The Rookie
Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis.
Episodes
Pilot
Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being a…
Crash Course
Talia forces Nolan to confront his personal moral instincts in order to be a good cop after he encounters a…
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
After Nolan and Talia lose control of a crime scene, they begin to debate whether people are fundamentally good or…
The Switch
The rookies are temporarily paired with new training officers, and Nolan is paired with Lopez. When Nolan and Lopez track…
The Roundup
Nolan, the rookies and their training officers get involved in a competition that pits them against each other. Chen notices…
The Hawke
Nolan and the team must help capture a cop and his former mentor from the academy after he becomes a…
The Ride Along
Grey informs Nolan and Bishop that they are going to have a movie director as a ride-along during their patrol…
Time of Death
Nolan and Bishop respond to a silent alarm call at a local convenience store where two men are attempting to…
Standoff
Officer Bradford’s wife, Isabel, is found shot but alive and he vows to track down the man responsible. Meanwhile, Officer…
Flesh and Blood
On Captain Andersen’s orders, Officer Nolan and Sergeant Grey are paired up for the day on patrol. Additionally, Nolan’s son…
Redwood
An unscheduled visit by the vice president of the United States puts the station on high alert. The secret service…
Heartbreak
The most dangerous day of the year – Valentine’s Day – has the team on high alert, and Officer Nolan…
Caught Stealing
The rookies become the prime suspects after it is discovered a large sum of money used in a drug bust…
Plain Clothes Day
The rookies are really put to the test when their training officers accompany them out of uniform for Plain Clothes…
Manhunt
When a prison bus crashes, all units must respond as some inmates face severe injuries while others seek an opportunity…
Greenlight
Officer Nolan gets a lesson in respect after his arrest of a gang member leads to a free-for-all on his…
The Shake Up
A massive earthquake rocks the city and throws everyone’s patrols and its citizens into chaos. Meanwhile, agent Russo recommends Officer…
Homefront
When one of their colleagues is arrested by Internal Affairs for lying on the witness stand, it leads to the…
The Checklist
Sergeant Gray informs the rookies that they must track down a specific set of crimes in a 48-hour period in…
Free Fall
As the rookies prepare for a big exam to see who moves on to the next stage of training, Officer…
Impact
Danger is ever-present as the officers of the Mid-Wilshire precinct grapple with the aftermath of a plotted attack on the…
The Night General
Nolan teams up with new night detective Nick Armstrong for a murder investigation case that results in an unexpected reunion…
The Bet
Officer Nolan navigates building tension in his relationship with Jessica and a developing rapport with Grace while working a high-stakes…
Warriors and Guardians
Officer Nolan gets off to a rocky start after being introduced to his new training officer, Nyla Harper, who has…
Tough Love
As part of their second phase of training, the rookies are asked to develop their first confidential informants. Officer Nolan…
Fallout
An emergency alert of an impending missile attack sends Los Angeles into chaos and uncertainty, while the officers each try…
Safety
John and Jessica’s relationship gets a lot more complicated after she delivers some surprising news. Meanwhile, Officer Bradford and Office…
Clean Cut
Officer Nolan kicks off his birthday by babysitting a crime scene at a law office. Meanwhile, Officer Bradford and Officer…
Breaking Point
Officer Nolan’s trust is tested when he tries to help the previous owner of his home reconnect with his family.…
The Dark Side
Officer Nolan and team are charged with escorting a notorious female serial killer to the graves of her previously unrecovered…
Day of Death
Officer Nolan and the entire team are in a desperate search to rescue Officer Chen after her abduction and must…
Now and Then
Nolan takes his son’s fiancé, Abigail, on a ride-along after she shows interest in becoming a police officer. Meanwhile, Jackson’s…
Follow-Up Day
Nolan is given some life-changing news and invites Grace over for a homecooked meal in his newly remodeled kitchen. Meanwhile,…
Casualties
Officers Nolan and Harper investigate a murder which may have national security implications, while Officer Bradford must confront his past…
Hand-Off
Officer Nolan is having a particularly bad day after learning his identity has been stolen and could jeopardize his position…
The Overnight
Officers Chen and Bradford respond to a call at the Los Angeles auditions of “American Idol,” and Officer Chen ends…
Control
Officer Nolan’s relationship with his first confidential informant is tested when he discovers her back on the street dealing drugs.…
Under the Gun
Officers Nolan and Harper are tasked with escorting four juvenile offenders to a Scared Straight program at a correctional facility…
The Q Word (1)
Their rookie year is coming to an end and officers Nolan, Chen and West are about to be squeezed harder…
The Hunt (2)
Nolan's discovery goes much deeper than he expected and could put his life and career in jeopardy.
Consequences
Nearing the end of his training, Nolan now faces his biggest challenge as a police officer yet when he must…
In Justice
Officer John Nolan and Officer Nyla Harper are assigned to a community policing center to help rebuild their station’s reputation…
La Fiera
Officer John Nolan's mom makes an unannounced visit that complicates his life, and Sergeant Grey considers retiring.
Sabotage
Officer Jackson West’s relationship with his new training officer, Stanton, has escalated and he begins to work with Sergeant Grey…
Lockdown
Officer Nolan is taken hostage by a man with nothing to lose while the station goes on lockdown and races…
Revelations
Officer Nolan’s decision to return to school in order to become a training officer is proving to be much harder…
True Crime
The team gets the true crime docuseries treatment when they analyze a recent case featuring a former child actor whose…
Bad Blood
Officer Nolan, Officer Harper and Detective Lopez are assigned to the kidnapping of the son of a criminal court judge…
Amber
An Amber Alert sends the team on a race against time to find a newborn infant who was stolen from…
Man of Honor
Harper and Nolan respond to a bank robbery in progress and realize the motives of the thief run much deeper…
New Blood
When professor Fiona Ryan’s car window is smashed following a series of mysterious notes, Nolan volunteers to guard her house…
Brave Heart
After rushing his son, Henry, to the hospital following his collapse, Nolan is reunited with his ex-wife, Sarah, and they…
Triple Duty
Officers Nolan and Bradford hope they can de-escalate a drug war before any innocent lives are lost. Meanwhile, Officer Harper…
Threshold
Officer Nolan mildly injures himself while chasing down a shoplifter and the local DA wants to charge the suspect with…
Life and Death
Officer Nolan and the entire team race against the clock to locate Lopez after she is kidnapped on her wedding…
Five Minutes
Officer Nolan and Officer Chen’s run-in with an infamous thief tips them off to a potentially big heist surrounding the…
In the Line of Fire
Officer Nolan and officer Chen report to a structure fire and suspect that there is more to the situation than…
Red Hot
Officer Nolan and Officer Chen search for a missing person who may have international ties that puts everyone’s lives in…
A.C.H.
When a new designer drug hits LA streets, it turns users into “zombies,” and Officer Nolan and the team have…
Poetic Justice
Officer Nolan and team are on a hunt to retrieve a buried stash of gold before any treasure seekers get…
Fire Fight
In the aftermath of Fred’s house explosion, Officer Nolan and Bailey discover there’s more to Fred’s death than meets the…
Hit and Run
The team goes on a city-wide hunt for an individual who is threatening a mass casualty event. Meanwhile, Tim’s sister…
Breakdown
Desperate to break free from his connection to Elijah, Wesley tries to plant a listening device in his office to…
Heart Beat
Now that John Nolan knows about Bailey’s past, he must decide if they still have a future. Meanwhile, when a…
End Game
The team must rely on a criminal for his expertise to help take down an even bigger threat. Meanwhile, Officers…
The Knock
The team responds to the report of a severed hand washing up on the beach and are on the hunt…
Fight or Flight
Officers John Nolan and Lucy Chen must fulfill three quests if they want to get a stolen police helicopter back…
Long Shot
Officer Nolan and Detective Harper help Skip Tracer Randy on his first bounty hunter case. Meanwhile, Officer Chen and Sergeant…
Hit List
Officer Harper puts Officer Aaron through “Plain Clothes Day,” but the exercise is interrupted by an unsuspected visitor. After two…
Real Crime
Desperate to reset the way the world sees him, Officer Thorsen reluctantly decides to be a part of a reality…
Coding
Officer John Nolan and the team feel they must negotiate with a distraught man who is holding a hospital hostage…
Backstabbers
After the robbery of a train filled with valuable auction items turns deadly, the team is called to investigate. Meanwhile,…
Simone
Officer Nolan and the LA division of the FBI enlist the help of FBI trainee Simone Clark when one of…
Enervo
The team alongside the LA Division of the FBI are in a race to stop bombs that have been scattered…
Mother's Day
Sergeant Grey supports Officer Nolan’s desire to become a training officer and offers to ride with him for the day…
Day in the Hole
Officer John Nolan is forced to spend a week in solitary confinement in a quiet border town with a young…
Double Down
Officer John Nolan is once again face-to-face with serial killer Rosalind, and she wants him to know she's not done…
Labor Day
Officer John Nolan is moving closer to his new role as a training officer. In preparation, he is tasked with…
Dye Hard
Officer John Nolan is assigned his first rookie, Officer Celina Juarez, whose unconventional approach to police work poses a unique…
The Choice (I)
Rosalind returns with a vengeance and Bailey’s life is left hanging in the balance. With a ticking clock, the LAPD…
The Fugitive
Officer John Nolan and Officer Celina Juarez are on the hunt for a fugitive after a car incident goes awry.…
The Reckoning
Officer John Nolan and a sleep-deprived Celina investigate a cash deposit linked to an old DEA case. Meanwhile, Wesley grows…
Crossfire
Officer John Nolan and Celina witness a shooting, realize the victim was already dead, and investigate further. Back at home,…
The Collar
Officers John Nolan and Celina Juarez are in a race against time to stop the source of an explosive rampage.
Take Back
Officer John Nolan and the team investigate the unexpected death of a suspect in police custody. Their search also uncovers…
The List (I)
Detective Nyla Harper and James find themselves in the middle of a bank robbery which leads the entire team on…
The Naked and the Dead
The search for a missing boy leads the team into the middle of a dangerous drug war between two rival…
Death Notice
Nolan and Celina must stand guard at a hospital after a dangerous prisoner needs surgery. Aaron, Lopez and Harper look…
Daddy Cop
In the midst of a heatwave and a citywide blackout, Officer John Nolan and Aaron follow increasingly large leads after…
Death Sentence
Officer John Nolan and Bailey are on the hunt for a mystery gunman after a shooting hits a little too…
The Con
With help from the FBI, Detective Lopez puts everything on the line to help Elijah Stone take down a gang…
Exposed
The team must stop a militia from detonating a highly combustible truck in their possession. Meanwhile, Officers Nolan, Thorson, Juarez…
The Enemy Within (I)
Now that Elijah and Abril have become allies, the team must rely on Monica, Elijah’s lawyer, to uncover their plans.…
Double Trouble
When Dim goes missing, Officer Chen and Sergeant Bradford, along with the CIA, set out to find him and enlist…
A Hole in the World
The team investigates a pattern of kidnappings which leads them to a discovery that hits close to home with one…
S.T.R.
Officer Tim Bradford’s ex-wife returns and asks the team to help her save someone from her undercover past. Isabel’s return…
Going Under (I)
Officer Lucy Chen goes undercover to infiltrate an illegal firearm operation, and Detective Harper and Officer John Nolan work together…
Under Siege
After one of their own is shot, the team suffers a series of close calls and realizes their division may…
Strike Back
In the aftermath of the assaults in the explosive season five finale, the team must now try to understand why…
The Hammer
The team comes together to celebrate John and Bailey’s wedding; meanwhile, Celina discovers a discrepancy in her case, leading to…
Trouble in Paradise
Nolan and Bailey’s honeymoon is more of a nightmare than a dream when it turns into an active crime scene.…
Training Day
It's Officer Aaron Thorsen's first day back since the assault, and he's tasked with a series of high-stress cases to…
The Vow
When a toddler is found at the scene of a crime, John and Bailey must decide whether to let the…
Secrets and Lies
Following their time as foster parents, Bailey has decided she wants to have a baby and forces John to reconsider…
Crushed
When two teenagers go missing, it is up to the entire team to find the girls and uncover the truth…
Punch Card
After a mafia-related mass casualty, the team is tasked to keep the peace at the hospital. Lucy and Celina work…
The Squeeze
Officer Nolan and Celina take on a special case; meanwhile, Monica enlists help to identify her attackers. Elsewhere, Lopez and…
Escape Plan
Sgt. Grey helps the team prepare for their biggest mission yet. Meanwhile, Aaron, Lopez, Celina, Tim and Smitty discover a…
The Shot
Now recovering from a gunshot wound and feeling the effects of his age, John and the team welcome two new…
The Watcher
The team is tasked with community policing while hunting for a local vigilante. Meanwhile, Celina’s instincts are tested, and Tim…
Out of Pocket
Ahead of Bailey's return home, John looks for clues to locate Jason Wyler. Then, Tim and Lucy swap rookies; a…
Darkness Falling
Following his stint at the LAPD, Wesley returns to the district attorney's office where his past connects him to the…
Til Death
The team searches for a serial killer as Nyla struggles with the aftermath following the attack. Lucy’s relationship with Seth…
The Gala
It’s Valentine’s Day, and Lieutenant Grey gives Tim and Lucy an unromantic assignment, while John and Celina track down a…
The Mickey
On Celina's last day as a rookie, John gives her one final test. Meanwhile, Bailey makes a new friend, and…
Wildfire
Nyla remains suspicious of Liam Glasser as a wildfire erupts, causing chaos in the city. Meanwhile, James tries to help…
The Kiss
The team mobilizes to locate a suspect after a deadly series of events affects one of their own. Meanwhile, Celina…
Chaos Agent
John, Lucy and Angela investigate the suspicious stabbing of three teenage girls. Back at the station, the team experiences technical…
Speed
John and Celina find themselves in a hostage situation while undercover for a public safety initiative. While Angela and Nyla…
April Fools
An April Fools' prank on LAPD’s social media leads to citywide chaos. Meanwhile, John's T.O. skills are tested, Wesley is…
Three Billboards
When anti-LAPD billboards emerge throughout the city, the team searches for who's responsible. Meanwhile, a car bombing prompts an investigation,…
Mad About Murder
Tim receives a strange message, launching a larger investigation into the dark web. Meanwhile, Celina works to take down a…
A Deadly Secret
Documentary filmmakers interview the LAPD on a complicated missing person's case connected to John.
The Return
The team has mixed feelings when a familiar face returns hoping to prove himself. Meanwhile, an influencer gets his fans…
Mutiny and the Bounty
The team helps Skip Tracer Randy when his new love interest is kidnapped. Meanwhile, Angela and Nyla enlist their moms…
The Good, The Bad & The Oscar
John and Harper work together to catch Oscar. Angela investigates a bank robbery. Lucy and Tim learn to adapt to…
Czech Mate
The LAPD, FBI and Interpol work with Monica Stevens in Prague to target high-value terrorists operating within and outside the…
Fast Andy
When the president visits Los Angeles, the LAPD teams up with the Secret Service to ensure his safety and assess…
The Red Place
Nolan makes a quiet arrest, and Lucy and Celina race to rescue a kidnapping victim. Meanwhile, Harper and Lopez help…
Cut and Run
While out in the city, Nolan and Bailey witness a murder in public and immediately spring into action in the…
The Network
Lieutenant Grey and the FBI task force enlist the help of an old colleague to uncover a criminal network. Nolan,…
Burn 4 Love
It's Valentine's Day, and the team is on the hunt for someone who is setting more than hearts on fire.…
Baja
Harper and Lucy go undercover in Baja while investigating the murder of two young women. Back in LA, Bradford and…
Grand Theft Aircraft
Nolan and Garza lead a high-stakes operation that quickly goes south. Lucy and Tim navigate their relationship when an unexpected…
Fun and Games
Harper and Miles feel the weight of their recent mistakes, while Harper is tasked with training Miles. Nolan and Celina…
His Name Was Martin
Nolan, Harper and Miles face a dangerous situation when a routine check takes a sudden turn. Meanwhile, Bailey conducts a…
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Episode 17
Episode 18
Where to watch
Drama Serie Review
In an era where police procedurals often feel like assembly-line products, *The Rookie* manages to carve out a distinct identity by leaning into the vulnerability of its central premise. While the show ostensibly follows John Nolan’s midlife pivot from construction to the LAPD, its true strength lies in its evolution from a fish-out-of-water comedy into a sophisticated ensemble drama that explores the grueling psychological demands of law enforcement.
Nathan Fillion’s casting is the series’ secret weapon. He brings a grounded, weary optimism to Nolan that prevents the character from becoming a caricature of a "midlife crisis." However, the show’s longevity—spanning eight seasons and over 140 episodes—is credited to its supporting cast. The dynamic between the training officers and their recruits provides a rigid narrative structure that allows for genuine character growth. Eric Winter and Melissa O’Neil, in particular, offer a masterclass in slow-burn chemistry and professional friction, grounding the more heightened action sequences in relatable human stakes.
Artistically, the series succeeds by blending traditional cinematography with "body-cam" footage, creating a visceral, frantic energy during high-stakes calls. It effectively balances the levity of workplace banter with the sobering realities of systemic failure and personal loss.
Yet, the show is not without its tonal inconsistencies. As the seasons progress, the "rookie" conceit naturally fades, and the series occasionally slips into the trap of "super-cop" tropes. Some plot arcs involve international cartels or grand conspiracies that feel disconnected from the gritty, street-level realism of the early seasons. Additionally, the sheer volume of episodes leads to occasional repetitive pacing where procedural formulas overshadow character development.
Ultimately, *The Rookie* is a testament to the power of a strong lead and a willingness to reinvent itself. It is a rare procedural that respects the intelligence of its audience while delivering consistent entertainment. For those seeking a blend of high-octane drama and genuine heart, this series remains a top-tier recommendation. It proves that while starting over isn't easy, it certainly makes for compelling television.
