When a show like The Rookie goes head-to-head with NCIS, you’d think the lead star would have some epic, drawn-out take on why it stacks up. But Nathan Fillion? He kept it short, sweet, and straight to the point – just like the show itself.
While NCIS has been the big dog for decades, The Rookie brings fresh energy, wild cases, and that signature Fillion charm. If anyone’s got the perfect answer for why this show slaps, it’s the guy calling the shots, and honestly, he might’ve just nailed it.
Nathan Fillion explains why The Rookie stands out, and why it’s an NCIS rival
Nathan Fillion didn’t just hype up The Rookie; he nailed exactly why it’s a real contender in the police procedural game. At ABC’s Winter 2024 TCA press tour, he got real about what makes the show click. Fillion explained,
People like the show because of the characters, because of the relationships, because of the interactions. These are things that we can all relate to. The fact that it’s a procedural, I think, is just the form that our show takes. I’ve never been on a show where I’ve cared so much about parts I’m not in.
The cases? Just the backdrop. The real hook is the cast and their chemistry. Plus, The Rookie’s lineup is stacked. Unlike NCIS, which has had its hits and misses, The Rookie makes every character count.
Showrunner Alexi Hawley backed up Fillion’s lasting appeal, calling him a rare leading man unafraid to fall down, to be seen to fail. Whether he was captaining a spaceship, solving mysteries, or training as LAPD’s oldest rookie, Fillion kept stuff real. That’s why audiences stick around. Hawley said,
Here’s what I would say about Nathan and why I think he resonates so much with people is, he is a very rare leading man who’s willing to fall down, to be seen to fail, to be seen to be the butt of a joke, to basically be human.
I think so many leading men on television feel like they need to be perfect or infallible, and I think there’s such humanity to Nathan, whether he’s the captain of a starship, or whether he’s a mystery writer, or whether he’s the oldest rookie in the LAPD. And I think that’s why people want to watch him, is because they see that you can fall down and still get back up again.
And fans have made it clear. Everywhere he went, drivers, parents, and even kids told him they loved The Rookie. Debating which cop is the best? That’s the engagement most shows dream of.
Fillion admitted it’s easy to forget how many people are watching. But every fan interaction was a reminder – The Rookie wasn’t just another cop show. It was a phenomenon.
Nathan Fillion knew Castle needed to end sooner, and he was right
Nathan Fillion had an ideal ending for Castle, but the show didn’t quite get there. The ABC hit wrapped after eight seasons, but Fillion once said (via Digital Spy),
I would like to do six years – maybe seven years, if it’s strong enough at that point – and then wrap it up…Six years would be great, wouldn’t it? I would love to end strong.
Instead, Castle faced a messy cancellation, leaving showrunner Alexi Hawley scrambling for a finale. The result? A rushed send-off that Fillion admitted wasn’t the beautiful ending fans hoped for. He alluded (via The New York Post),
It wasn’t the beautiful send-off that I think maybe you could hope for…It’s the entertainment industry, it’s a business, I get it. I don’t take it personally when a show gets canceled — I can’t take it personally, all my shows gets canceled! Look at my resume, it’s a long list of canceled TV shows.
Fillion had a blast on Castle, loving the friendships and the ride. But he didn’t want it dragging on and fizzling out — better to go out on top.
