The Night Agent Season 3 Moves On Without Rose as Creators Leave Door Open
the night agent enters Season 3 without Luciane Buchanan’s Rose Larkin on screen, a creative choice showrunner Shawn Ryan says came after writers debated whether a Peter–Rose story would feel repetitive. Buchanan, Ryan said, was not invited back for this season, and the series instead pairs Gabriel Basso’s Peter Sutherland with a new partner, Isabel (Genesis Rodriguez).
The Night Agent heads into a Rose-less season
Ryan told staff they began by asking what a Peter–Rose–centric Season 3 would look like, then decided that a different direction made for stronger drama. He called the choice a creative decision and said the writers were aiming for fresh territory rather than replaying arcs from the first two seasons. Ryan added, "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. " Season 3 nevertheless contains several direct and indirect references to Rose and her relationship with Peter.
Peter paired with a new ally in Season 3
With Rose off the series, Peter is paired with Isabel, a tenacious financial reporter whose father is revealed to be intelligence broker Jacob Monroe (played by Louis Herthum). The shift pulls the plot into the financial world and a conspiracy that reaches toward the White House, Ryan said, explaining the need for a character who belongs to that milieu. In the Season 3 opener — Episode 1 — Peter and Isabel first meet in an Istanbul bar, where a local performer’s song about doomed lovers underscores Peter’s recent breakup and the distance between him and Rose.
Rose’s absence is felt on screen and in dialogue
Peter’s separation from Rose is acknowledged several times: he told her at the end of Season 2 to stay away for her safety, and in Season 3 he tells Deputy Director Aiden Mosely (Ward Horton), "No, but it’s safer for her. " He also refers twice to someone he "cared about" that he "couldn’t make it work, " and writers include scenes where Rose’s name is avoided but her influence on Peter’s choices is clear. Ryan said the writers did discuss a Season 3 focused on Peter and Rose, but ultimately found the Isabel–Monroe angle a better fit for the new story.
Fans who have voiced disappointment over Buchanan’s exit are not left without hope: Ryan left open the possibility of Rose returning when a fitting storyline emerges. The creative team deliberately seeded references to her throughout the season opener, keeping Rose present in Peter’s memory and in conversations with Isabel.
For viewers eager for a taste of the new direction, the tense first minutes of Season 3 are available to watch now, highlighting the Istanbul encounter between Peter and Isabel and setting up the financial-conspiracy thread. Creators say they would welcome Buchanan back if the right story appears; for now, Season 3 moves forward with Gabriel Basso and Genesis Rodriguez tackling the central investigation.
