Monica Stevens, played by Bridget Regan, meets her end in season 8 of The Rookie. Creator Alexi Hawley decided it was time for the character to exit the ABC procedural.
In the episode, Monica gets into a car expecting a ride to the airport but discovers the driver is an assassin. Hawley explained the choice, saying it felt like a natural end because the character had escaped many threats.
Bridget Regan expressed mixed feelings about the storyline. She was glad Monica lasted as long as she did but wished the character had found redemption before dying.
Fans reacted with a mix of emotions online. Some found her final scene with ex-boyfriend Wesley Evers touching, while others thought the understated death suited her scheming nature.
The series was renewed for a ninth season earlier this year, with a spin-off titled The Rookie: North also in development.