Titus Makin almost didn’t return toThe Rookiefor season 3.
My character hadn’t addressed any of that."
The result, or at least its beginnings, came in Sunday’s episode, “La Fiera.”
Byron Cohen via Getty Images
Horrified by the events, Jackson decided to report Stanton to Sgt.
Grey (Richard T. Jones), backed up by Bradford.
And the reality was I was struggling.
I’ve been somebody who wants the better good, but I’ve never really vocalized that.
I’ve never really said anything.
I’ve been scared to ruffle feathers.
I’ve been scared to go against the grain.
Thankfully, our showrunner is amazing and has a huge heart.
[Hawley] was like, “What if I do this?
What if I work up the story arc and let you see where we plan to go?”
We had a nice Zoom call with the entire cast.
Then he sent me my story arc and said, “Hey, take a look at this.
Tell me if this gives you any more peace as to what you’re about to walk into.”
It’s something that they very well could have ignored, but they don’t want to.
They’ve been great about like, “Let’s go for it.
Let’s create the conversations.
Let’s open up the floor.”
I’m just thankful to be a part of the show that’s willing to do that.
What was it like emotionally filming that scene?
It honestly was as difficult as you would imagine it to be.
It was so surreal.
This could be me tomorrow in a situation like this.
This could be me tonight in a situation like thisjust from the color of my skin."
This is a daily thing.
I’m happy that we’re finally willing to tackle the reality like this.
If Jackson hadn’t called for backup, how much worse could that have been?
On top of that, it would have been Doug’s word versus mine.
Actual Titus is like, “Get in there!
I don’t care if he’s a training officer or not, step in and figure it out.
You know better.”
The family involved in this incident calls Jackson out, calling him an “Uncle Tom sellout.”
What was your reaction when you first read that line?
When I read it, I was actually on the side of the family.
Would I call somebody that personally?
But in that moment, I understand the family’s perspective.
Honestly, I was more so on the family side with “Why aren’t you doing anything?
It was just all too real.
There’s just no other way to put it.
Oh yeah, absolutely.
My exact fear is something like that.
Like it happened in the scene.
The family members say they’re going to file a complaint.
Might Jackson and Stanton face any outside backlash from this incident?
A better way of policing.
So we really get to see this unravel within the precinct, within police policing each other.
Instead of the public response, we get to see what happens within the police station.
At the end of the episode, Jackson decides he can’t let this stand and goes to Sgt.
Grey with his concerns.
I think it spills out in the end.
But because that’s not the response I got, I had to switch tactics.
I was one of those people.
If this is not a problem anymore, why am I still underwater?
Why am I still reaping the effects of this systemic issue if it’s not a problem?
He could be very much relieved of his duties by going against a training officer.
Just as a rookie, it’s typically a no-no.
There has to be a lot of evidence for you to not be the wrong one as a rookie.
Especially for calling out somebody who’s been on the force for many, many, many years.
There are many cops who fully agree with the movements happening and that things need to progress.
Jackson has been told that benching Stanton is the only recourse for now.
But what might lie ahead?
We can fully expect it to come to a head.
It’s not disappearing.
It’s not something that ends here.
Jackson continues to find his strength in the situation and speaks out even more.
Which is a beautiful message to send, especially with that line “Silence is complicity.”
Jackson is no longer silent.
It also feels like Bradford and Grey are realizing they need to step up.
What’s in store for them?
Jackson has a lot of really heavy real stuff on his plate going ahead.
But the show has always done a great job of mixing that with more lighthearted moments.
Might Jackson have some more fun ahead as well?
What the show, and Alexi, does great is the balance.
There is a lightheartedness to it.
It’s definitely more future love for Jackson.
It filters in and out really nicely.
Can you tease the next episode?
We take up from where we left off, as far as my storyline goes with Jackson and Doug.
Grey and the entire world can see what’s happening.
