The Rookie has undoubtedly been a success for Nathan Fillion, but if it is able to reach season 9, the actor will reach an impressive milestone that his other shows didn’t. ABC’s police procedural series centers around Fillion’s John Nolan, a middle-aged man who spontaneously quits his job and joins the LAPD. When The Rookie first premiered, Nolan was a rookie police officer at the Mid-Wilshire Division in Los Angeles. He was fresh out of the police academy and the oldest rookie in the LAPD, and almost seven seasons later, much has changed, but the show is still going strong.
Although The Rookie’s ratings have fluctuated over the years, it remains a show that ABC can rely on. It comes as no surprise that the series has lasted as long as it did. Even with a couple of bad seasons of The Rookie, the police procedural TV show has retained a loyal fanbase that is itching for more episodes, which has resulted in it being renewed through season 7. However, The Rookie can solidify itself as Fillion’s best show if it breaks one of his records.
The Rookie Season 9 Would Make It Nathan Fillion’s Longest-Running Show
Fillion’s Past Shows Have Never Made It To Season 9
Fillion’s record for longest-running show with the most seasons is Castle. The actor starred as the mystery author turned NYPD consultant Richard Castle in the ABC crime comedy-drama series for eight seasons from 2009 to 2016. Castle revolved around Fillion’s character joining forces with a group of NYPD detectives led by Stana Katic’s Kate Beckett to solve crimes. Viewers fell in love with Castle’s charming and humorous personality, his relationship with Beckett, and the show’s thrilling cases. So, given its success and the love and attention it has received, it will be difficult for The Rookie to surpass (or tie) Castle’s eight seasons.
Even With Season 9, The Rookie May Not Beat Castle’s Episode Count
The Rookie Only Has 108 Episodes Heading Into Season 7
If ABC renews The Rookie through season 9, the show still wouldn’t beat the number of Castle episodes. Whereas Nathan Fillion’s newer police procedural series only has 108 episodes heading into season 7, Castle ran for a total of 173 episodes. Castle had longer seasons than the current show, averaging about 22 episodes per season. Meanwhile, The Rookie averages exactly 18 episodes per season. So, it makes sense why The Rookie could have fewer episodes at the end of its run and still beat Fillion’s record for his longest-running show.
Fillion’s newest police procedural series seemingly has to make it to season 10 to beat Castle ‘s episode count.
A couple of reasons can account for The Rookie’s shorter seasons — the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in Hollywood. Both life-changing events delayed the production of hundreds of movies and TV shows. Thankfully, The Rookie is getting back on track with season 7’s 18-episode count.
However, even with the extra 18 episodes, that would only bring the number of The Rookie episodes up to 126, which is 47 shy of Castle’s final episode count. Plus, if ABC renews the show for seasons 8 and 9, both would likely only have 18 episodes. The Rookie would still have 13 fewer episodes than Castle, despite it being Fillion’s longest-running TV show in this scenario. Fillion’s newest police procedural series seemingly has to make it to season 10 to beat Castle’s episode count.
How Many Seasons Could The Rookie Realistically Run For?
The Rookie’s Future Is Unknown
Although The Rookie has been a relative success for ABC, in this day and age of TV, anything is possible. Every time a season of the police procedural series ends, fans are on the edge of their seats, waiting to hear news about the show’s future. Thankfully, The Rookie has managed to score six renewals since its premiere in 2018. However, season 7 could very easily be its final season, especially after the unnecessarily bad finale of The Rookie season 6. If the show doesn’t improve in 2025, it could be the end of the road for Nathan Fillion’s latest series.
On the other hand, The Rookie’s success can grow in season 7, persuading ABC to renew it for an eighth season (and then a ninth and a tenth). Based on the state of network TV, the more likely option is that the police procedural show will end after season 7 or season 8. But never say never, and Fillion is ready for The Rookie to last as long as possible. Around the time The Rookie hit 100 episodes, Fillion told The Hollywood Reporter:
“One of the worst nightmares for a television actor would be to be forgotten. I would hope [The Rookie’s] legacy is it turns out to be one of those classic TV shows that people always think about when they think about cop shows, something they think about when they think about a reset. I want it to become, not iconic, but culturally embedded. If legacy means it has to end first, I hope our legacy doesn’t come for a while yet.”
Is The Rookie Now Nathan Fillion’s Most Iconic Show?
The Rookie Has Been A Success For Fillion
The topic of icon status concerning TV shows is subjective. However, it’s difficult to deny that The Rookie isn’t what Nathan Fillion is most known for, despite its evident accomplishments. Instead, many think of Firefly or Castle when reflecting on the actor’s career. Fillion starred as Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds in Firefly, a short-lived Fox space Western drama series that obtained cult status after its cancelation. Meanwhile, Fillion’s role in Castle is quite memorable, especially since ABC published his character’s books.
Plus, actors from Firefly and Castle have made cameos in The Rookie, which says a lot about Fillion’s earlier shows. Of course, the fact that Firefly and Castle have been over for years now also helps them be more prominent in Fillion’s TV credits because there is a sense of nostalgia around them. While The Rookie has been a great success for Fillion, it might have to roll out a few more seasons before its legacy can compete against Firefly’s and Castle’s.
