here. Part of the magic of this episode was how the last scene put the characters right back where they started. That contrast between the first days of new eras (the pilot and that final scene) really let us step back and appreciate how far they've all come as individuals. They're the same in many ways and yet different in so many others. Rookie Blue came full circle in its finale. Let’s all hope that it gets the chance to go around again. But if it does not, let’s also take this opportunity to view the series as a whole, like this, and appreciate what a phenomenal job the creative team has done over six seasons and 74 episodes.

Nick 

The scene where Andy loses her vows and answers the door to the apartment in her wedding dress to find Nick there… it was a beautiful moment. The back of her bodice tore and he basically sewed her permanently into it. They both checked to make sure the other one was happy with their life, and there was this moment, this smile between them, that was just lovely. I love these two. I don’t want Nick to move to Vancouver, and I while I’m so glad they parted as really good friends, I’m not ready for them to be out of each other’s lives either. He gave her his aviators as her "something borrowed" and she wore them for a good deal of the episode. He didn’t go to the wedding, but it was because he was moving on. As friends, there’s still this deep love between Andy and Nick, and you can visibly see it. They might not have worked out as a couple, but they are still kindred spirits, destined to be friends for life. The writers could have made Nick bitter. They could have made these two the epitome of a tropey broken up couple. But instead the writers only made their friendship stronger.

Traci, Gail, and Chloe

With Chris and Dov dealing with the flowers and Sam's dad, and Nick having flown off to Vancouver, the rest of the Rookies banded together to come up with a theory for the case Jarvis insisted Traci work on before leaving for the wedding. Well, that, and Chloe was put on video/slideshow-making duty, which she took very seriously. These three had some cute scenes, and that added a nice touch to the episode.

Dov

The moment where Andy and Dov walk into the station together was another beautiful one. If Andy was the female rookie focused on most in this episode, Dov was the central-focused rookie male. This brought both of them full circle, and I'm pretty sure that was the intended effect. I also really loved that Dov and Chris rode together to pick up the flowers (and Sam’s dad). Their friendship, especially in the early years, has been a one of the cornerstones of the show. And then there’s Dov and Chloe. They were so HAPPY at the end of this episode, and I am so glad. Besides Duncan, Chloe is the newest of the rookies, yet she’s such an important part of their group (if/when we get a season seven, I want her and Gail to become best friends). Dov’s reaction to Andy tossing the bouquet directly to Chloe was priceless.

Andy

Poor Andy got stranded on the road. In her wedding dress, leather jacket, and Nick’s sunglasses. The one negative thing I will say about this episode was that we didn’t really get closure for either case of the week. Is that girl still out there in Sam’s stolen truck? (HIS truck. THE truck. And he wasn’t even mad.) Was the guy who’d been stabbed okay? Did that lady really just trip, or was it the husband who killed her?

However, I’ll admit that as we approached the last fifteen minutes of the show, I was crossing my fingers that they WOULDN’T go back to those cases. After all, as much as the cases have explored issues and brought us suspense over the seasons, this show has never been ABOUT the cases of the week. It’s been about our rather large main cast. It wouldn’t have been right to take away from the wedding, the reception, or the next day at the station in favor of a case.

The wedding... geez. I think it must be hard to write the perfect wedding for a couple. You have to keep in mind everything they've been through and keep the ceremony in-character for both parties and for the couple as a unit. You have to bring in all the characters that should be there and perfectly capture what their reactions would be. You also have to live up to the expectations of the audience. I, for one, believe the writers succeeded. I don't want to use the word "perfect" too many times, but this scene really was. From Oliver giving Sam the wrong ring, to Andy and Sam's vows, the writers hit every note, played with our emotions, stayed true to the entire series, and exceeded our expectations.

The last scenes, at the station, were also outstanding. From the new rookies arriving, to Chloe freaking out about possibly leaving (hug and all), to everyone reading the reassignment boards, to the promotions, to Oliver back as sergeant, to the morning meeting… And to the last line. Oliver looks around the room and says "Serve, protect," and walks towards Andy, HIS rookie, and finishes: "... and don’t screw up." He and Andy watch each other and smile. The whole thing was a chord that was struck beautifully and powerfully.

This ending to this Rookie Blue finale was astounding, truly. It was exactly what it should have been and more. Everything about the series that made it important and memorable came full circle. As Chloe described it: "It’s just the end of an era. All those moments coming together." Everything in the last six seasons built toward this episode and was culminated in those final moments. Sure, I would have liked a little more focus on Traci, Chris, and Gail. I would've liked them to have more closure, just in case this really is the end of the show. I would've liked to have seen Frank and Noelle at the wedding. I also would have liked the episode to be... I don't know, maybe three hours long. But it couldn't be. There is only so much one episode of television can include while remaining coherent and keeping us all in suspense. For a show with so many main characters, Rookie Blue did a wonderful job with this episode and bringing it all together.

Truly, for the record: the whole season was amazingly done.

If you’re reading this (and this was long, so thank you for getting this far), THANK YOU. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I always wanted to write reviews, but I never knew it would be THIS fun. I was a rookie reviewer this summer and it still amazes me that I get to do this at all. I’ve loved this show since it premiered, and have been thrilled to share my thoughts with you all. We have some fun stuff for Rookie Blue fans in the pipeline at this site, and God willing, I'll be writing about 13 or so more episodes next summer. Continue chatting with me about the show on Twitter, too! Until then: serve, protect, and stay awesome.

Notepad (The Extended Edition)

• Jarvis didn’t care if Traci had maid of honor duties to attend to. See? I knew he was no good.
• Chris, Dov, and Chloe taking over Traci’s duties. It was just asking for trouble and it was perfect.
• "Well, I actually can’t believe I’m stitching you into your wedding dress."
• "Who is that Muppet?" Chloe, of course.
• Gail role playing to solve a case: "I’m the husband, and I don’t like the way you chew. I grab a hammer and AHHHHH."
• Chloe: "It’s just the end of an era. All those moments coming together." Gail: "You weren’t even here for all those moments. You’re just walking in in the last act." Ouch.
• Celery! We hadn’t seen her in a while.
• Poor Duncan wanted to go to Andy’s wedding so much. And even though she didn’t invite him, he still drove out there to find her.
• "Come on, IT’S MY WEDDING!"
• Chloe’s weird chicken-cooking technique saved the day.
• "I was thinking it could be seventy-four." "Seventy-four what?" "Epiphanies. Moments. Big or small."
• I liked the shot of Andy running away from the camera, down that long road in her leather jacket and wedding dress. Very good directing in this episode.
• Andy’s father! We haven’t seen him in ages and I’m so glad they brought him back for this episode.
• Sam’s father tried to give him his old pocket watch back… but Sam pulled out another one – the one Jerry gave him when Sam was going to be his best man. I wasn’t sure when this episode started why they suddenly invented this pocket watch Sam’s father had given away. And then...  It was beautiful. They went out of their way to include Jerry in this episode.
• "Unbelievable! What is wrong with you?! YOU are what’s wrong with the world! I’m getting married!" -- Andy to the car that swerved around her.
• Sam to his father: "You know what, I’ve learned how to compromise. I’ve learned how to be vulnerable." And his father acted like she wasn’t coming. "If your girl knew how hard that was, I think she’d be here right now." Of course she knows. What do you think a good chunk of their drama has been about, dude?
• "I know I’m a dummy, but I’m not deaf." Duncan. All grown up but never changed.
• "Sweetheart, I never doubted you for a second."
• The absolute, cricket-worthy silence that followed the "speak now" line.
• "You took a broken man, and you made him whole. And each day I will be grateful… so now I take you, my friend, my best friend, my partner, and the love of my life…"
• "So here I am… and this is what I know. I have loved you since the moment I saw you. Loved you and feared you. Well, not you, but this…. For the good and the bad, the great and the hard, for dreams and the truth behind the dreams… I am yours. I choose you and while I will not obey you per say, I will hear you… one epiphany at a time."
• "With this ring, I thee wed." "Thank you, but I think you have the wrong ring." *Oliver ducks in to swap out rings*
• Who was Chris with at the reception? Jarvis’ (ex)wife?
• "I already don’t like the way you chew."
• Duncan thanked Andy. Her reply: "I didn’t invite you." But no. He thanked her for teaching him "everything he knows." And he announced that he’s being transferred, and THEY HUGGED. I really hope that we see him again. I want to see him grow as a cop and a person. He’s come so far already.
• "I feel like I’m going to explode into a million tiny pieces."
• "HEY, Price!" *throws bouquet directly at her* Dov and Chloe looked so happy at the reception.
• WHO was Duncan looking for?
• "Hey, walk here today?" Dov and Andy. Like old times. "Six years in this place…Whatever happens, you’re a solid cop, McNally."
• "Move it, child." Poor rookies. No training can prepare you for Gail Peck.
• "My name’s not even in here?!"
• Chloe dancing over not leaving, and Dov becoming a detective! Oliver back in white! Traci as Detective Sergeant! Everyone else as training officers with new rookies!
• "Peck, you’re with fox, who’s looking kind of nervous…"
• Oliver: "So much class. You guys are not the problem. You’re the solution."

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Rookie Blue 6x10 "Breaking Up the Band" (Coming Full Circle) [Contributor: Hope]

"Breaking Up the Band"

Original Airdate: August 27, 2015

That’s an ominous title, isn’t it? No good can come from a title like that.

And yet, it can. This was one of my favorite episodes of the season. It had everything, and by everything, I mean: suspense, arguments, character growth, heart-to-hearts, and a puppy. Sam secretly ordered Andy a puppy months before, and it finally arrived in this episode. And it came in the form of an adorable golden-doodle bearing the name Boo Radley. Look at this gem of a GIF I stumbled upon:

I hate to admit it, but I don’t remember this scene at all. But the biggest amount of kudos I can muster goes to the Rookie Blue writers for some seriously stellar continuity.

However, the whole "breaking up the band" thing hasn’t come to fruition yet, so maybe we should wait and see if our celebration is short-lived or not. It would be bad enough to have just one character leave the team (I’ll get to that later), let alone have the team split up beyond repair. Either Jarvis or Jarvis’ bosses need to have a change of heart, or we’re likely looking at some major changes. Since that was only mentioned this week, we might see it carried out in the season finale.

Duncan 

Duncan handled this whole blow-up with his stepfather in the opposite way that Gail is handling things with her brother. He doesn’t want to be associated with Santana, and he makes it clear. Instead, he’s happy, he’s helping out, and he’s gaining the respect of those around him. He's moving on. It’s just a really interesting parallel between the characters, their different circumstances, and how they’re handling it all. Duncan’s not going to stop being the little kid of the group any time soon, but this storyline has forced him into major character growth we’ve been waiting a long time for.

Gail 

Gail had a huge decision to make in this episode: lie and say she was with her brother at the time of the bombing, or send him to prison (where he likely would have a very rough time). It didn’t help that her father was pressuring her to lie and fed her what she was supposed to say. For those of you keeping count at home, Gail lying would mean that BOTH Peck siblings would then have committed crimes. And for the bitter cherry on top, Gail missed her meeting with the adoption agency and got to hear about the nice couple who also wants to adopt Sophie. It was so interesting how they didn’t let Gail make a decision. She wasn’t caving in and telling the story her father wanted her to, but she wasn’t sealing her brother’s fate, either.

I think it was important for Steve to actually confess and own up to his crimes, but what Gail’s decision would’ve ultimately been will be one of the great Rookie Blue mysteries. Gail didn’t know the answer herself. Juliet’s advice about being able to still see yourself in the mirror made Gail think about her own actions and conscience. She admits that she doesn’t know what her indecisiveness says about the kind of person she is. So she asks about the other couple and realizes they’ll be a wonderful fit for Sophie. Then she cries. In the middle of the Black Penny, in front of the adoption agent. How many times have we seen Gail cry over the past six years? It was just such a raw moment and the way they tackled that moral issue was extremely well done.

Chris 

In case I don’t get around to this next week, I want to pause here for a moment. This season, the writers took Chris, who had been on a pretty rough track and whose storyline had been a thorn in my side, and turned him completely around. He was there for Gail multiple times this episode, and I just love the two of them. It hasn’t mattered whether they were a couple or best friends – they have this dynamic that stands out above everything else. Gail knocks sense into him, and he helps bring out the light in her. And this wouldn’t be the case once again if the show hadn’t evolved his character.

Oliver 

He didn’t have much to do in this episode, except failing at giving Sam relationship advice and actively rooting for Andy/Sam and Nick/Juliet. He also came up with duo names for Andy and Dov (McStien) and Chris and Chloe (Dice). That scene alone made up for his lack of screentime in this episode.

Dov and Chloe 

When they realized the guy who ran the music festival was the one who framed the band, Chloe was in the office/trailer with him. The door burst into flames in a crazy-good action sequence. Chloe and the guy were inside, with Andy, Dov, and Chris outside. They call the fire department and Chris runs for the extinguisher... but it’s not working fast enough. So Dov runs THROUGH THE FIRE, kicks down the door, RUNS THROUGH MORE FIRE, and finds Chloe unconscious inside. There was so much emotion in this scene and it was one of my absolute favorites of the night. While this episode hadn’t even addressed the two of them as being a couple again, this pretty much set it in stone (for me, at least). Chloe almost died again, and this time Dov was able to help her.

Nick 

I’m going to be back to not liking Juliet again if she’s the reason Nick leaves town. Look, I think we all knew Andy wasn’t going to Vancouver when Juliet offered her the undercover job. But Nick going is something the show could feasibly do and I don’t like it. Yes, Nick’s not in a relationship at this point. Neither are Chris, or Duncan, or Gail for that matter. Nick doesn’t need to be paired up with someone. He took Andy breaking up with him without fighting it, even though it clearly pained him. And he's been there for her ever since. He should find a happy ending with someone eventually. It just doesn’t have to be on the other side of the continent.

Andy 

This isn’t the first time Andy has had the chance to run away from her problems. She and Nick got into that car at the end of season three in order to embark on an undercover operation without letting anyone else know. This time though, Andy didn’t leave. Here’s the thing: Sam has always been the one who most needed to become better at communicating and working through problems. HE was the one to shut down. We can’t forget, however, that Andy’s always been the one to run. Like when Sam first told her the news about Marlo, she walked away from him. She needed space. And it’s perfectly fine to need space and to process. It can actually be really healthy to take a time-out from life and relationships, step back to see the bigger picture, and remove yourself from drama. Andy shouldn’t have to always deal with this drama, and if it gets to be too much, she deserves some space. But there’s stepping back and then there’s avoidance. Andy says to Juliet: "I wish I could fast forward through all this." But she can’t. You can’t run away and tell yourself that time will make everything that was once difficult, better. Andy is lying to herself. She’s scared, and she has every right to be. But being scared isn’t a free pass to flee.

The wonderful thing is that Andy DID consider leaving and actively chose not to. Sure, she "only told [him] about the offer to give [him] an out," but she considered it all the same. At this point, Marlo had already stepped out on a serious limb and talked to her. She apologized for what had happened the night before, and they had a heart-to-heart about everything on a very low-key level (although I suppose you can’t start shouting when there’s a sleeping baby in the room). I think she realized that they’re ALL trying to figure their situation and their drama out.

Andy was in a slightly better place when she went to talk with Sam, but she started off the conversation by yelling at him anyway. Whether she realized it or not, what she was really doing here was pushing him away in order to see what he’d do in response.

Okay, so at the start of the episode, Sam wasn't reacting so well. But even then, he was being open and truthful about how he felt. In the last scene, he freely expressed his emotions, his perspective, and how much he has changed because of Andy. He didn’t shut down emotionally. He didn’t walk away. The aforementioned puppy also chose this moment to enter the scene, and it was... well, honestly, it was perfect.

Next week marks the final episode of season six, titled "74 Epiphanies," and it’s going to be one landmark one. Cross your fingers for a seventh season, and savor this next episode like the cornerstone of the series it’s destined to be either way. And thank you all for reading my reviews so far! I’ve had a blast, and it’s been a thrill and honor to know you guys take the time to read these. Until next time.

Notepad

• Sam did laps around the block to keep the "Little Frog" happy. I think he’s doing this father thing right.
• Gail: "What does this outfit say to you?" Chris: "I’m wearing clothes?"
• "I hate to admit this, but I really don’t know what I would do without you." - Gail to Chris. These two are the best.
• Oliver: "McStein… Dice." *perplexed officers* "Not every one of these names can be winners." A nice wink to the fandom, right there. And no one better to do it than Oliver.
• "Yeah, that extra half-a-sugar really makes all the difference."
• Hope’s Unedited Notes returns with this: "AH, the vending machine, you poor cursed creature destined to be a makeshift punching bag."
• Oliver is such a shipper. Not always a helpful one, but one nonetheless.
• Juliet: "[Steve] put himself here." Gail: "Juliet, how’s my ex doing?" Eeek, Gail’s bristly side really came out in this episode. It was awesome.
• Chloe: "Hey dummy… Basic rules of criming!"
• Duncan: "I messed up so much since being here." Traci: "You’re nothing like him. You’re a good cop." Duncan: "Wow. No one’s ever said that to me before." *beams* Hard-earned. But deserved.
• Chloe: "What took you so long?" Dov ran through fire to save her, and this is the first thing she says. Yep, they’re perfect.
• "I can live with myself. I can look in the mirror and still see me. Sometimes that’s all you can hope for."
• I don’t know how Chris ended up at the courthouse, offering to give Gail a ride. He just appeared like a guardian angel.
• "How did you know this was my car?" "I didn’t. This is the fourth one I’ve pulled over." Okay, so Nick chasing Juliet down in the squad car was an wonderful gesture. Still doesn’t mean he has permission to go to Vancouver.
• "The only reason I ever thought I could be a dad was because of you… you changed me."
• "I don’t know how to say that to you without feeling like I’m making you choose between me and your family."
• "Let’s please try the one thing we haven’t." The dialogue leading up to this was too long for me to copy down in time, but it was beautiful. It summed up their relationship over the entire series.
• "Do whatever you want. We’re all yours."

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Rookie Blue 6x09 "Ninety Degrees" (Brave Faces) [Contributor: Hope]

"Ninety Degrees"

Original Airdate: August 20, 2015

In this episode, we saw the cracks in our main characters’ armors. The brave faces they had put on – whether because of the Steve fiasco or relationship problems – started to falter as they all lost their cools a bit – figuratively and literally, when a heat wave hit the city. I say "brave faces" of course, but what was even braver was how the characters let those cracks unfold. See, we think being strong means acting like the world doesn’t get to us. What I think being strong really means is opening up enough to show that it does. It takes bravery to NOT stop yourself from crying, and it takes bravery to finally stop tiptoeing around a subject. It takes bravery to say "this is how I feel" even if you’re unsure what reaction you’ll get in response.

So when Andy almost starts to cry, or when Chloe gets fed up with Dov, or when Oliver thinly veils his protectiveness of his former position, or when Traci takes out her anger on a punching bag… all of this is better than them putting on "brave faces" and acting like pillars of superhuman strength. Which – no offense, superheroes – is very overrated. The detective from the other division, who had worked with Steve, called out Gail for putting on a brave face. I think on some level, Gail meant what she said – that she really doesn’t care if everyone "second guess[es] everything" she does because of her brother. That she doesn’t need their approval or good opinions to be a good cop. Honestly, that is just in-character for her. But she was hurting because her brother betrayed her, and no matter how many strong-willed statements she makes, there’s no hiding that it hurt her deeply. Both she and Traci felt like they should’ve known and been able to stop what Steve did. They feel like they betrayed the force themselves by not realizing what he was up to.

Dov and Chloe

Finally.

They were put on desk duty, where they essentially babysat everyone who came to the station to cool off. Then this guy came in and asked them to send someone to his girlfriend's house to check on her. Chloe happily agrees to get away from Dov and go check on the girl during her lunch break. Dov follows her from out behind the front desk (...which I suppose was then unattended?) and goes along with them. They shot each other snide comments and argued for most of the episode. At the end of the day, Chloe was fed up with it and yelled at him, "Get mad at me!" She so desperately wants this thing resolved, one way or another. Complete avoidance of the topic outside of thinly veiled remarks was the wrong way to deal with their fallout. Dov shouted at her until he simultaneously 1) practically proposed and 2) had an asthma attack.

I’m just glad they’re back together so they can go back to being doubly adorable.

Oliver

I have to say that I expected this episode to be more about the case against Steve than it was, but it looks like we’ll be getting to that soon enough. Meanwhile, Oliver was back where he thought he’d belonged all along: on the street in his patrol car, like old times. Except it wasn’t. He was praying for someone to commit a minor crime so something, anything would happen, but the only call he got was to fetch some jugs of water. See, these people are his people. They always have been. He trained them, he knows them, and he’s one of them. That’s why he’s a perfect leader for them, even if he doesn’t think so. But I think he actually does think so, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. No one else could do the job right (except for Frank) because they don’t know it like he does. He’s not all "ego" and "politics" like the others. THAT’s also why he’s perfect for the job.

Andy

This episode started off with wedding planning. And then it went downhill. See, Sam got a call about a stabbing at a mental health clinic… and Margo was there. He then asks Andy to go along with him, Nick, and Duncan. She wasn’t thrilled. Just look at the emotions she oscillates between here:

Yes, she probably WOULD rather be on water duty. And no, she’s not going to hide the fact that this isn’t what she wants. But she’s also going to do her job, and if her job means seeing Marlo in the process, well, then that’s just something she’ll have to deal with. Andy can go along with something amiably but also simultaneously express how it makes her feel.

However, Andy doing her job also meant helping deliver Marlo’s baby, which was just such a strange situation. Even worse, Marlo went into labor when they were trying to talk down Marlo’s friend Sylvia – who also had bipolar disorder – from the literal ledge. Frankly, the baby saved Sylvia’s life. Marlo had talked her friend into coming back inside, but when Marlo started going into labor, Sylvia locked herself in the bathroom with a knife. Andy had to balance helping Marlo and Sylvia (and took out some aggression on the bathroom door in the process). When Sylvia saw that Marlo and Andy needed her help, she set down the knife and stepped in. The episode never goes back and checks up on Sylvia, which is the one thing I have to say is a disappointment.

This episode talked a lot about mental health, so a big round of applause goes to the show for that. Marlo made the point that if she had been diagnosed with a serious physical illness instead of a serious mental illness, everyone would be making her food and doing charity races. She’s no longer hiding her bipolar disorder (and she must be wondering if her child will someday develop it) which was the right thing to do on multiple levels. But you can see at the support group how isolated she has become. She isn't part of a supportive team anymore. It was great when she and Dov were both working the bombing case, but now she seems mostly on her own.

When Marlo is unresponsive for a minute, Andy freaks out. She hands the baby to Sylvia and is begging Marlo to hang on. Everything is so terribly complicated with them, but underneath you can see how much Andy does care about her. Then Sam comes in and Andy steps back. The complexity and the all the different layers of emotions in this scene were fantastic. Andy takes a shaky breath and honestly, you can’t tell if it’s with relief, from nerves, or a wince of pain. I think it was all three. How hard must it be to act out three distinct emotions all at once? It must take a master.

Something similar can be said for when she watches Sam and Marlo with the baby through the hospital room window (seen above). The sadness creeps over her face, and when Sam looks up at her, she manages a smile that does nothing to hide it. It just felt so real. I’m saying this as someone who lacks the ability to act and is amazed with how someone can take a script and put on screen exactly how it would look like in real life. Stellar work all around (and especially to Missy, who exemplified why she deserved to win in our Leading Actress - Drama category of the Golden Trio Awards.)

Notepad

• "Life is weird, I remain grateful." I need this on a shirt.
• "Maybe no Marlo [at the wedding]. Is that a crappy thing to say? I mean, I think it is, but at the same time, I feel like I can."
• Oliver disapproved of all of Jarvis’ (the stand-in sergeant because Oliver was BACK IN BLUE) assignments for his "rookies." Dov and Chloe confined to the front desk? Gail filing paperwork? Truly, the best pairing was Oliver and Chris. Chris doesn’t get to do much, but I’d much rather him have a few funny lines alongside Oliver than be in trouble. THANK YOU show for putting him back on the right track.
• Oliver: *whispers conspiratorially to Chris* "Gail Peck is now pushing files. That is a rookie mistake."
• "So let’s start amicably co-working."
• Andy: *serious tone* "Marlo, listen. If you want, I’ll make you a casserole." This bonding was fantastic. I'm so proud of this show.
• Duncan wasn’t very good with talking to the witnesses. AT ALL.
• I love it when shows bring back minor characters seasons later. Sadie was in season one, and it was pretty sad that she hadn’t quite fixed up her life yet…but still. Rookie Blue was thoughtful enough to connect season 6 to season 1 and give this fictional world an extra depth by having them cross paths again.
• "I really don’t want to ruin your door, but I swear, I will."
• "The problem is, the job’s the same but you’re different."
• I loved the dress Chloe wore in the last scene. I don't think I've ever mentioned costumes, but this show's costumes are pretty spot-on.
• "…and I hate that I’ll never be married to you first!" This might be one of the best lines used in a fight, ever. God, I mean, they were broken up and he basically said he still wanted to marry her.
• Chloe: "Just do it. Do it." Dov: *reluctantly whips out inhaler.* This show balances drama and humor perfectly.
• Gail: "I’m burning this letter [from Steve]." Traci: "You’re not burning anything in here." Gail: "Then I’ll shred it. I’ll even eat it."
• TWO EPISODES LEFT.

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Rookie Blue 6x08 "Integrity Test" (True Loyalty and Broken Trust) [Contributor: Hope]

"Integrity Test"

Original Airdate: August 13, 2015

There are people in your life who you have an unspoken pact with. They understand you, you understand them, and you stand by each other. Let’s call these kinds people "kindred spirits," even though you’re often very different from one other. You can’t actively decide who these people will be. You can’t search them out – instead, they find you by accident or fate. They come into your life and you realize you were meant to be friends. The group of main characters on Rookie Blue is like that. None of them question Oliver’s innocence. And none of them shy away from putting their jobs on the line to prove it. Andy makes the bold statement that she’ll take the fall if they get found out, that "if we can’t clear Oliver’s name, I don’t want this job anyway." These characters are so fiercely loyal to each other. They’ve all saved each other at some point, but they’re not keeping tabs on who owes whom. They’re a unit, and if one of them is framed, it’s a betrayal to all of them. And it’s their duty to set things straight. THAT is one reason why this group of characters is so amazing. Their dynamics and strong connections with each other are the heart of the show. Without their friendship, Rookie Blue as we know it would cease to exist.

Rookie Team-Up

Dov, Andy, Gail, and Nick joined forces to prove that Santana framed Oliver. They created an "integrity test" – basically luring Santana with fake evidence that could prove who really set the bomb, and making him go out of his way to get to it before they did. They used Nick’s brother as the fake evidence bearer (I love when they connect previous storylines together), and they used Duncan as bait for Santana because OF COURSE. They told Duncan he was part of their super-secret operation, and he was beyond happy to be included… and was bursting with so much excitement that he gloated about it to Santana, exactly according to plan.

Gail and Nick went to the fake evidence location to wait for Santana to show up (any stakeout involving the two of them is always golden, and somehow usually involves food), but they were called away. So Andy went there by herself to wait, only to have STEVE PECK walk in. Missy Peregrym did a great job in this scene (as did Adam MacDonald). There was just so much emotion. Steve seemed truly sorry, and full of regret for getting caught up in Santana’s schemes, one little job at a time. 

Then he tells Andy to simply "look the other way," just this once and it’s insane because that is exactly what he described had happened to him. And therein lies an integral difference between these two characters. Andy couldn’t be swayed. She’s shocked, and she’s betrayed, but being a good cop comes first to Andy, and no matter how much Steve tries to reason with her, she’s not going to let him walk away for Gail OR Traci. She raises her gun and he argues that she’s not going to shoot him. But she is prepared to.

But she doesn’t need to, because Nick and Gail are on the other side of the door as he leaves and hear the whole thing. It’s just this quiet moment where Steve realizes what he’s done and Gail watches him sadly. Again, here is the fundamental difference between the brother and sister: she, too, has strong-rooted loyalties. Gail immediately jumped into the plan to save Oliver, without really knowing the plan and before anyone actually said there was one. She is a hundred percent and selflessly Team Rookies, no questions asked. She has loyalty to her brother, I’m sure, but he broke everyone’s trust, not just hers. It’s not something I see her forgiving easily.

What followed was a glorious scene were Steve and Santana are both arrested and locked away. Duncan got the last word with his stepfather and say what you will about Duncan, but that was equally glorious.

Traci

While the others banded together, Traci was on her own with Steve, who she continued to feel super uncomfortable around. She snooped through his phone. He went out on a case and she insisted on tagging along. He did some suspicious stuff, but she was relieved when he had logical excuses for all of it. There was this one moment where Traci seemed to decompress a little, as if she’d temporarily forgotten that he WAS the "Oliver" the explosives dealer had seen. As if, for a moment, she let herself believe in him one more time.

Of course, things changed. When they brought Steve back in handcuffs, Traci visited him in the interrogation room to say goodbye. She essentially disowned him. She put all her trust in him, she trusted Steve with her kid, and she even refrained from telling anyone about her suspicions because she TRUSTED him. He broke that trust a million ways. If Steve had wronged the mob, they could’ve gone after her and Theo. And he must have known that. He betrayed her, her friends – Oliver and Gail included – and the entire police force.

Oliver

Santana (before he was caught) went to Oliver and offered him a private sector job and an easy out – basically, he would stay resigned, and the case would fade away. Sam spent most of the episode talking to Oliver at the Black Penny about this. I think Oliver actually liked the idea of getting to spend more time with his daughter, and I think he – at least a little – welcomed not having to be staff sergeant anymore. He also had known for a very long time that Santana – his own training officer – was a dirty cop, so he wasn’t surprised. I liked the contrast between Oliver and Santana. I think Oliver got to train all the rookies at some point in season one, and he "raised" them to be good cops with integrity and loyalty. He’s their father figure in the force and I’m glad the season isn’t going to end with him still in jeopardy.

This was an all-around exciting episode that resolved some things, but left plenty of storylines open for the rest of the season. Three episodes left, guys. I’m in denial.

Notepad

• "How long until he spills the beans?" "Give him an hour." More like five minutes.
• "Send in a real cop." Ouch, Santana. Duncan isn’t THAT bad.
• "You were very close to Oliver Shaw. He was very fond of you. I guess that’s why he took the hit for you." I’d forgotten that Oliver became staff sergeant – even though he didn’t want to – so Andy could keep her job, during that blowup with Duncan. Really, this worked against Santana. It just shows that Oliver was there for her. Threats or not, it was her turn to save Oliver.
• "Well, good luck with whatever’s going on there."
• Nick: "Do you mind?" Gail: *continues crunching* She’s always eating. Not that I’m one to judge…
• Gail: "Nicholas, I do not do touchy feely… You have to cut them out of your life, like a bad piece of apple."
• *Steve explains how he took precautions with the bomb.* Andy: "I WAS IN THERE." Solid point.
• "You say I’m not a real cop. What kind of cop are you? … Here’s the thing. I would’ve [helped them catch you] anyway." One point for Duncan, negative two points for Santana.
• "I jumped in, both feet… I’m not going to come and visit you. Don’t contact me ever again." GO TRACI!
• Juliet told Nick the truth about being Internal Affairs and it didn’t go so well. At least she and Andy were on better terms? There’s no winning for this character.
• Oliver and Noelle are still friends!
• Dov and Chloe started talking again… until Chloe told him she couldn’t pretend everything was fine and walked away.
• "I just want to… be completely boring with you."
• So… Jarvis has known about his wife and Chris… and he’s rather happy (?!) because now he knows she’ll be okay when he leaves her to move in with his girlfriend. Chris did all that stressing for nothing and that’s kind of hilarious? But this was pretty sad. Yikes.
• Fine. My Jarvis theory is officially packed up and stored away. I still don’t think he’s trustworthy.

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Rookie Blue 6x07 "Best Man" (The Price You Pay) [Contributor: Hope]

"Best Man"

Original Airdate: August 6, 2015

There’s supposed to be a rule that you get what you give. Right? That’s the way a fair world would work: you give the world good, you get good back in return. The thing is that the good… well, sometimes it takes a while. And if we’re getting specific about this week’s episode, sometimes there’s a wait where you’re framed and 20 years of your career look like they’re amounting to nothing.

But justice is definitely going to prevail by the end of the season… right?

First and foremost: Enuka Okuma (Traci), co-wrote this episode and did a fantastic job. The funny parts were hilarious. The drama was tense, and the best scene of the episode (more about that later) was one of the best of the whole season for its emotional depth, delivery, and message. Her character wasn’t at the center of attention, but this episode still signaled a significant shift in her plotline – specifically, her relationship with Steve, even if he doesn’t know it yet. I also want to pause a moment and point out how GOOD this show is, on multiple levels. They have a group of seriously talented actors. Actors who have other interests (and obviously, talents) that they want to explore. How many shows can you name that let their actors kick-start their writing/directing careers on the show? Rookie Blue fosters an environment of growth and success with their people, and it’s brilliant.

Moving onto the episode, it once again started out happily. And of course, that didn’t last long. Oliver had the whole force looking for a missing child. Even when he learned the child was autistic and Santana wouldn’t issue an Amber Alert because of that (?!?!?), he diligently kept searching until he found the kid. I feel like the purpose of the whole storyline was to reinforce what a good soul Oliver truly is. And it worked.

In other news, Andy lost her engagement ring and Sam found it. It was a classic little subplot, but it worked and it was enjoyable. He knew, she scrambled to come up with excuses, and it offset their own stress over Oliver. The rest of the cast had their share of one-liners and banter, which added relief to what was otherwise a pretty serious episode. The neighbors they had to question to find the missing boy were eclectic over-sharers who added comedy, too.

Saving Oliver

The central point of the episode was the building case against Oliver. In a joint effort, Andy, Sam, Dov, and Traci secretly worked together to figure out who framed him. They all suspected Santana, who had cornered Noelle and bullied her into giving him her findings by the end of the day (not cool, dude). Honestly, I think they rightfully suspected him, but we’ll see. After some video games, a house search to see what items could be missing (how does that work?!), and a chase through a library, they tracked down the man who’d supplied the explosives. After quite the struggle, he admitted that the officer he spoke to was named Oliver Shaw, which WAS NO HELP AT ALL.

A very dejected Andy and Sam return to the station to warn Oliver about the impending doom. And it was such an emotional moment. Oliver’s daughter shows up and he reflects on how much of her life he’s missed for his job, where – like that very day – he does a lot of good and saves lives, at the expense of part of his. And this is the thanks he gets. He unofficially turns in his badge as he leaves to spend time with his daughter, throwing in his hat and choosing his family over his career. However, 15 Division is very much his family, too. Everyone had tears in their eyes, their voices were breaking, and they were all so resigned. It was just such a tense, tender moment. Everything that has built up the close relationships of these characters over the last 6 years (in our time, not fictional time) culminated in this moment. It was heartbreaking and beautiful, and goes down in my list of favorite Rookie Blue scenes ever.

But we all know Oliver isn’t guilty. As Traci drives the explosives dealer and his daughter to a safe house, her phone goes off – it’s Steve calling, wondering why she’s late. And the explosives dealer freaks out when he recognizes the photo caller ID as Oliver Shaw.

*mic drop*

Cue well-selected music and a cut to Steve sitting in his chair, feet propped up on his desk, all of which made for a rather sinister kind of shot. Traci goes back to the station to meet Steve because… well, he doesn’t know she knows. Then, he looks a bit childish sitting there tipped back in his chair and complaining about restaurants, and it’s a strange contrast. He’s acting pretty normal. But how much of it is an act? HOW can he be acting so normal? Could this somehow be his normal? WHO is he? He’s utterly oblivious even though she shoots him side-eyes and keeps having awkward pauses. That showed just how sure of himself he is.

They walk out of the station, which was now empty and dark, making for such an ominous shot as the music fades out. She’s clearly uncomfortable, and I hope she tells someone sooner rather than later about it. The last thing she needs to do is keep this to herself. I could see her possibly trying to talk to Steve and get his side first, but ultimately, she has to turn him in. I believe she has to in order to stay in character. Traci has a lot of loyalty, and I think in this case, her loyalty belongs to not only Oliver, but also to Andy, Sam, and Dov. She’s also had her reservations about him, let’s be honest. I’VE had my reservations. He always gave off iffy vibes, but the show had made him into a more likable, trustworthy character. Steve has been in almost two dozen episodes since season one, and it’s mind-blowing that such a long-term character could betray 15 Division in this way. A ton of points go to the show for pulling a move like this so far into the series.

Notepad

• Sam getting down on one knee to ask Oliver to be his best man was just adorable.
• Santana knows the truth about Juliet. At this rate, everyone’s going to know in couple of episodes.
• "My one-shoed wonder."
• "You’re both on the invite list. Like you’re each other’s plus one." Oliver Shaw, matchmaker.
• Andy: "How many times am I right? I mean," *waves arms around and looks behind her,* "is anybody even keeping count anymore?"
• "You can never go wrong with high-gloss orange." Erm… I don’t know, but I think you can.
• Andy: "I’m sorry, are you guys playing a videogame?" Traci: "We’re questing. We have to kill all the moths before we can get good armor." Andy: "God, Traci, that’s really fascinating. Meanwhile the guy you’re supposed to be finding to clear Oliver’s name is probably dead." Dov: "Oh, Ava Klem’s not dead. She’s right here." *points to character on screen* … Andy: "You’re a rock star." Dov: "Actually, I’m a muscular ogre."
• Andy: "I’m allergic to precious metals. I’m like a reverse princess."
• How often do you see a police chase through a library?!
• That girl would NOT stop blowing her panic whistle at Andy and Sam. Although, I feel like a panic whistle is a very good idea.
• *shouts that they’re not real police, gets crowd to protect her, and runs away* Andy to random crowd-member: "You’re very irritating." *runs after girl* Mid-chase or not, she just had to get that in there.
• Steve: "Are you sure you’re willing to pay that price?" Traci: "There’s always a price, isn’t there?" SO much more meaning to her response. THERE WILL BE A PRICE, Steve. One does not simply frame Oliver and get away with it.
• I cannot wait for Gail’s reaction Steve framing Oliver.
• I think Santana is behind Steve’s betrayal, but I’m not letting my Jarvis theory go. Not yet.
• Sergio Di Zio, who played Spike on Flashpoint, played the man who supplied the explosives and was on the run. If you haven’t watched Flashpoint, WATCH IT. It’s on both Netflix and Hulu, and I guarantee you, it’s a heart-wrenching, funny, realistic, extremely-well-written, and very-much-missed show.

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