Finally. The start of the season felt (understandably) marred by the premature departure of a regular cast member in Afton Williamson, but the arrival of her replacement felt like a major step back on track. Aside from the ridiculous [spoiler]climactic shootout[/spoiler] – which felt way OTT, even compared to the more full-bore action sequences the show has done previously – every part of the show felt like it was clicking again. Also, props to the producers for hiring an actual disabled person to, er, play the role of a disabled person; Margo Gignac's performance was top notch. In their scenes together, she brought something out of Alyssa Diaz I can't recall having seen before.

The new T.O. is a real piece of work, but watching Nolan try to play peacekeeper to her makes it all worth it. The scene where she undressed and made herself look like a tweaker was hilarious. Her locked in the back was the best.

Lucy is being written as a bit bubbly this season. It feels weird. I mean I don't mind her being bubbly but it feels different from last season. Which I haven't seen in a long while to be fair. This is a [spoiler]bad cop[/spoiler] episode so it's going to make the ACAB section a bit harder. HAHAHHAHAHA when [spoiler]Nolan kept her in the back of the car even during lunch[/spoiler]. I'm still laughing about that. Shame they had to end it on a terrible note. I mean wow we finally get a permanent cast member and that's good news for the show. But wow do I hate that last line. [spoiler]After revealing that her purpose for going backwards is to be in a steady 9-5 job so she can see her daughter, which is super relatable and commendable, she ends the scene saying "I'm going to get her back." A sentiment which doesn't apply when she left her family to go undercover. I presume the white man is the child's father and I fully supported her trying to get 50-50 custody and I even liked that he didn't freak out about that, but that last line hit all the wrong and unsympathetic notes that the entire scene was building.[/spoiler] **ACAB** Ok so in the ACAB corner I think I'll highlight all the ways the show tries to make cops look better than they are. This is not normally a reflection on the show or it's quality. My only thought is that a gun runner who is escaping a busted buy is probably hyper sensitive to cop cars behind him. It strikes me a little unrealistic that they could just follow him and he wouldn't know. Or that his front gate people wouldn't notice the giant cop car under the overpass. As an aside I noticed it in episode 2 and wish I had made the comment then but The Rookie really pushes this bodycam thing to a point where it feels silly. At least it's not as bad as last year when body game footage was at the wrong height.

Gunfights are getting ridiculous, bad guys in cover cannot shoot cops in plain sight? C'mon that's beyond silly. Season 1 was waaaaaaay better than this season 2 cop action drama.

Nolan: "Thank you." Bradford: "Don't go all emotional on me."