The Rookie is a breath of fresh air when it comes to police procedurals, but it has suffered some ups and downs since it first aired in 2008. The show follows a middle-aged new officer, John Nolan, as he joins other officers to work on cases in the LAPD. Starting a new career at his age presents many challenges, but Nolan is motivated and hard-working. Instead of taking a more serious route, the police procedural puts the focus on the ensemble cast as they learn and make mistakes as newbies in the field. Since its release, The Rookie has been praised for being an authentic and fun-filled police show.
However, over the years, the show has suffered a few bumps in the road with uneven performances. Having survived the COVID-19 pandemic and the writers’ strike, changes in creative directions are unavoidable. With ties to current affairs and politics, The Rookie briefly shifts away from its original focus in Season 3. While change can be terrifying, it doesn’t always result in catastrophe. The Rookie is one of the shows that has managed to find new footing again and again despite external exchanges. Despite a less-satisfying season, the show has entered a new era with something much more exciting in store for fans. With fast-paced, high-concept plots and case-driven episodes, it’s on the track of slowly winning viewers back.
6. Season 3 Suffers From Review Bombing
The Rookie Season 3 has attracted some hate from viewers since its release. It has some political ties, tackling topics like corruption, racial equality and police brutality, which many viewers have found to be poorly executed. While it’s a common practice for ongoing shows to have real-life tie-ins, in this case, rushed production hurt the plot lines. The season suffered from delays and shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Season 3 is also the first one that came out after the global pandemic. Part of the writers’ room has been replaced, and there’s a notable shift in dialogue and tone from the previous seasons.
The inconsistency resulted in review bombing on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. One character’s death is particularly upsetting for fans. The season has only 14 episodes, which is significantly fewer compared to 20-22 in the previous two seasons. The third season also has quite a few “filler” episodes that don’t quite match the quality of the rest of the show. On the other hand, Season 3 does a great job of making sure that every episode contributes to character development and existing storylines. Even the less strong episodes provide key information to the overall plot. Lean and precise, Season 3 ends with a massive cliffhanger that left fans in shock.
5. Season 6 Ruins Its Own Cliffhanger
The Rookie Season 6 features some wild developments. From sending an LAPD training officer to a territory they have no jurisdiction over to turning a lawyer into a criminal kingpin, some of the plots seem to be a little far-stretched from reality. Similar to Season 3, the sixth season of The Rookie was shortened to 10 episodes, following the writers’ strike. Without developing specific arcs around an ensemble cast, it’s simply impossible for the season to elicit the same range of emotions as before.
Season 6 also runs the risk of spoiling its biggest plot twist. Oscar has been manipulating events from behind bars, and his escape would have been a shocker if the show hadn’t spoiled it before the season finale. Many viewers found the plot twist to be too predictable, which affected the overall excitement driven by the plot. With the antagonist now on the loose, things are about to get wild. The prison break arc is one of the most anticipated storylines to watch in the upcoming season, and it would have been better if The Rookie left it a surprise.
4. The Rookie Changes Its Direction in Season 4
Fans still haven’t gotten over Jackson’s death from Season 3. His death definitely places Season 4 on a rocky start before it begins. While many expected a big plot twist to bring the beloved character back to the show, the Season 4 premiere delivered bad news. It seems that what happened to Jackson West is sticking in The Rookie. His death definitely adds a bit of unpredictability to the show and raises the stakes.This season also features a transition from its funny, laid-back street vibe to a high-stakes drama show like NCIS while introducing some new faces. Many viewers enjoyed the fast pace and density of the storylines. Season 4 takes a step back from political ties and focuses on characters and their storylines. While it’s a huge upgrade from Season 3 story wise, it doesn’t seem to have its old spark. For nostalgic fans, the show’s inclusion of over-the-top rescue missions, and shootouts with Mexican cartels and spies is a huge departure from the first two seasons.
3. The Rookie Picks Up Its Pace in Season 5
Season 5 is at the point where the ABC police procedural starts to earn back its viewers. After a catastrophic third season and a slightly better fourth, the fifth sees the show finding its groove once again. The season features some very exciting cases with a good mix of action, drama and humor. The season finale also surprises fans with a dirty but shocking cliffhanger that’s simply too good to be true. Tim and Lucy’s relationship also reaches a new level in Season 5 after sharing their first kiss in the previous season.
Fans have been rooting for Nolan since Season 1 and following his journey from being a Police Officer I to Police Officer II to earning the “golden ticket” in Season 5 that allows him to choose any position in the department. Nolan’s story comes full circle in Season 5 and sees him becoming a training officer himself. He takes on the task of training the new rookie, Celina Juarez, but with them being from different generations, the duo faces both challenges and opportunities as they work together
2. Season 2 Has Wild Plot Twists and Shocking Moments
The Rookie Season 2 picks up right after the shocking event in the Season 1 finale. Needless to say, the season has a better start than most on the show, and the episodes don’t disappoint. Season 2 also sees The Rookie becoming an ensemble show while slowly building up to its biggest revelation that’ll leave viewers utterly shocked. There are plot twists and highly intense moments throughout the season that leave fans with plenty to ponder. Even episodes that are not directly related to the main plotline are equally entertaining.
Season 2 introduces Grace, one of John Nolan’s love interests. Nolan and Grace enjoy a brief romance together in this season. They are able to explore the spark they had twenty years ago, but their relationship unfortunately meets an end when Grace decides to rekindle the connection with her husband. The show’s top villain also arrives in Season 2. Rosalind Dyer is a serial killer who’s serving a life sentence in prison. Even though she’s behind bars, her influence manages to reach those on the outside. Rosalind definitely leaves a strong impression among fans with spine-tingling lines and a creepy appearance. She manages to gain an “apprentice,” who is interested in continuing her life’s work in the season’s best episode.
1. Season 1 Is Still the Best Season
Season 1 launches the ABC police procedural strong. With the introduction of iconic characters like Lucy, Tim and Angela, the show easily separates itself from other cop shows with its authenticity, comedic elements and dramatic storylines. The first 20 episodes of The Rookie are arguably the best for nostalgic fans. Instead of focusing on a young person, the show’s main character, Nolan, is a middle-aged new police officer. His age certainly makes the training harder, and he also tends to approach things from a different angle that leaves plenty of authentically funny moments.
Nathan Fillion’s titular character is very easy to love and very relatable. Being a divorced man who has a grown son and many years of experience working in construction, Nolan is simply different from all other lead characters in cop shows. Inspired by a robbery, he decides to become a cop despite having already lived most of his life in other roles. Since its release, The Rookie has also been praised for being a breath of fresh air for its focus on the ensemble rather than the cases. While it still takes some soul-searching to move away from romantic drama and find its footing, Season 1 is a solid and refreshing attempt at the genre.
