THE ROOKIE’s Shawn Ashmore Previews a ‘Scary, Challenging Time’ in the Season Premiere and Finding Stability in ‘Wopez’

THE ROOKIE ended season 5 with the LAPD under fire—and Aaron’s (Tru Valentino) fate up in the air—and things remain dire for the group when season 6 kicks off.

Though Wesley (Shawn Ashmore), a lawyer, isn’t directly targeted, he has good reason to be concerned about the mysterious group that is causing mayhem in Los Angeles. “Not only is he a part of the legal system and working as a prosecutor now—so obviously there’s concern, and a professional concern—but obviously his wife and his extended family are police officers,” Ashmore previews to Give Me My Remote. “This is a very scary, challenging time for Wesley—but not the first time that his family has gone through extreme threats on the show. So I think both he and Angela are taking this in stride.”

The couple does have a bit of good news to celebrate: Angela (Alyssa Diaz) and Wesley became parents (again) at the end of season 5. (Their son, Jack, was born in season 4.)

“I think what’s kind of fun about the Wopez relationship is that there is stability there,” Ashmore explains. “There’s a lot of ups and downs on the show, and I do think that that relationship has been like a core. That being said, within the relationship, there’s always ups and downs and that’s what I love about their dynamic. So I think the new addition to the family is just sort of extending that up that the couple is having right now.”

For Ashmore, he’s relishing exploring more of Wesley’s home life. “It’s fun,” he enthuses. “I’m a dad myself, so whenever we get to have a baby on set, sometimes it’s challenging, but the first scene I shot this season was with the newborn strapped to me in the station. They were twins and I’m a twin, so the whole thing was like a fun experience for me.”

“But I like that element,” he continues. ”And for me, it’s fun because Wesley, of course, is a lawyer, but a lot of how we experience the character on the show is as a family man. I love that and I think it’s a nice juxtaposition to a lot of what’s happening with the patrol work and stuff on the show. It’s a nice angle to come at the character on a show like this. So I love it.”

THE ROOKIE, Season Premiere, Tuesday, February 20, 9/8c, ABC

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