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‘The Rookie’ Romance Report! Nathan Fillion Teases Trouble Ahead for Nolan & Bailey

Jenna Dewan as Bailey and Nathan Fillion as Nolan — 'The Rookie' Season 7 Episode 6
Disney/Mike Taing

#Chenford ain’t the only ‘ship on The Rookie bringing the heat! After seven seasons of crises, crime-stopping and short-lived romances, the ABC hit’s LAPD cop John Nolan is also feeling the love with firefighter Bailey Nune — and Nathan Fillion is just fired up about his onscreen bride, Jenna Dewan.

“Something that I can say I appreciate [about] working with Jenna is she’s very sharp and understands how to be in the moment,” Fillion told TVInsider’s Booked: The Rookie Aftershow. “Because something will occur to me right in the middle of everything, and I’ll do something new every time. And she’s right there. She is right there with me. You can’t catch her off guard.”

Crediting his knack for coming up with bits on the fly not just to the fast-paced nature of his mid-’90s TV debut on daytime’s One Life to Live but also “a little improv in my day,” Fillion notes that Dewan makes for the perfect scene partner because she, too, shares “that ‘just say yes’ mentality. Absolutely…Jenna’s got that in spades.”

As for what he can tease about the future of Bailey and John, well, it sounds like we may be heading for a bit of a domestic disturbance. Having weathered the drama and trauma of her abusive ex (Dewan’s real-life fiancé, Steve Kazee) resurfacing, kidnapping her, and then being killed by a hitman Bailey had been in contact with, Fillion hints that “a logical step” for the couple may be the next hurdle in their relationship.

“I think that’s one thing that’s going really well,” he offers. “I think the job and his marriage are going really, really well. It’s not always smooth, but I think it’s incredibly healthy. I think this is a very healthy relationship. I think without spoiling too much, clearly they both have a reason to be upset [about whatever it is]. What I think is going to be refreshing is, I don’t think you’re going to be right about what they are upset about. I think there’s a surface [issue] there that I was expecting, and I think what’s really going on runs a little deeper.”

What do you think it is? A baby? Job-related dangers? Nathan’s haircut in that Superman trailer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The Rookie, Season 7, Tuesdays, 9/8c, ABC

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