Tonight’s episode of ROOKIE BLUE provides yet another shocking episode in a season where there have been many. Just when it seemed like there could not be anything left to shake the world of the rookies of 15 Division, tonight’s episode springs another surprise on them. In a tense episode involving an in-custody prisoner and a deadly standoff, there are harsh repercussions that spurns an internal investigation leaving one of the rookie’s badge is on the line. In an exclusive episode, Travis Milne previewed the game-changing episode and the incredible journey of his character Chris Diaz, the “every man” of ROOKIE BLUE.
Your character Chris is being highlighted in tonight’s episode “Every Man.” What can you share about Chris’ mindset during the IA investigation?
TRAVIS: It’s definitely tense. The whole episode is a bit of a thrill-ride. The way the episode is written is very interesting because we play with time and perspectives in a different manner than we have in all of ROOKIE BLUE. It kind of breaks the mold episodically of how we made this episode. So it was really cool to be a part of. It’s kind of shot like the film “Jackie Brown.” It starts the day through different perspectives and it all leads to a boiling point at the end that is just huge for Chris and it’s going to effect him for the rest of his life.
From what we have seen in the previews and know about the episode, Chris wants to take the blame for the situation that arises, but then something else comes up in his life as well. What can you share about all that?
TRAVIS: I don’t want to say too much, as I don’t want to spoil it, but I will say that something happens. Something happened in the past with someone that was very special to Chris and it’s come back into his life in an unexpected manner, and it will really effect Chris in a lot of ways. It will be something that he has no choice but to deal with. Basically, that’s just the tip of the iceberg on the start to a very bad day. It then kind of proceeds onwards. Something very, very intense happens to the Division. Everyone’s involved. SWAT team gets called in to 15 Division and the power gets cut. There’s a complete blackout in the division and its pandemonium. Utter pandemonium. It was a thrill-ride to shoot. There was one day in particular and we were shooting the climax of the episode and I could swear I was not on the set of ROOKIE BLUE and that I was on the set of “Bourne Identity,” or something. It was huge. It looked like an action film at some points during the shoot. I’m just really excited for people to see it and I’m really excited for the fans to see it.
This season feels like it has been quite an emotional roller-coaster for all the characters, especially for Chris and what he is about to go through. What has been the most fun aspect working on this season for you?
TRAVIS: Being able to make the transition. Sometimes showrunners and writers are kind of hesitant to take risks, but Tassie [Cameron] has been just onboard from the beginning. We brainstormed what we wanted to do with Chris right from the get-go in Season 1. So the transitions that Chris made were premeditated from the beginning from the pilot and what Chris is currently going through is something I always wanted. I wanted to start him like an “every man.” Like every kind of good, nice guy you’ve ever met. The guy that everyone says, “Man, that guy’s awesome” or “that guy’s a great guy.” And then showing what happens when you go through the trials and tribulations, and you see the things you see being a police officer. Because a lot of my family members are police. They are either part of the RCNP or inner city policing. I’ve gotten to have a lot of really good conversations with them and they’ve told me stories about going undercover and how it affects you. These are good people and these are people I love. They’re my family. Yet there is this hardened quality that I feel I wanted to exemplify through the show, and in season 3, I’m finally getting to do that. It’s just been exciting as an actor. I feel totally blessed to be able to do that and I’m excited for the fans to see it. To see what they think. Just a couple days ago I was on Twitter during the last episode to support Greg [Smith], who directed the episode, and I was like, “I’ll just go on and talk.” Everyone was saying how happy and how excited they were about what we were doing with Chris and that made me feel really good. I’ve worked very, very hard and the writers have worked incredibly hard to mold this character, and that I think people have really taken a liking to.
To see how Chris survives that latest round of trials and tribulations in “Every Man,” be sure to tune in for an all new episode of ROOKIE BLUE tonight, August 30th at 10:00 p.m. on ABC. Hopefully this is not the end of Chris’ journey in 15 Division.
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