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Season 1 – The Rookie

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Rookie Oct 2018 Crime Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan, who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of becoming 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. If he can't keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he'll be risking lives -- including his own -- but if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become successful in this new chapter of his life.
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The Rookie — Season 1

The Rookie — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Nathan Fillion's reliably likable presence makes The Rookie worth tuning in, even if the show around him isn't particularly memorable.

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Critics Reviews

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Emily St. James Vox Oct 16, 2018
It's kind of fun to have a series more interested in building out a large ensemble of characters, where the cases are secondary to the characters bouncing off each other. Go to Full Review Chris Barton Los Angeles Times Oct 16, 2018
It's a breezy drama that doesn't demand much from the viewer, but Fillion's easy charm is tough to dismiss. Go to Full Review Ben Travers IndieWire Oct 16, 2018
C+
Kicking off the series with a laughable setup is never good. Go to Full Review Malcolm Hopwood The Post NZ Mar 29, 2019
The Rookie is police procedural on steroids. Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ Jan 28, 2019
Unfortunately, there was more than one really clunky character revelation which will change the nature of the show going forward... But if you're a fan of Fillion (and he has plenty of them) then your new weekly dose of appointment-viewing has arrived. Go to Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba Oct 19, 2018
There's not a lot to it, but as background viewing, it's both easy on the brain and the eyes, which in a way makes it the ideal procedural, great to watch while washing dishes, making dinner, or napping. That's both a knock against it and not. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Daniel V @RT10666205 Aug 22, 2026 It’s one of my favorite background shows. The concept of the show is good and there is fun humor. As the season go on the outright politics in it is unbearable. Snowflakes clearly wrote them and push a complete agenda on the audience. Keep politics out of the show. Institutional racism in the cops isn’t real, some cops suck, many cops are good. Leave your soft beliefs at home and don’t push it on the audience. I would be saying keep politics out even if it was clearly conservative. Just leave it out. Rotten tomatoes won’t even let me post certain beliefs because they are run by these softies. "Professional ratings" are a joke now I go by the opposite See more Mark T @RT73359997 Aug 1, 2026 The first two series are gently entertaining. However, the last two are a ridiculous combination of unbelievable and unrealistic plots along with excruciating acting. A complete waste of time trying to follow the series to a conclusion. See more Marco L @decatur555 May 13, 2026 The Rookie is a very entertaining and well-balanced police procedural that knows exactly what kind of show it wants to be. It starts with a clever hook, the older rookie entering the LAPD, but it works because it grows beyond that premise into an ensemble-driven series with charm, pace, and a cast you actually enjoy spending time with. Nathan Fillion is a big part of why it works, but the show is stronger than just a star vehicle. It mixes action, humor, camaraderie, and occasional heavier themes with real ease. It is not flawless, and sometimes it stretches credibility or leans too far into feel-good adventure, but it remains highly watchable. The backlash that reduces it to culture-war complaints says more about the people making that noise than about the show itself. See more Crystal W @RT94280357 Apr 8, 2026 I loved this show but the new season is kinda trash. That singing dude is ruining the show. He could’ve been known as the funny guy that sang about Nolan in one episode.. now he’s just the annoying music boyfriend.. literally serves no purpose in the story. Please write him off or something ! I beg! On another note the whole witchy vibe is lame and is also ruining the show. Last note: The fact Nolan is the UR yet gets sent off on missions is stupid.. what if a worker needed him but hes on the other side of the world with a serial killer.. which also doesnt make sense as hes just a city cop not fbi or cia. Literally everyone I know who watches the rookie stopped watching season 7 as the writing is getting sloppy. See more Shentel L @RT60886425 Mar 30, 2026 Love this show but please get rid of Bailey ! Otherwise give this show 20 more seasons with a lot more Lucy Chen!! See more Anthony T. @anthony-reviews Mar 26, 2026 Really good show HIGHLY recommend. The only reason for 4 stars is because it can go from a full on all out gun fight to a slow chat, in just a few seconds. See more Read all reviews
The Rookie — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Nathan Fillion

John Nolan

Alyssa Diaz

Angela Lopez

Richard T. Jones

Sergeant Wade Grey

Titus Makin Jr.

Jackson West

Mercedes Mason

Captain Zoe Andersen

Melissa O'Neil

Lucy Chen

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 16, 2018 Pilot After a life-altering incident, John Nolan decides to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer; as the force's oldest rookie, John is met with skepticism from some higher-ups. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 23, 2018 Crash Course Talia forces Nolan to confront his personal moral instincts after he encounters a kidnapping victim; Lucy is temporarily placed with a new training officer who tests her patience; Jackson must confront his failures. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 30, 2018 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 bad; Lucy worries Tim is enabling his wife's destructive behavior and not taking care of himself. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 13, 2018 The Switch The rookies are temporarily paired with new training officers; when Nolan and Lopez track down an escaped criminal, they discover a little kindness goes a long way; Jackson is forced to face his fears when he is partnered with officer Bradford. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 20, 2018 The Roundup Nolan, the rookies and their training officers get involved in a competition that pits them against each other; officer Lucy Chen notices officer Tim Bradford is obsessed with winning at all costs. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 27, 2018 The Hawke The team must help capture a cop and his former mentor from the academy after he becomes a fugitive following an assault; Officer Tim Bradford needs Officer Lucy Chen to learn to predict the moves of criminals in order to capture them. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 4, 2018 The Ride Along Sgt. Grey informs officer Nolan and officer Bishop that they are going to have a movie director as a ride-along; officer Bradford learns that his wife has been arrested for drug possession. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 11, 2018 Time of Death Nolan and Bishop respond to a silent alarm call at a local convenience store where two men are attempting to rob the place; Bishop helps coordinate a drug bust. Details Episode 9 Aired Jan 8, 2019 Standoff Officer Bradford's wife is found shot but alive, and he vows to track down the man responsible; Officer Nolan must protect his home and the truth after a home invasion attack. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 15, 2019 Flesh and Blood Officer Nolan and Sgt. Grey are paired up for the day on patrol; Officer Chen is paired up with Capt. Andersen, and Officer Bradford tells Chen to protect her at all costs. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 22, 2019 Redwood An unscheduled visit by the Vice President of the United States puts the station on high alert; the Secret Service tasks Nolan and Bishop with checking out a possible threat while the rest of the team tries to keep the streets safe for his visit. Details Episode 12 Aired Feb 12, 2019 Heartbreak The team is on high alert during the most dangerous day of the year, Valentine's Day; officer Nolan invites everyone over for a party now that he is single. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 19, 2019 Caught Stealing A large sum of money used in a drug bust goes missing; the rookies become the prime suspects, as they had previously discussed what they would do with the money. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 26, 2019 Plain Clothes Day The rookies are really put to the test when they are forced to make all decisions while on patrol; officer Nolan tries to prove he has been progressing faster than the other rookies to justify his desire of becoming a detective within five years. Details Episode 15 Aired Mar 5, 2019 Manhunt When a prison bus crashes, some inmates face severe injuries while others seek an opportunity to flee; in the wake of the accident, officer Nolan tries to impress an FBI hostage negotiator while tracking down an escaped convict. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 19, 2019 Greenlight Officer Nolan gets a lesson in respect after his arrest of a gang member leads to a free-for-all on his life; officer Chen and Bradford pull over Mario Lopez, who thinks he can talk his way out of a traffic violation. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 26, 2019 The Shake Up A massive earthquake rocks the city and throws everything into chaos; Russo recommends Officer Nolan for a protective detail of Brad Hayes, a man whose dealings have put a target on his head. Details Episode 18 Aired Apr 2, 2019 Homefront When a cop is arrested by Internal Affairs for lying on the witness stand, it leads to the release of three felons whose cases he worked on; Officer Nolan finds out he is being sued by a man who claims he used excessive force which led to an injury. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 9, 2019 The Checklist Sgt. Gray informs the rookies that they must track down a specific set of crimes in a 48-hour period to qualify for their final exam; Nolan and Bishop answer a silent alarm call at will.i.am's house. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 16, 2019 Free Fall As the rookies prepare for a big exam to see who moves on to the next stage of training, Nolan and Bishop are called to the scene of a murder and learn that the victim may be tied to a potential terrorist attack on the city of Los Angeles. Details

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The Rookie — Season 1

The Rookie The Rookie View more photos

Season Info

Director
Liz Friedlander, Timothy Busfield, Michael Goi, John Terlesky, April Mullen, Greg Beeman, John Fortenberry
Executive Producer
Alexi Hawley, Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Jon Steinberg
Screenwriter
Alexi Hawley, Robert Bella, Brynn Malone, Vincent Angell, Liz Alper, Elizabeth Beall, Ally Seibert, Natalie Callaghan
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-14 (L|V)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 16, 2018
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