In a fairly risky yet unexpectedly brilliant move, The Rookie season 7 doubles down on its most harshly criticized episode format while demonstrating the idea can have merit. Not all fans have been united on whether the series is heading in the right direction, but improving the show’s worst episodes could prove The Rookie season 8 still has momentum.
Since her brief return, one of the most common topics among fans has been Monica’s The Rookie season 8 storyline. Understandably, less discussion tends to focus on the smaller weekly episodes that don’t advance the main story. Yet these episodes often give The Rookie cast unique chances to shine. If an episode format needs improvement, then that’s deserving of extra focus.
The Rookie’s True Crime Episodes Are Consistently The Low Points Of Their Seasons
Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen in The Rookie season 3, episode 7
Any TV episode that vitally hinges on a gimmick will inevitably garner a certain number of detractors, but The Rookie’s lowest-rated episodes have largely been based on true-crime documentaries. To date, all four documentary-style episodes of The Rookie have averaged IMDb ratings of less than 5.0, with few audience reviews finding even a shred of merit in the format.
The first attempt at this format was all the way back in season 3, episode 7. Appropriately titled “True Crime,” the episode was met with both disdain and confusion by those who felt the format didn’t complement The Rookie’s general style. A one-star review by IMDb user mhottrax particularly commented on the episode’s lack of consistency with the overarching storyline:
“It seems as if they lost the episode that was supposed to be in this time slot so just put something together in 10 minutes. An hour of my life lost.”
Despite negative reactions, similar episodes became an annual tradition, appearing in every season thereafter except for season 6. Interestingly, however, the harshest criticisms didn’t necessarily pertain to the format itself. For instance, season 5’s “Double Trouble” was largely criticized for its over-reliance on Chenford doppelgängers Dim and Juicy, which several fans felt pushed the episode too far over the top.
The prior true crime episode, season 4’s “Real Crime,” fared better overall but received more hostility from those who rated it poorly. Fans who hated the previous true crime episode felt their criticisms had gone unheard, while supporters felt it was at least an improvement over season 3. But by season 7, it almost seemed the show was trolling its critics.
The Rookie Season 7 Ran Two True Crime Episodes Back-To-Back (With An Extra Twist)
Season 7, episode 15, “A Deadly Secret,” is the worst-reviewed true crime episode to date and was quickly labeled one of the primary The Rookie episodes worth skipping. Criticisms highlighted the episode’s failure to advance the main storyline and confusion over the inclusion of Zuzu, which sound like conflicting viewpoints but make sense in light of Zuzu’s slim plot contributions.
However, despite being one of The Rookie season 7’s most intriguing villains, it seems readily apparent that Zuzu’s eerie “666” clue was only there to emphasize that “A Deadly Secret” takes one foot out of the true crime realm and places it squarely into paranormal investigation. The episode even includes cameos by popular ghost hunters Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej.
This felt like The Rookie was at least attempting to put a slightly fresher spin on the format, but what really made “A Deadly Secret” feel like a troll move was that the episode directly preceding it had already put a strong focus on true crime investigation. However, a few smart twists allowed it to skirt the usual fan criticisms.
“Mad About Murder” not only relegates its true crime focus to the episode’s B-plot, but the episode’s specific emphasis on podcasting allows it to avoid the documentary format altogether. Antagonistic podcaster Heather Marie was still a point of contention, but analyzing what this episode and “A Deadly Secret” did differently suggests The Rookie can still save its true crime format.
The Rookie Season 7 Proves The Series’ True Crime Episodes Still Have Potential
Perhaps “A Deadly Secret” doesn’t seem like the best saving grace given its astonishingly low audience ratings, but the ghost hunting spin offers a fun twist on the format that could lead to even more unique genre combinations in the future. Surely, somebody out there is itching to see a murder mystery solved through a series of TikTok recipe tutorials.
On a more serious note, viral content does often shift in popularity depending on user trends and which influencers are most up and coming. A prime criticism of The Rookie’s attempt to tap into the true crime fad is that it’s already been largely overplayed, but there are plenty of other formats and genres that few procedurals have touched yet.
Criticisms that the true crime episodes don’t feel like true The Rookie episodes could also be partly addressed by bringing back Sara Rue’s The Rookie character Nell Forester. “Mad About Murder” receiving stronger reviews suggests the problem is more the documentary format than true crime itself, and Nell’s own true crime podcast has yet to feature in the series.
A Nell-focused episode would also justify bringing back Alan Tudyk’s Ellroy Basso. Tudyk’s appearance alone would likely boost audience reactions, giving The Rookie a chance to overcome bias against the format and let the episode speak for itself. Either way, the series’ true crime problem isn’t insurmountable. But if the format’s to be redeemed, significant changes need to be made.
