Over the course of six seasons on ABC, The Recruit The appeal of the series is due to the way the audience feels connected to the characters. The series is a procedural police series that focuses on the experience of the patrol officer, which is both dynamic and exciting. However, viewers continue to watch the series not for the car chases or shootouts, but because the characters are so captivating. One of those characters was rookie officer Katie Barnes, and what makes her so impressive is that she only appeared in one episode.
While The Recruit Fans are mostly interested in the series’ regular and recurring characters, sometimes one of them can leave a lasting impression in a single episode. Officer Chris Rios was one such character, a police academy friend of the main cast who was killed off later in the episode. Luckily for Katie Barnes, she didn’t suffer the same fate. Her introduction was somewhat of a red herring for the audience, as she was introduced as Tim Bradford’s new recruit, following Lucy Chen’s promotion. For most of the episode, viewers were expecting Katy M. O’Brian to reprise the role the following week. Instead, Katie Barnes resigns from the police force at the end of the episode, and this is one of the The RecruitThe best decisions of.
Who was Katie Barnes in The Rookie?
Tim Bradford’s New Shoe Was Played By Katy M. O’Brian
In Season 3, Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) outgrew her recruit training, leaving Sergeant Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) without any boots to mess with. At least, not until training officer Katie Barnes was assigned as a new recruit in “New Blood.” Fans thought they’d get to see the harsh shenanigans Bradford used to train Chen. However, when Barnes showed familiarity with the police-issued shotgun, they recognized her as a U.S. Army veteran. Barnes served in the 82nd Airborne Division, breaching doors and securing locations in combat.
Bradford’s change in approach to training Barnes makes perfect sense, reinforcing his talent for the job. In Season 2, it was revealed that he was also a veteran of the Afghanistan War. His militant approach with Lucy is Bradford’s way of turning civilians into police officers. As a veteran himself, he has first-hand knowledge of the transition from soldier to peace officer. In addition to showcasing Bradford’s skills as a security guard, this episode also sent an important message about the difference between the military and law enforcement..
Police officers are expected to be proactive. You don’t wait for orders. You’re no longer constrained by military objectives. The actions you take are at your discretion. And the people we encounter on the street are not enemy combatants. They’re our fellow citizens. — Bradford to Barnes.
Sometimes The Recruit is over the top, and this episode is one of them. Barnes and Bradford get involved in a shootout on their first call, and an even more intense shootout ensues at the end of her second and final shift. However, the violence serves to emphasize that while Barnes can handle this part of the job, she doesn’t want to. Barnes chooses to spend time out of “survival mode,” which means not being a cop.
The episode with Katie Barnes also discussed Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen
The Rookie, season 3, episode 11, “New Blood”
- Directed by Bill Roe
- Written by Corey Miller and Zoe Cheng
- Start: April 18, 2021
- IMDB users rated this episode 7.4/10
- Guest Star: Katy M. O’Brian
With Lucy no longer Tim’s intern, the wheels behind “Chenford” began to turn, albeit slowly. Katie Barnes was Tim’s first recruit since Lucy, and the way it affected her highlighted her affection for him. Due to Bradford’s different approach to training Barnes, she became jealous and a little angry. Bradford offered Barnes coffee, let her drive their vehicle, and even comforted her after she shot a suspect. This comedic subplot culminated in a scene where she confronted him.
Asking Bradford why he’s so nice to Barnes, his former TO gives him sincere compliments. Bradford explains that Lucy is someone who sees “the good” in people, and his approach was intended to make her more objective.. As a veteran, Barnes needed a completely different approach. While it might seem like police work and military service should be in perfect harmony, that is not the case for reasons Bradford explained to him. He also tells Lucy that she is a good officer.
Of course, two shootings in as many shifts doesn’t really help the argument that “policing is not fighting” go down. It would have been interesting to know if The Recruit I had opted for a bit of action for this episode, it was just a matter of narrative efficiency to highlight this specific part of the work. Especially since there are shootouts in almost every episode. While Barnes’ choice is in no way a weakness or flaw, it contrasts with the fact that Chen survived his burial alive and chose to continue serving..
Katie Barnes is a rare example of television treating military veterans right
Television and movies often convey harmful stereotypes about veterans.
Katy M. O’Brian’s Most Notable Roles
Related
What happened to Tamara in The Rookie?
In seasons 3 and 4 of The Rookie, Lucy Chen’s roommate Tamara Colins played a significant role in the supporting cast, but in later seasons she appears less.
For decades, the portrayal of war veterans in film and television has been largely problematic. Shows like Country, True Blood, Barry and too many others portray war veterans as mentally wounded, violent, or both. Not all depictions indulge in these stereotypes of veterans, as Star Trekwho treated these subjects with nuance, authenticity and sensitivity. Katie Barnes’ portrayal in The Recruit shares these qualities, thanks in large part to O’Brian’s performance. She made subtle choices, such as standing at “parade rest” when Bradford identifies her as a veteran.
It’s no surprise that Barnes was so well-crafted, since Bradford is a veteran and storytellers write for him all the time. A notable scene from the episode is when he takes Barnes to a park for a zen break, during which he tries to get her to acknowledge that she is “safe.” Later, she tells him that it was her first real moment of peace in a long time, and that her decision to leave the force was because she wanted more.
You’re still in a mindset where everyone is either a friendly combatant or an enemy combatant. It’s my job to help you change that mindset. These people are all your neighbors. — Bradford to Barnes.
What makes Barnes (and, for that matter, Bradford) so rare is that despite her frequent contact with the enemy overseas, she does not suffer from it. War changes everyone it touches, but because television and film accentuate reality, it is often portrayed as a mental injury or illness. What Barnes is going through is common to redeployed war veterans, and taking a job that involves carrying and using a weapon would only make it worse.But Barnes is doing well, and his decision to resign proves it.
What Happened to Katie Barnes After New Blood Arrived
Katy M. O’Brian still has time to return to Rookie
Despite Katie Barnes’ choice to resign, Tim Bradford tries to encourage his recruit to stay. Because of her military experience and service skills, Bradford knows he could train her to be a great officer. He also believes he could help her transition to civilian life, even within the police force. He tells her that her certification is good for three years and that if she returns, she will always have “a home” at Mid-Wilshire Division.
The timeline of The Recruit is fuzzy. Seasons 1 and 2 took place over the course of a year, but there have been a few time jumps since then. Similarly, the length of a season may be longer, as Officer Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) was not a rookie as long as the original cast. However, if O’Brian was able to return, Katie Barnes could return to work once again.. However, the new Season 7 cast added a brand new veteran cop who is set to join the LAPD as a rookie. Thus, a return of Barnes as a cop is unlikely.
If O’Brian were to reprise her role as Barnes, it would be a better choice for her to find a more peaceful vocation.This would allow The Recruit to follow up on the character (which Bradford has promised to do), who is a good portrayal of a veteran fresh out of the service. That Katie Barnes returns to The Recruit or not, viewers should imagine she found many more of those moments of peace.
Seasons 1-6 of The Rookie are streaming on Hulu, and season 7 will debut on ABC in early 2025.