The Rookie is an American crime drama series, available on ABC, which first aired in 2018. The show follows the life of John Nolan, a small-town guy who is pursuing his dream of becoming an LAPD officer. After five seasons, there have been a variety of episodes that have been considered the worst episodes of The Rookie. In this article, the worst episodes of The Rookie will be ranked, based on a variety of criteria.
The rankings of the worst episodes of The Rookie will be determined by ratings from viewers, reviews from critics, and how the episode is remembered in the overall context of the series. This will allow for an objective comparison of the episodes, while taking into account the subjective opinion of viewers.
The episodes will be ranked from the worst to the least worst, with the worst episode of The Rookie discussed in detail. Additionally, the reasons why the episode was considered the worst will be discussed, as well as the impact it had on the rest of the series.
Written by Sophie and last updated on Nov 22, 2024.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
The team gets the true crime docuseries treatment when they analyze a recent case featuring a former child actor whose adult life has garnered him a cult following.
The episode was rated 6,29 from 1142 votes.
Officer Nolan’s decision to return to school in order to become a training officer is proving to be much harder than he expected. Meanwhile, Officer Chen considers going into undercover work after getting a taste of the job when Harper’s former colleague needs help.
The episode was rated 7,47 from 1131 votes.
Officer Nolan, Officer Harper and Detective Lopez are assigned to the kidnapping of the son of a criminal court judge who has a long list of enemies who could possibly be involved.
The episode was rated 7,56 from 1121 votes.
Officer John Nolan's mom makes an unannounced visit that complicates his life, and Sergeant Grey considers retiring.
The episode was rated 7,56 from 1170 votes.
Officer John Nolan and Officer Nyla Harper are assigned to a community policing center to help rebuild their station’s reputation in the community. Nolan is determined to make a positive impact but Nyla has her doubts.
The episode was rated 7,57 from 1175 votes.
Officer Jackson West’s relationship with his new training officer, Stanton, has escalated and he begins to work with Sergeant Grey to find a solution.
The episode was rated 7,57 from 1187 votes.
After rushing his son, Henry, to the hospital following his collapse, Nolan is reunited with his ex-wife, Sarah, and they must come together to help their son. Meanwhile, Detective Lopez discovers “La Fiera” is in the same hospital and wants to find out exactly why.
The episode was rated 7,59 from 1067 votes.
Harper and Nolan respond to a bank robbery in progress and realize the motives of the thief run much deeper than just needing money. Jackson and Chen’s first day riding without training officers isn’t what they thought it would be.
The episode was rated 7,63 from 1088 votes.
When professor Fiona Ryan’s car window is smashed following a series of mysterious notes, Nolan volunteers to guard her house overnight. Lucy notices that Tim is being much nicer to his new boot than he was with her and she does not like it.
The episode was rated 7,66 from 1106 votes.
An Amber Alert sends the team on a race against time to find a newborn infant who was stolen from a local hospital. Meanwhile, Officers Jackson and Chen work their last shift as rookies as Officer Nolan continues on for 30 more days.
The episode was rated 7,71 from 1107 votes.
In the episode "Triple Duty" of The Rookie, Officers Nolan and Bradford find themselves in the midst of a dangerous drug war, striving to prevent any innocent lives from being lost. Their mission to de-escalate the situation keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering if they can successfully navigate the high-stakes scenario. This episode's intense storyline is a gripping reminder of the challenges law enforcement officers face daily.
Meanwhile, Officer Harper takes on the task of preparing Officer Chen for an undercover assignment, adding another layer of tension and excitement to the narrative. As their partnership is put to the test, viewers are left wondering if Chen can rise to the challenge and handle the complexities of going undercover. The dynamic between the characters and the evolving plotline make for compelling television that keeps audiences engaged from start to finish.
Despite the ongoing debate surrounding cop shows and their portrayal of law enforcement, "Triple Duty" manages to captivate viewers with its well-executed storytelling and character development. The episode's ability to address relevant issues while maintaining a level of intrigue is commendable, drawing viewers into the world of The Rookie. With intense moments, unexpected twists, and standout performances, this episode proves to be a standout in the series, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what will happen next.
The episode was rated 7,76 from 1059 votes.
The episode of The Rookie, titled "Lockdown," follows Officer Nolan as he is taken hostage by a desperate man. As the station goes into lockdown, the team races to identify the suspect before it's too late.
Meanwhile, Officer Jackson and his training officer Officer Doug Stanton hit a roadblock in their relationship that could cost Jackson his career in the department. The B story blends so seamlessly with the A story that it's almost indistinguishable.
The episode also offers a great performance from Brandon Routh, who is really improving as an actor. There is no typecasting for this guy as he works his role with finesse. The audience was surprised with Officer West's clever use of the bodycam to activate it and save the day. It was a great realization for Nolan to come to at the end of the episode, giving him a new direction for his career.
The episode was rated 7,82 from 1159 votes.
The episode Consequences of the show The Rookie sees Nolan facing his biggest challenge yet as a police officer. He must come to terms with the choices he has made in pursuit of the truth. The show managed to find a good balance between fitting the cliffhanger, addressing the issue of police brutality, and not overdoing it. Michael Beach's speech was a highlight and it all fit nicely into his IA role from previous seasons.
However, some of the characters' motives felt recycled. There was a trend in the show of making independent, badass careerist women babyobsessed or pregnant, which is becoming increasingly old and disappointing. Rosalind, however, was a highlight of the episode, and viewers were relieved when Nolan did not die.
The episode was rated 7,83 from 1223 votes.
In the episode of The Rookie, entitled "Threshold," Officer Nolan gets hurt while chasing down a shoplifter and the local DA wants to charge the suspect with assault, despite Nolan's wishes. Meanwhile, Lucy goes undercover and Lopez's wedding venue is seized by the FBI. To top it off, Nolan meets his new neighbor. Though the ending of this episode was not what viewers had imagined, it was still good. However, some viewers felt that the ending was unrealistic, as it seemed that at a party full of cops, nobody could see anything. Despite this, the episode overall was well done, and viewers were left with a cliffhanger that no one can believe.
The episode was rated 7,90 from 1114 votes.
