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Season 1 – The Rookie

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Rookie 2018 Crime Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan, who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of becoming an LAPD officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can't keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he'll be risking lives -- including his own -- but if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become successful in this new chapter of his life.
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The Rookie — Season 1

The Rookie — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Nathan Fillion's reliably likable presence makes The Rookie worth tuning in, even if the show around him isn't particularly memorable.

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Critics Reviews

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Emily St. James Vox It's kind of fun to have a series more interested in building out a large ensemble of characters, where the cases are secondary to the characters bouncing off each other. Oct 16, 2018 Full Review Chris Barton Los Angeles Times It's a breezy drama that doesn't demand much from the viewer, but Fillion's easy charm is tough to dismiss. Oct 16, 2018 Full Review Ben Travers IndieWire Kicking off the series with a laughable setup is never good. Rated: C+ Oct 16, 2018 Full Review Malcolm Hopwood The Post NZ The Rookie is police procedural on steroids. Mar 29, 2019 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ Unfortunately, there was more than one really clunky character revelation which will change the nature of the show going forward... But if you're a fan of Fillion (and he has plenty of them) then your new weekly dose of appointment-viewing has arrived. Jan 28, 2019 Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba There's not a lot to it, but as background viewing, it's both easy on the brain and the eyes, which in a way makes it the ideal procedural, great to watch while washing dishes, making dinner, or napping. That's both a knock against it and not. Oct 19, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pádraig O Incredible show. Highly recommend Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/18/25 Full Review Marsh X My sister encouraged me to watch this after she finished the series so now we're rewatching it together and the show doesn't disappoint. Officer John Nolan has a very likeable personality which makes him my favourite character, everything in season 1 is just great. 8/10 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/25/25 Full Review Momir B Officer Lopez caracter is so lame... She needs to work on her acting.. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/21/25 Full Review Annika P The rookie is the most amazing show ever! It's such a binge watch show! If I watch one episode I watch like 10! It's really addicting. The rookie is my favorite show I have ever watched! 100% recommend Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review 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 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 out of 5 stars 02/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Rookie — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Nathan Fillion

John Nolan

Alyssa Diaz

Angela Lopez

Richard T. Jones

Sergeant Wade Grey

Titus Makin Jr.

Jackson West

Mercedes Mason

Captain Zoe Andersen

Melissa O'Neil

Lucy Chen

Episodes

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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details 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. Details

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The Rookie — Season 1

The Rookie The Rookie View more photos

Season Info

Director
Timothy Busfield, Michael Goi, Liz Friedlander, John Terlesky, April Mullen, Greg Beeman, John Fortenberry
Executive Producer
Alexi Hawley, Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Jon Steinberg
Screenwriter
Alexi Hawley, Robert Bella, Brynn Malone, Vincent Angell, Liz Alper, Elizabeth Beall, Ally Seibert, Natalie Callaghan
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-14 (V|L|S)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 16, 2018