Warning: This article contains spoilers forThe Rookieseason 2 finale, “The Hunt.”
Detective Nick Armstrong is a worse cop than we could have ever imagined.
After a half-hearted attempt to extricate himself from his situation, Armstrong dug in his heels even further.
Kelsey McNeal/ABC
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:Did you always know Nick was a dirty cop or when did you first learn that?
How did it inform your performance?
We knew it was coming.
But the mandate was to play it earnestly, play it like he’s really there for everybody.
He’s there to do the job that he’s meant to do.
I came in to be the knight detective and that’s what I was going to do.
I was going to be on the side of all of the officers and the rookies and everybody.
The thing was I just never knew what it was that was in the background.
He’s like, “No, he is not.
He’s not that dude.”
We were really clear right off it wasn’t maniacal.
I could’ve hadmy King Kong scene, it would’ve been great (laughs).
Is that the full story or might there still be more to it?
I genuinely like you.
I had stuff I had to do.
I think he told him some of it.
I don’t think he told him everything with the Derians.
I don’t think he told him everything with capturing Rosalind.
What do you think fed that decision?
It seems incredibly cruel for someone hes been mentoring.
There are people like that.
They’re great and smart and they’re really helpful; they have a lot of knowledge.
He’s always going to bet on himself.
It’s over."
Killing that kid, there’s no way they redeem it, so you got to push it.
You attempt to live another day.
That’s really where Armstrong was just like, “John, I really like you.
It’s just too easy.
I just set you up because you’re the most earnest.”
I think this all happened because Serj Derian lost it.
I think Armstrong really liked John and that’s why I liked playing it like that.
I liked playing like he wasn’t planning on ever getting caught.
Nobody plans on getting caught.
They just keep planning on how do I keep this going?
He would have kept going had this event not happened.
How far is Armstrong willing to go to perpetuate this lie?
That is really tricky.
If there’s a season 3 and we get to explore that, that’ll be interesting.
Armstrong will always bet on himself.
Armstrong will push it all the way to the end; that’ll be the most dramatic.
He’ll push and push and push to venture to frame John, probably until he has to die.
I don’t think he’ll want to do that.
That’s a terrible fate.
You might as well shoot yourself.
You don’t want to put yourself in prison as a cop.
That’s not gonna be fun.
Is there any hope for redemption at this point?
I liked the character.
It’ll be hard.
Like threading a needle.
If there is a way to save it, they’d be able to figure it out.
Paying some kind of penance, having to be in prison, and being a mole.
Or we find out it actually is a double double-cross.
We could find it for sure.
But that’s an Alexi call because it his show and it’s where he wants to go.
But I truly do dig Armstrong and I wish the best for him.
Between the LAPD and the mob, has Armstrong signed his death warrant?
Is there any scenario going forward where he doesnt end up dead?
If it weren’t a TV show.
If it were real life, he hasn’t signed his death warrant.
He’s gonna keep playing cards and figure it out.
In a TV show, John’s our hero, so we can’t let him go down.
The show can’t be bad detective; it’s calledThe Rookie.
We gotta save the hero.
I enjoyed being there.
I think they enjoyed me being there as well.
If we could find a way to keep playing, I would love that.
If not, it’s great fun.
I could still get my King Kong moment one day.
