The creative team behind The Night Agent is sharing details about Season 3’s most noticeable changes, the absence of Rose. As viewers question why the character does not appear in the latest chapter, the show’s creator explains the creative rationale behind the decision. Shawn Ryan also addressed whether Rose could return in future seasons.
Shawn Ryan and Gabriel Basso discuss Rose’s potential return in Season 4 or beyond
The absence of Rose Larkin in Season 3 of The Night Agent marked a major shift for the political thriller, but the character’s future has not been ruled out. Showrunner Shawn Ryan and series star Gabriel Basso have now addressed the possibility of the character returning in a future season.
Rose, portrayed by Luciane Buchanan, played a central role during the show’s first two seasons as Peter Sutherland’s closest ally and romantic partner. However, Buchanan revealed last year that she was not asked to return for Season 3. Instead, the new season paired Peter with financial reporter Isabel, portrayed by Genesis Rodriguez.
In an interview with Deadline, Ryan said the decision to move forward without Rose was due to story development. He explained that the writers initially explored a Peter and Rose-focused storyline for Season 3, but felt it risked repeating familiar ground. “There were moments in that conversation that felt a little derivative of the first couple of seasons. And then we challenged ourselves, what would it look like without Rose the season, and we came up with a lot of what you see in Season 3.” The creator emphasized that Buchanan’s absence was purely due to “creative decision.”
Ryan acknowledged that fans have expressed disappointment over Rose’s absence. He reiterated that he holds Buchanan in high regard and would welcome her return if the right opportunity arises. “I love Luciane as an actress, I love her as a person, and if and when we have the right storyline for her, we’ll beg her to come back to the show,” he explained. The creator added, “This was the best story that we felt we could tell.”
Although Rose does not appear onscreen in Season 3, the series includes references to her and her relationship with Peter.
