"Where Do You Go From There?": 'The Rookie' Showrunner Teases the Future of James and Nyla's Relationship

Nyla (Mekia Cox) and James' (Arjay Smith) relationship has always had a fundamental flaw: both parties hold different values. Nyla believes that good can come from her work as a police officer, but after years of dealing with the actions of bad policing, James is not as convinced. Their feelings about policing, especially within Black neighborhoods, are wildly different, and while they tried to separate them from their marriage, the center can't hold anymore. In The Rookie Season 7, Episode 2, "The Watcher," the couple is confronted with this reality, presenting a huge conflict for them in Season 7. "A primal part of our storytelling this season with them is this sense that they do deeply love each other and they are happy in their lives outside of this, but they can't keep having the same conversation over and over. So, what does that look like?" showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Guide about the characters' arcs this season.