The Rookie: Feds Fans Have A Bad Feeling About Candice After Episode 14

"The Rookie: Feds" premiered as a spinoff of ABC cop show "The Rookie" in September of 2022. As its title indicates, the series is about a rookie FBI agent named Simone (Niecy Nash-Betts) and her new life in the FBI at age 48.

At the time the show began, fans weren't impressed with the pilot episode of "The Rookie: Feds." Some of its critics, for example, described its characters as unlikable. Nevertheless, viewers began finding things to appreciate as Season 1 continued. "The Rookie: Feds" fans particularly enjoyed a vampire cop portrayed by Kevin Zegers. In essence, his character once acted on a supernatural cop show, and the FBI employs his expertise during an investigation into a murder victim afflicted with vampire-like bite marks. Furthermore, "The Rookie: Feds" viewers had a lot to say about Simone as Season 1 progressed. Some continued to criticize her character while plenty of others have expressly enjoyed her character arc.

Season 1, Episode 14 introduces a significant complication into Simone's life upon the arrival of Special Agent in Charge Candice Thurlov (Paula Marshall). Candice is interested in promoting Simone, but based on some of their conversations, Simone worries the promotion has more to do with her identity checking boxes than merit, leaving her feeling used rather than appreciated. Fans, of course, likewise took note of Candice's untoward behavior.

When Simone first meets Candice in "The Rookie: Feds" Episode 14, it seems like Candice might be able to help Simone rapidly advance her career. However, Simone eventually realize that Candice may only be interested in her for the sake of presenting her branch of the FBI as diverse, rather than for her skill, which she vocally protests by the episode's end. Fans too criticized Candice as a result, like Twitter user @RobertMWalker2, who described her as someone willing to do whatever it takes to improve her lot in life, and not the compassionate face she presents to others. A "Rookie" franchise podcast called Shop Talk likewise characterized Candice as someone driven by ulterior motives. Meanwhile, user @casi_gignac simply wrote, "Not sure I trust what Candace is up to."

User @JJSea similarly argued that Simone is too smart for Candice's scheming, posting, "Candace you're gonna learn today, Simone isn't going to be bullied into being used as a mouthpiece."

Currently, Candice actor Paula Marshall is credited on only Season 1, Episode 14 of "The Rookie: Feds." Given how she complicates Simone's life, however, it's entirely possible she might eventually be back to get under viewers' skin at some point in the series' future.