ABC’s The Rookie is now airing its seventh season, and at the same time, TV legend Dick Wolf has released a new police procedural that will make the perfect follow-up. First released in 2018, The Rookie is one of many police procedural shows that air on network TV. Yet, the series stands out for a number of reasons, ranging from its star-studded cast to its long-running popularity. Most importantly though, The Rookie is memorable because of its unique and true-to-life premise: a man in his 40s becomes the oldest rookie at the LAPD.
Considering how many police procedural and first responder shows are out there, it may be difficult for audiences to narrow down which shows are right for them. When it comes to The Rookie, this series is perfect for those seeking easy and engaging entertainment. Though the series does not reinvent the wheel, it offers some captivating action and an ensemble of characters who are all easy to love. Most importantly, Nathan Fillion provides a wonderful performance in the lead role. Therefore, many may be seeking out other similar series to The Rookie, and fortunately, the perfect one just premiered.
Prime Video’s On Call Is Another Great Police Procedural Like The Rookie
How On Call Is Similar To The Rookie
The best police procedural like The Rookie is a brand-new series called On Call, which is currently streaming on Prime Video. The show follows veteran officer Traci Harmon and her rookie partner, Alex Diaz, as they patrol Long Beach, California, coming face to face with brutal crimes and difficult truths about society. In the midst of their daily work, the pair must also overcome the recent loss of one of their fellow officers. The series is executive produced by Dick Wolf, who is the king of police procedurals, and is directed by Eriq LaSalle of ER fame.
Why On Call’s Reviews Are So Divided Between Critics & Audiences
On Call’s Reception Is Weirdly Similar To The Rookie’s
Since premiering on January 9, 2025, On Call has received vastly different reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 56% critics score, with reviewers arguing that the series does not do enough to differentiate itself from other police procedurals. It is somewhat compelling, but never dives deep enough. Meanwhile, audiences have given On Call a 91%, and have praised the show for its drama and its lead performance by Troian Bellisario. Ironically, audiences seem to think that On Call easily establishes itself above other more traditional police procedurals.
On Call’s divisive Rotten Tomatoes scores are not unusual, and in fact, they almost directly align with The Rookie’s score.
On Call’s divisive Rotten Tomatoes scores are not unusual, and in fact, they almost directly align with The Rookie’s score. While The Rookie maintains a 68% critics score, audiences have also rated it a 91%. For the most part, the complaints and praises are the same. Critics feel that The Rookie is basic, and only succeeds due to Fillion’s strong personality, whereas audiences see The Rookie as a breath of fresh air compared to other similar series. Ultimately, this type of reception brings On Call and The Rookie even closer.
How On Call Compares To Other Dick Wolf TV Shows
Wolf’s Rotten Tomatoes Trends Explained
On Call is just the newest series among several police procedurals created by Wolf, and at this point, the show fits right in with the rest of his projects. Many of Wolf’s series have divisive critical ratings like On Call and The Rookie. For example, Chicago Fire has a 50% critics score, but a 78% audience score. In this way, On Call may actually be doing better among audiences than previous Wolf series with its 91%. Plus, On Call seems to be tackling a new type of police procedural that offers a darker look at first responders.
