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.
#1 - 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.
#2 - 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.
#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.
#4 - The Bandit
Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/4/2026
The team launches a high-stakes search to take down a notorious criminal. Meanwhile, Lucy's leadership is tested, Wesley tests the boundaries of his friendships, and Nolan tries to balance duty and family.
#5 - 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.
#6 - The Hunt
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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - The Q Word
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.
#9 - Dead Ringer
Season 8 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/27/2026
Nolan and Harper try to help a desperate mother protect her child, while Lt. Grey and Garza continue to work with Monica despite their misgivings.
#11 - 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.
#13 - 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.
#14 - 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.
#15 - 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.
#16 - The Red Place
Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/20/2026
Nolan makes a quiet arrest, and Lucy and Celina race to rescue a kidnapping victim. Meanwhile, Harper and Lopez help outsmart a killer, and Miles visits a familiar face.
#18 - Out of Time
Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/20/2026
Nolan is put to the test when he's forced to protect a man he doesn't trust. Meanwhile, Lucy and Celina follow a promising lead, and Lopez finds herself conflicted about Wesley's new position.
#19 - 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.
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#23 - Time of Death
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/11/2018
Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop respond to a silent alarm call at a local convenience store where two men are attempting to rob the place. Officer Nolan pursues one of the suspects on foot and is forced to make a split-second decision that will affect both of their lives. Meanwhile, Officer Bishop helps coordinate a drug bust that hits a little too close to home for Officer Bradford.
#24 - 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.
#25 - 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.