Raakhee N
The Rookie: A Guilty Pleasure Ride Through Predictable Plot Twists & Fierce Female Energy
So, The Rookie… let’s be real — this isn’t a show you watch with your thinking cap on. Nope. Leave logic and expectations at the door, grab a snack, and just enjoy the ride.
Plot twists? More like plot strolls — you’ll probably see most things coming from a mile away. It’s got that soap-meets-cop-drama vibe where everything conveniently clicks into place… maybe a little too conveniently. And yes, there are times where you’ll be like, “Wait, did I miss an entire subplot?” Nope. They just didn’t show it. Viewer imagination required!
BUT… here’s where it gets good. The characters? They bring it. Detective Lopez and Detective Nyla? Absolute queens. Strong, sharp, and totally steal the screen. The chemistry between Bradford and Chen? Slow burn, five seasons in the making — and worth every second. That spark? That build-up? Chef’s kiss.
And let’s not forget La Fiera. Beautiful, bold, and seriously magnetic. I was low-key rooting for her even when I wasn’t supposed to.
So yeah, The Rookie may not win points for originality or tight storytelling, but it’s got charm, character, and just enough heart to keep you watching. A little messy? Sure. But sometimes that’s what makes it fun.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
04/20/25
Full Review
Tom B
Once you start hating on this show, it is kind of hard to stop. It is a mix of puerile story lines with completely implausible characters who reside in a complete fantasy where everything always works out. As one forces their way (because their daughter begged them to) through one terrible season after another, you start wishing for a really major disaster, one that Captain Perfect John Nolan is unable to resolve with his folksy 'I'm a failed (and divorced) carpenter' charm. At one point, when he was implausibly dating an impossibly hot doctor, I thought, yes, here it comes, they are going to make Officer Nolan find the cure for cancer. I mean, his character is just a joke. We all know what contractors are really like. Excellent one day, perfect the next? That's a good one. And how about these crimes, they literally solve themselves. The number of dummies lining up to either confess or rat on their gangster mates because Nolan gave them one of his incredibly annoying homilies about when he was a gyprocker in the mid-west is just laughable. And some of those totally unlikely characters. A rich white guy Wesley (aka the Weasel) hooking up with a Latina patrolman. Likely? Sure and his rich white mum really would have taken to it. And then there's officer Thorsen, another rich and totally disconnected personality, who has decided he wants to be a cop. And the array of skills these guys have is dizzying. Patrolman? Oh no, we can do it all, these guys are detectives, SWAT, CIA operatives and Therapists all rolled into one. And how they love to run into a gun fight, no one even flinches. Yep, that's how it really goes down. Just like in Ulvade. Ha. But a super successful show, which is more a reflection on the audience. Learn how to read people, move on from this utter garbage.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/27/25
Full Review
Markel S
This show is one of the BEST procedural police shows I've watched. It really hit me hard. At first in the beginning, it was slow-burn at first with some characters that were difficult to connect on an emotional level except for Nathan Fillion's character, but as it goes on, I became emotionally connected to a lot of them and it gets real good. I actually stopped watching the first episode half-way through and skipped out the show for about a year before I picked it up again. I regretted not watching it sooner. I don't like watching on Hulu because of the ad-infestation, but this show makes it really worth watching. Don't skip this show, people!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/19/25
Full Review
Edward H
What great show. Exciting intense and has a touch of honor. Great writing!!!!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/28/25
Full Review
Cory D
In a time where cop shows are on every single channel, this show is a breath of fresh air. Nathan Fillion is brilliant in how the show progresses from episode to episode and then season to season. The characters are very lovable and you become pretty attached.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
08/16/24
Full Review
John W
I am most of the way through Season 1 (episode 14 of 20) and can report that during the first few episodes I was seriously considering giving up, not because it was bad but because I've seen it all before, i.e. all the themes, plot arcs, characters, tropes, clichés etc.
Two things stopped me from giving up: Nathan Fillion (you didn't see that one coming?) and the fact that it's kind of like comfort food: you know it's not nutritious, and eating it means that you're missing out on something better, but every so often you need to relax and enjoy something familiar, while switching your brain off for a while.
Also, there is some character development, which saves the show in another way. The actual police events are somewhat secondary to characterisation and overall arc of the characters.
So: give it a whirl, and watch at least 5 or 6 episodes before you give up.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
08/09/24
Full Review
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Episode 1
Aired Oct 16, 2018
Pilot
After a life-altering incident, John Nolan decides to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer; as the force's oldest rookie, John is met with skepticism from some higher-ups.
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Episode 2
Aired Oct 23, 2018
Crash Course
Talia forces Nolan to confront his personal moral instincts after he encounters a kidnapping victim; Lucy is temporarily placed with a new training officer who tests her patience; Jackson must confront his failures.
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Episode 3
Aired Oct 30, 2018
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
After Nolan and Talia lose control of a crime scene, they begin to debate whether people are fundamentally good or bad; Lucy worries Tim is enabling his wife's destructive behavior and not taking care of himself.
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Episode 4
Aired Nov 13, 2018
The Switch
The rookies are temporarily paired with new training officers; when Nolan and Lopez track down an escaped criminal, they discover a little kindness goes a long way; Jackson is forced to face his fears when he is partnered with officer Bradford.
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Episode 5
Aired Nov 20, 2018
The Roundup
Nolan, the rookies and their training officers get involved in a competition that pits them against each other; officer Lucy Chen notices officer Tim Bradford is obsessed with winning at all costs.
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Episode 6
Aired Nov 27, 2018
The Hawke
The team must help capture a cop and his former mentor from the academy after he becomes a fugitive following an assault; Officer Tim Bradford needs Officer Lucy Chen to learn to predict the moves of criminals in order to capture them.
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Episode 7
Aired Dec 4, 2018
The Ride Along
Sgt. Grey informs officer Nolan and officer Bishop that they are going to have a movie director as a ride-along; officer Bradford learns that his wife has been arrested for drug possession.
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Episode 8
Aired Dec 11, 2018
Time of Death
Nolan and Bishop respond to a silent alarm call at a local convenience store where two men are attempting to rob the place; Bishop helps coordinate a drug bust.
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Episode 9
Aired Jan 8, 2019
Standoff
Officer Bradford's wife is found shot but alive, and he vows to track down the man responsible; Officer Nolan must protect his home and the truth after a home invasion attack.
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Episode 10
Aired Jan 15, 2019
Flesh and Blood
Officer Nolan and Sgt. Grey are paired up for the day on patrol; Officer Chen is paired up with Capt. Andersen, and Officer Bradford tells Chen to protect her at all costs.
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Episode 11
Aired Jan 22, 2019
Redwood
An unscheduled visit by the vice president of the United States puts the station on high alert; the Secret Service tasks Nolan and Bishop with checking out a possible threat while the rest of the team tries to keep the streets safe for his visit.
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Episode 12
Aired Feb 12, 2019
Heartbreak
The team is on high alert during the most dangerous day of the year, Valentine's Day; officer Nolan invites everyone over for a party now that he is single.
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Episode 13
Aired Feb 19, 2019
Caught Stealing
A large sum of money used in a drug bust goes missing; the rookies become the prime suspects, as they had previously discussed what they would do with the money.
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Episode 14
Aired Feb 26, 2019
Plain Clothes Day
The rookies are really put to the test when they are forced to make all decisions while on patrol; officer Nolan tries to prove he has been progressing faster than the other rookies to justify his desire of becoming a detective within five years.
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Episode 15
Aired Mar 5, 2019
Manhunt
When a prison bus crashes, some inmates face severe injuries while others seek an opportunity to flee; in the wake of the accident, officer Nolan tries to impress an FBI hostage negotiator while tracking down an escaped convict.
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Episode 16
Aired Mar 19, 2019
Greenlight
Officer Nolan gets a lesson in respect after his arrest of a gang member leads to a free-for-all on his life; officer Chen and Bradford pull over Mario Lopez, who thinks he can talk his way out of a traffic violation.
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Episode 17
Aired Mar 26, 2019
The Shake Up
A massive earthquake rocks the city and throws everything into chaos; Russo recommends Officer Nolan for a protective detail of Brad Hayes, a man whose dealings have put a target on his head.
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Episode 18
Aired Apr 2, 2019
Homefront
When a cop is arrested by Internal Affairs for lying on the witness stand, it leads to the release of three felons whose cases he worked on; Officer Nolan finds out he is being sued by a man who claims he used excessive force which led to an injury.
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Episode 19
Aired Apr 9, 2019
The Checklist
Sgt. Gray informs the rookies that they must track down a specific set of crimes in a 48-hour period to qualify for their final exam; Nolan and Bishop answer a silent alarm call at will.i.am's house.
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Episode 20
Aired Apr 16, 2019
Free Fall
As the rookies prepare for a big exam to see who moves on to the next stage of training, Nolan and Bishop are called to the scene of a murder and learn that the victim may be tied to a potential terrorist attack on the city of Los Angeles.
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