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Therese Lacson is a Senior TV Editor who has been with Collider since 2021. She got started in this business over ten years ago working primarily as an interviewer and critic. At Collider, she works closely with the features team to support the writers and also ideates and develops content daily. She has covered major industry events including Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con. Although she reviews and covers both film and television, her focus is in television and her expertise is in fantasy and sci-fi genre shows. Her favorite shows to cover include House of the Dragon, Bridgerton, Fallout, 9-1-1, and Rivals.
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After a major plot twist at the end of Season 7, Season 8 of The Rookie is shaping up to be another explosive installment in the ABC police procedural. After Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan) brokered an immunity deal, the cops at Mid-Wilshire have their hands full with the mastermind. Meanwhile, the District Attorney's office saw Sean Del Monte (Michael Trucco) withdraw from the D.A. race after being attacked by the Eastern Front while with his son.
Collider spoke with Shawn Ashmore, who plays A.D.A. Wesley Evers, about Wesley's potential run for District Attorney, as well as how Wesley will be dealing with Monica now that she's free (especially given that the two are exes). We also discussed seeing more scenes between Angela (Alyssa Diaz) and Wesley, along with the return of the murderer Liam Glasser (Seth Gabel) who we last saw in Season 7, Episode 15, talking to Abigail Tierney (Madeleine Coghlan).
"What I think is interesting about Wes’ journey starting as a defense attorney."
Image via ABCCOLLIDER: So, my first question I don't think you're going to be able to answer, but I'm gonna throw it out there anyway. Obviously, last season Sean stepped down from being ADA.
SHAWN ASHMORE: Yes.
Are we going to see Wesley pick up the mantle, so to speak, and enter into the race?
ASHMORE: Obviously, I can't fully commit to that answer, but there is that opportunity. What I think is interesting about Wes’ journey starting as a defense attorney, moving into being an ADA, is I think that that question is always kind of looming. So, maybe there's that opportunity, that question about whether Wesley will or could step into that mantle.
Ashmore Discusses Mid-Wilshire's New Relationship With Monica Stevens
"Wesley, as a professional, will always do what's right for the scenario and the situation..."
Image via ABCWhat hand does Wesley have in helping to work with Monica? Because obviously there's a connection there, and Monica is a handful. What is Wesley's role in all of that?
ASHMORE: I think, if you remember, in the finale last season, Wesley was completely in the dark. I think if it was up to Wesley, he would be as far away from Monica Stevens as possible. However, obviously, she is an asset in certain ways to the FBI in cases that are ongoing. So, I think Wesley, as a professional, will always do what's right for the scenario and the situation, but is very aware that Monica may be helping. But she's very self-centered, and so Wes always has his guard up when it comes to Monica.
That's fair. How is it going to be with him dealing with Monica and then also his wife, Angela? Obviously, she's a villain, but she's also an ex, which somehow makes it like 10 times worse.
ASHMORE: Yeah, sticky situation. Wesley's made it very clear to Angela and to Monica where he stands. I think that Monica has, in the past, tried to create an awkward scenario between them, but I think at this point, there's no real question about where Wesley stands on that situation. Monica is his ex, and he has moved on and is very happy to have.
Related
Ashmore Discusses Liam Glasser's Return and Working With Harper on His Case
"There are certain elements from that that continue to create friction and situations for Wesley moving forward."
Image via ABCWhat do you think his biggest obstacle is coming into this season?
ASHMORE: I think the biggest obstacle, without giving too much away, is a case from last year, which is the Liam Glasser murder. That was a huge case and was an interesting case last year. Without spoiling too much, there are certain elements from that that continue to create friction and situations for Wesley moving forward.
So that must mean that you're working a little bit more with Mekia [Cox], then, also?
ASHMORE: Yes. Mekia. Harper obviously was a major part of that case, so there's definitely some stuff. And Harper definitely didn't necessarily handle things the correct way, so there's some fallout and some interesting stuff. But yeah, I think that's a huge obstacle. And some interesting stuff happens because of that case.
That's interesting. I like that character. I feel like he was accurately creepy.
ASHMORE: Yeah, very. Great performance. Seth [Gabel] was great.
Ashmore on Wesley and Angela's Relationship in Season 8 of 'The Rookie'
"That is really enjoyable for us as actors."
Image via ABCSo I love Angela and Wesley together. I'm so sad that we don't get more couple moments with them. Will we get more of that this season?
ASHMORE: Yes.
In a good way?
ASHMORE: No, a great way! I agree. Some of my favorite stuff to play on the show are those simple one-on-one family scenes with Angela and Wesley. That is really enjoyable for us as actors. But already this season, there are some great, great scenes, and some great relationship stuff between Angela and Wesley. So yeah, I can say safely that there are some great moments and some great scenes, funny and dramatic, that are coming up this season. Again, I really love these two characters together. I think that it's a lot of fun. It's how they got together, this slightly antagonistic relationship, that bonds them, and it's kind of cute and fun that they have this slightly back-and-forth relationship, and I think we continue to see that in Season 8. It's a lot of fun.
There's definitely a bit of a push and pull. Angela does not go softly into the night.
ASHMORE: Never. But that's what Wesley loves about Angela, so it works out well.
Just to wrap things up, some of the cast got to go to Prague. If you could take Wesley and maybe Angela to another international city for some kind of wild case, where would you go?
ASHMORE: Let's go to Fiji. Let's go to a beautiful, remote island so that at least between the craziness, they can enjoy a beautiful sunset on the beach.
Okay, I love that. Melissa suggested Madagascar.
ASHMORE: Oh, fantastic!
The Rookie Season 8 premieres on January 6 on ABC in the U.S.
Release Date October 16, 2018
Showrunner Alexi Hawley
Directors Tori Garrett, Chi-Yoon Chung, Michael Goi, Sylvain White, Lisa Demaine, Lanre Olabisi, Bill Johnson, David McWhirter, Liz Friedlander, Daniel Willis, Toa Fraser, Anne Renton, Jon Huertas, Cherie Nowlan, TK Shom, Rob Seidenglanz, Valerie Weiss, Barbara Brown, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, SJ Main Muñoz, Nelson McCormick, Marcus Stokes, Adam Davidson, Anna Mastro
Writers Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert, Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff
English (US) ·