The Rookie’s Nathan Fillion Talks Nolan, Harper’s Bond, Bailey Romance

Officer John Nolan found himself in a “sticky situation” with Detective Nyla Harper on the latest episode of The Rookie, but star Nathan Fillion insisted their drama won’t linger.

Warning: Spoilers below for season 7, episode 9, of The Rookie.

During the Tuesday, March 11, episode of the ABC series, Nolan (Fillion) has to help investigate who shot Harper’s husband, James Murray (Arjay Smith), while knowing that James kissed another woman. (Both James and Kylie, the woman he kissed, were gunned down one episode prior.)

Fillion, 53, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday that Nolan is “honor bound” to tell Harper (Mekia Cox) the truth about James’ actions, but since she is someone he “respects and admires” it eats at him throughout the episode.

“This is not something he wants to do, he certainly does not want to cause his friend any pain,” the actor explained, noting that Nolan and Harper have come a long way since she was his training officer.

Fillion recalled, “When Nyla Harper first came to John, she was angry, closed off, horrifying, mean [and] a very guarded person. She’s now a far more happy and fulfilled and kinder, still hard, [she’s] still got hardness, but she’s just not wearing it on her sleeve as a defense mechanism anymore.”

Harper’s softer side made investigating her even harder for Nolan, according to Fillion. (Since James was shot by a gang member Harper once collared, she is a suspect.)

“It’s killing him. He’s got a job to do, and he has to do it impartially, but it certainly kills him inside,” Fillion told Us of Nolan having to search Harper’s home while James’ life was in jeopardy. “It’s distasteful. He can taste the bitterness in his mouth while searching through his friend’s home. It’s not pleasant by any means.”

Despite his reservations of invading Harper’s privacy, Nolan is key in finding the shooter and clearing her name as a suspect. As a result, Nolan gives Harper her badge and gun back at the hospital and swiftly apologizes for keeping James’ kissing secret from her all day.

“He’s looking for some redemption, some forgiveness,” Fillion explained of the sweet moment. “I think he feels awful about that whole situation, and I think he just wants to be there for the part. The cleansing of that event.”

The hospital scene takes place after James wakes up from surgery and tells Harper that Kylie (Maria Zhang) did kiss him, but he pushed away. In that moment, Nolan calls Harper his “hero” and the two share a hug, seemingly moving past the tension.

“Given their relationship and certainly the discussion that they have at the end of the episode, I think she gets it. I think these two are good,” Fillion said, confirming Nolan and Harper’s friendship is intact. “I think they’ve built something that’s strong. It would take more than this, albeit horrifying [scenario], to destroy what they’ve built.”

While Fillion played coy about whether James and Harper will have issues moving past the kissing scandal, he told Us that Nolan and his wife, Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan), are going strong.

“Communication, first of all, is key for John and Bailey,” he explained, adding that the couple are “willing to give each other the benefit of the doubt.”

Throughout season 7, Bailey and Nolan have experienced several ups and downs, especially after Bailey’s ex-husband, Jason (Steve Kazee), was killed by a hired gun and Bailey had been in contact with the man.

The secret briefly caused a rift between Bailey and Nolan, but they ultimately made up. As a result, Nolan realized how fearful Bailey had been after her abusive ex broke out of jail last season.

“What’s next? Good question. You never know,” Fillion said with a laugh, revealing, “I’m just glad these two crazy kids made it out of this jam.”

Fillion added that since Nolan and Bailey are finally in a good place, perhaps the idea of having a child together will become a bigger possibility. (Dewan exclusively told Us earlier this year that having a baby was not off the table.)

“They would make incredible parents,” Fillion told Us, pointing out that Nolan already did a “bang up job” raising his adult son, Henry (Zayne Emory).

When it comes to parenting for a second time, he said Nolan is “living his dream” and “fulfilled” as a police officer, so he envisions him being an “even better” dad this time around.

“I would be very excited to see what kind of parent Bailey would be. I think that’s a very well-rounded mom,” Fillion teased. “If you could get one of those, it’d be good on you.”

The Rookie airs on CBS Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.