The Rookie

10 Best Episodes of The Rookie - Season 1

The Rookie is an American crime drama television series airing on ABC. The show follows John Nolan, a small-town guy who pursues his dream of becoming an LAPD officer after a life-altering incident. The show has been running since 2018 and is currently in its fifth season. There have been a lot of great episodes over the past five seasons. To help narrow down the selection, here are some of the best episodes of The Rookie ranked.

The show really kicks off with the pilot episode, where John Nolan sets out to pursue his dream of becoming an LAPD officer. The show does a great job of introducing the characters and setting up the premise. It's a great introduction to the show and the character of John Nolan.

Another great episode was the season one finale, "Free Fall". This episode was a great way to wrap up the first season, as it included intense action and a great cliffhanger that left viewers wanting more. It also provided a great wrap-up to the arc that had been building throughout the first season.

Written by Sophie and last updated on apr 16, 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!

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The Rookie - S1E1

#15 - Pilot (Season 1 - Episode 1)

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 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. Throw in a workplace romance, a hostage situation, and some tough love from their new training officers, and the latest Los Angeles police rookie class has an uphill battle ahead of them.

The episode was rated 7.64 from 2300 votes.

The Rookie - S1E12

#14 - Heartbreak (Season 1 - Episode 12)

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The most dangerous day of the year – Valentine’s Day – has the team on high alert, and Officer Nolan invites everyone over for a party now that he is single.

The episode was rated 7.65 from 1554 votes.

The Rookie - S1E18

#13 - Homefront (Season 1 - Episode 18)

When one of their colleagues is arrested by Internal Affairs for lying on the witness stand, it leads to the release of three felons whose cases he worked on and the team being asked to check in on them now that they are free. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan finds out he is being sued by a man who claims he used excessive force which led to an injury.

The episode was rated 7.68 from 1517 votes.

The Rookie - S1E13

#12 - Caught Stealing (Season 1 - Episode 13)

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The rookies become the prime suspects after it is discovered a large sum of money used in a drug bust has gone missing.

The episode was rated 7.69 from 1573 votes.

The Rookie - S1E17

#11 - The Shake Up (Season 1 - Episode 17)

A massive earthquake rocks the city and throws everyone’s patrols and its citizens into chaos. Meanwhile, agent Russo recommends Officer Nolan for a protective detail of Brad Hayes, a man whose dealings have put a target on his head.

The episode was rated 7.70 from 1521 votes.

The Rookie - S1E11

#10 - Redwood (Season 1 - Episode 11)

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An unscheduled visit by the vice president of the United States puts the station on high alert. The secret service tasks Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop with checking out a possible threat to the vice president while the rest of the team try to keep the streets clear and safe for his visit.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 1584 votes.

The Rookie - S1E10

#9 - Flesh and Blood (Season 1 - Episode 10)

On Captain Andersen’s orders, Officer Nolan and Sergeant Grey are paired up for the day on patrol. Additionally, Nolan’s son and Grey’s daughter visit their dads on the job and see them in action. Meanwhile, Officer Chen is paired up with Captain Andersen, and Officer Bradford tells Chen to protect her at all costs.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 1568 votes.

The Rookie - S1E2

#8 - Crash Course (Season 1 - Episode 2)

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

The episode was rated 7.76 from 1968 votes.

The Rookie - S1E8

#7 - Time of Death (Season 1 - Episode 8)

In the latest episode of "The Rookie," titled "Time of Death," Nolan and Bishop find themselves in the middle of a tense situation. Responding to a silent alarm call at a local convenience store, they discover two men attempting to rob the place. As they spring into action, tensions rise and the stakes get higher.

Meanwhile, Bishop finds herself caught up in a drug bust that hits a little too close to home for Bradford. The episode takes a dramatic turn as the characters face difficult choices and navigate the complex world of law enforcement.

However, not everyone was satisfied with the episode. Some viewers expressed frustration with the ending, questioning the direction the show is taking. While others felt that the execution of the episode was overly dramatic and predictable, making it the weakest installment of the season so far. Despite these criticisms, many are still eagerly awaiting the next episode to see how the cliffhanger will be resolved.

The episode was rated 7.78 from 1663 votes.

The Rookie - S1E14

#6 - Plain Clothes Day (Season 1 - Episode 14)

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In the latest episode of "The Rookie," titled "Plain Clothes Day," the rookies face an ultimate challenge. Their training officers decide to join them on patrol, but there's a catch - they're all out of uniform. This means that the rookies are forced to take charge and make all the decisions during their shift. It's a true test of their skills and ability to think on their feet.

Meanwhile, Officer Nolan is determined to prove himself. He believes that he has been progressing faster than the other rookies and wants to become a detective within the next five years. With this goal in mind, he pushes himself even harder to stand out and show that he's worth the opportunity.

As the episode unfolds, tensions rise and the rookies find themselves in unexpected situations. Will they be able to handle the pressure and prove their worth? Tune in to "The Rookie" to find out if they can rise to the challenge on Plain Clothes Day. It's a thrilling episode that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The episode was rated 7.78 from 1576 votes.

The Rookie - S1E19

#5 - The Checklist (Season 1 - Episode 19)

In the latest episode of "The Rookie," titled "The Checklist," Sergeant Gray throws the rookies a curveball. He reveals that in order to pass their final exam, they must solve a specific set of crimes within a tight 48-hour deadline. The pressure is on, and the clock is ticking.

Meanwhile, Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop find themselves responding to a silent alarm call at none other than will.i.am's house. With tensions high and the stakes even higher, our beloved officers must navigate the unexpected twists and turns of this high-profile case. Will they be able to crack the code and come out on top?

As the end of the season looms near, the pressure mounts for our rookies, especially for Jackson. With doubts swirling and a reputation on the line, it's hard to shake the feeling that he might not make the cut. Will he rise to the occasion and prove everyone wrong, or will he fall short in this crucial moment? Tune in to find out if the rookies can beat the clock and pass their final exam, or if time will run out on their dreams.

The episode was rated 7.78 from 1514 votes.

The Rookie - S1E15

#4 - Manhunt (Season 1 - Episode 15)

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In the episode "Manhunt" of the show The Rookie, Officer Nolan must track down an escaped convict in the wake of a prison bus crash. As some inmates suffer from severe injuries, others take advantage of the situation to flee. Throughout the episode, Nolan attempts to impress an FBI hostage negotiator as he climbs the ranks of the police force. Jessica Russo, played by Sarah Shahi, is a recurring role in the show that viewers can look forward to seeing more from.

The episode is praised by viewers for its amazing cast and storylines. Nolan is often written as the rookie who does the best in every episode, which is no different in "Manhunt". In this episode, the hunt for escaped prisoners is on with all the drama stemming from not running over a coyote.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 1552 votes.

The Rookie - S1E9

#3 - Standoff (Season 1 - Episode 9)

This episode of The Rookie was a solid one with great drama and suspense. Officer Bradford is determined to catch the man responsible for shooting his wife, Isabel, while Officer Nolan must protect his home and the truth after a home invasion attack. The technical issues that the show has been having with body cams were still present in this episode, but the fact that I'm even focusing on that issue shows how great this episode was. The stakes were high in both the major and minor plotlines, and I found myself caring about the episodic characters. Even the B-Plot was interesting, showing a theme of truth setting you free, but only Officer Nolan believes that. In the end, this episode did everything that MacGyver's episode did wrong, making it one of my top 5 of the season.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 1638 votes.

The Rookie - S1E20

#2 - Free Fall (Season 1 - Episode 20)

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In the season finale of The Rookie, the rookies are preparing for a big exam to determine who will move on to the next stage of training. However, Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop are called to the scene of a murder, where they learn that the victim may be connected to a potential terrorist attack on Los Angeles. Through their investigation, they discover a virus and a potential vaccine that could make people immune. As they are trying to stop the attack, Officer Tim faints at the end of the episode, leaving fans wondering if he was affected by the virus or the vaccine. It has been an intense season and fans are left with a cliffhanger, eagerly awaiting the next season.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 1551 votes.

The Rookie - S1E16

#1 - Greenlight (Season 1 - Episode 16)

In this episode of The Rookie, Officer Nolan learns a lesson in respect after he arrests a gang member, leading to a chaotic situation. Officer Chen and Officer Bradford are also forced to pull over Mario Lopez, who tries to talk his way out of a traffic violation. What makes this episode so compelling is how it weaves together dynamics of respect, power, and consequence.

The episode takes an unexpected turn when it is revealed that Captain Andersen has been killed off. This unexpected twist was heartbreaking for the viewers, and left them with a sense of frustration and confusion. The writers and actors of the show deserve recognition for their excellent job in creating a story that is both lighthearted and serious at the same time. It is this perfect balance of themes that makes The Rookie such an enjoyable show.

The episode was rated 8.10 from 1619 votes.

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