The Rookie season 8 is underway, and while fans don’t want to wait until January 2026 for new episodes, I’m even more excited after finding out where the actors have been filming. When season 7 premiered in January 2025, John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and his wife Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) were still hoping to start a family. As season 7 marched towards its conclusion, they ran into a few frustrating obstacles, and the LAPD team continued to investigate cases and handle their stressful personal lives. Along with the show’s large fanbase, I’m eager to find out as much as possible about season 8.
While The Rookie has many notable and funny guest stars, I enjoy seeing the banter between the main characters, and I like seeing them solve cases together. I can’t wait to see The Rookie season 8 after finding out this fun filming update, and I’m wondering what the storyline could be.
The Rookie Season 8 Is Filming In Prague And I Can’t Wait To See An Episode With A New Setting
In late June 2025, Jenna Dewan shared on Instagram that The Rookie season 8 was filming in Prague, Czech Republic. I think it’s great that the ABC drama is going to feature a new setting, and I’m wondering what it could mean. While it’s unclear how many episodes will take place in Prague, I would hope for one or two. According to The Prague Reporter, Bridget Regan and Nathan Fillion filmed in Prague with Dewan, which suggests that Monica Stevens is the focal point of this storyline.
Maybe Nolan and the team are investigating something in Prague that is related to Monica’s immunity deal. Since Bailey Nune is there too, maybe Bailey decided to come along so she and Nolan could take a bit of a vacation. Of course, since the couple has run into a few problems over the years, they’re likely going to have a stressful time.
While I wonder if the new season will introduce a fresh villain, and I think Nolan and the others could chase them in Prague, I think it makes sense to focus on Monica for now. I would be happy if The Rookie season 8 concluded Monica’s arc, and I’m interested in seeing what happens to her next. Since she has an immunity deal, she might not get in as much trouble as she did previously. However, I think she should still have a few tricks up her sleeve.
I like when The Rookie moves away from the regular formula, which is why I enjoy the documentary-style episodes. Since most seasons have around 22 episodes, there’s plenty of time for the team to go about their regular lives in L.A. I think The Rookie should change things up when possible, and a European-set episode or two sounds perfect.
It would also be great to see Nolan and Bailey have some fun in Prague. It’s not often that fans get to see the characters on vacation since The Rookie is a procedural. But, since the couple has been through so much, they deserve a break, no matter how brief it might be.
The Rookie Season 7 Set Up Some Compelling Storylines (Including Chenford’s Reunion)
After the memorable cliffhanger at the end of The Rookie season 7 that included the return of Monica Stevens, fans have wondered what other stories season 8 is going to tell. Besides Nolan and the LAPD officers figuring out how to face Monica once again, the new episodes will also feature Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford getting back together. Showrunner Alexi Hawley has shared in a few interviews that the couple will definitely reunite. Eric Winters also shared his thoughts on the relationship and is sure there will still be some drama between the beloved characters. While viewers know it won’t be easy, they want to see Lucy and Tim happy again.
One of the biggest changes in The Rookie season 7 was Lucy becoming a sergeant and being placed on the night shift. In an interview with TV Insider, Hawley said he was sure that Lucy will be back on the day shift soon. He said:
“I think ultimately that obstacle would get old fairly quickly, so it’s on us to figure out a way to move past that at some point.”
