The BEST episodes of The Rookie

Every episode of The Rookie ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Rookie!

Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being a Los Angeles police 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 a success in this new chapter of his life.

Last Updated: 3/26/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Continuing
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Greenlight
star
8.13
1638 votes

#1 - Greenlight

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/19/2019

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 Officer Bradford pull over Mario Lopez, who thinks he can talk his way out of a traffic violation.

Directors: Valerie Weiss
Writer: Brynn Malone
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Under Siege
star
8.12
806 votes

#2 - Under Siege

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/2/2023

After one of their own is shot, the team suffers a series of close calls and realizes their division may be a target for a group of masked assailants.

Directors: Bill Roe
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Day of Death
star
7.96
1307 votes

#3 - Day of Death

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/23/2020

Nolan and the entire team are in a desperate search to rescue Chen after her abduction, and must attempt to get Rosalind to help them in their search. After Lopez discovers Wesley unconscious from a dangerous cocktail of alcohol and pills, she is forced to keep him close by.

Directors: David McWhirter
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Hunt (2)
star
7.92
1182 votes

#4 - The Hunt (2)

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/10/2020

Nolan’s discovery goes much deeper than he expected and could put his life and career in jeopardy.

Directors: Bill Roe
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Q Word (1)
star
7.92
1250 votes

#5 - The Q Word (1)

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/3/2020

Their rookie year is coming to an end and Nolan, Chen and West are about to be squeezed harder than ever before as their training officers evaluate whether they are truly ready for the job. After one of their rookie classmates is involved in a shooting, the team uncovers some unsettling evidence.

Directors: David McWhirter
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Free Fall
star
7.90
1573 votes

#6 - Free Fall

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/16/2019

As the rookies prepare for a big exam to see who moves on to the next stage of training, Officer Nolan and Officer 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.

Directors: Mike Goi
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Threshold
star
7.90
1029 votes

#7 - Threshold

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/16/2021

Officer Nolan mildly injures himself while chasing down a shoplifter and the local DA wants to charge the suspect with assault despite Nolan’s wishes. Meanwhile, Lucy goes undercover, Lopez’s wedding venue is seized by the FBI, and Nolan meets his new neighbor.

Directors: Lisa Demaine
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Consequences
star
7.87
1135 votes

#8 - Consequences

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/3/2021

Nearing the end of his training, Nolan now faces his biggest challenge as a police officer yet when he must come to terms with the choices he has made in pursuit of the truth.

Directors: Bill Roe
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lockdown
star
7.85
1070 votes

#9 - Lockdown

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/14/2021

Nolan is taken hostage by a man with nothing to lose while the station goes on lockdown and races to identify the suspect before time runs out. Jackson and Stanton reach a tipping point in their relationship that could end Jackson’s career.

Directors: Anna Mastro
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Dark Side
star
7.85
1330 votes

#10 - The Dark Side

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/2019

Nolan and team are charged with escorting a notorious female serial killer to the graves of her previously unrecovered victims. However, when they arrive, they unearth even more than they expected. Chen meets a seemingly perfect man who sparks her interest, and Lopez worries about Wesley as his PTSD continues to increase.

Directors: Bill Roe
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crash Course
star
7.83
2066 votes

#11 - Crash Course

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/23/2018

Talia forces Nolan to confront his personal moral instincts in order to be a good cop after he encounters a kidnapping victim. Meanwhile, Lucy is temporarily placed with a new training officer who tests her patience, and Jackson must confront his failures head-on if he wants to be an officer.

Directors: Adam Davidson
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Standoff
star
7.82
1655 votes

#12 - Standoff

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/8/2019

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.

Directors: John Terlesky
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fire Fight
star
7.81
1029 votes

#13 - Fire Fight

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/14/2021

In the aftermath of Fred’s house explosion, Officer Nolan and Bailey discover there’s more to Fred’s death than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Officer Chen and Officer Bradford demand a treasure hunt rematch and enlist Officer Grey to help set the terms to a new bet, all while they arrest a series of wealthy female criminals. Elsewhere, Wesley struggles to keep it together under the pressure of his debt to Elijah.

Directors: Tori Garrett
Writer: Corey Miller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Choice
star
7.81
925 votes

#14 - The Choice

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2022

Rosalind returns with a vengeance and Bailey’s life is left hanging in the balance. With a ticking clock, the LAPD and the FBI join forces, and Officer John Nolan is forced to make a deadly decision after a harrowing ultimatum.

Directors: Bill Roe
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Manhunt
star
7.80
1570 votes

#15 - Manhunt

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/5/2019

When a prison bus crashes, all units must respond as 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.

Directors: Bill Johnson
Writer: Robert Bella
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Clean Cut
star
7.80
1318 votes

#16 - Clean Cut

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/2019

Nolan kicks off his birthday by babysitting a crime scene at a law office. Bradford and West are set to receive special awards, and Sgt. Grey rides patrol with Harper after she requests an early annual evaluation.

Directors: Toa Fraser
Writer: Mary Trahan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Under the Gun
star
7.80
1208 votes

#17 - Under the Gun

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/26/2020

Nolan and Harper escort 4 juvenile offenders to a Scared Straight program at a correctional facility that quickly becomes a riotous situation. Nolan is uncertain about his relationship with Grace after she fails to introduce him to her ex-husband.

Directors: Tori Garrett
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Control
star
7.80
1185 votes

#18 - Control

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/12/2020

Nolan’s relationship with his first confidential informant is tested when he discovers her back on the street dealing drugs. Lucy’s fear of dating following her abduction and her intrusion into Jackson’s relationship is beginning to threaten their friendship.

Directors: Marcus Stokes
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Checklist
star
7.78
1509 votes

#19 - The Checklist

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/9/2019

Sergeant Gray informs the rookies that they must track down a specific set of crimes in a 48-hour period in order to qualify for their final exam. Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop answer a silent alarm call at will.i.am’s house.

Directors: John Fortenberry
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Double Down
star
7.78
971 votes

#20 - Double Down

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2022

Officer John Nolan’s is once again face-to-face with serial killer Rosalind, and she wants him to know she’s not done with him yet. Meanwhile, officers Bradford and Chen work undercover with Detective Lopez and the Las Vegas Police Department to arrest leaders of a major criminal enterprise.

Directors: Tori Garrett
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Plain Clothes Day
star
7.78
1594 votes

#21 - Plain Clothes Day

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/26/2019

The rookies are really put to the test when their training officers accompany them out of uniform for Plain Clothes Day, which forces them to make all the 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.

Directors: Mike Goi
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Daddy Cop
star
7.77
804 votes

#22 - Daddy Cop

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2023

In the midst of a heatwave and a citywide blackout, Officer John Nolan and Aaron follow increasingly large leads after they discover criminals hiding at the station. While on duty, Officer Chen makes an alarming discovery after being called to a scene where a pungent smell has wreaked havoc. Meanwhile, Lucy and Harper scheme to get Tim out of his new job and into a more exciting position.

Directors: Anne Renton
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Triple Duty
star
7.77
971 votes

#23 - Triple Duty

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/9/2021

Nolan and Bradford hope they can de-escalate a drug war before any innocent lives are lost. Harper hopes she can get Officer Chen ready to go undercover.

Directors: Bill Johnson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Impact
star
7.77
1563 votes

#24 - Impact

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/29/2019

Danger is ever-present as the officers of the Mid-Wilshire precinct grapple with the aftermath of a plotted attack on the city of Los Angeles, leaving Officer Bradford fighting for his life. Flash forward two weeks and the rookies receive the shocking results of their latest training exam, leaving one officer questioning what the future holds. Meanwhile, tension develops at home as Nolan and Lopez advance in their relationships with Jessica and Wesley.

Directors: Michael Goi
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Now and Then
star
7.76
1310 votes

#25 - Now and Then

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/1/2020

Nolan takes his son’s fiancé on a ride-along after she shows an interest in becoming a police officer. Jackson’s relationship becomes complicated at work.

Directors: Chi Yoon Chung
Writer: Robert Bella
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV