The Rookie 2018
“Never off duty.”
Trailer
Overview
The Rookie is an American police procedural television series created by Alexi Hawley for ABC. The narrative follows John Nolan, a small-town man who decides to pursue his dream of becoming an LAPD officer following a life-altering incident. As the oldest rookie on the force, Nolan faces skepticism from higher-ups who view his career change as a midlife crisis. The series features an ensemble cast including Nathan Fillion, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Titus Makin Jr., Mercedes Mason, Melissa O'Neil, Eric Winter, Afton Williamson, Mekia Cox, Shawn Ashmore, Jenna Dewan, Tru Valentino, Lisseth Chavez, and Deric A. First premiering in 2018, the show has continued for multiple seasons, with production extending into 2026. Official episodes, cast biographies, and additional media are available through the network. The program has maintained a consistent presence on television, with recent seasons announced and broadcast through the spring of 2026. The series remains a notable entry in the police procedural genre, focusing on the professional and personal challenges Nolan encounters while navigating his new role within the department.
Should you watch it?
“A small-town man pursues his dream of becoming an LAPD officer after a life-altering incident.”
- engaging premise
- focus on character growth
- skeptical workplace environment
Watch it if you enjoy police procedurals that explore career changes and personal growth.
The series depicts the professional and personal challenges of police officers in a procedural format.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 20 episodes
- E1 Pilot Oct 16, 2018
- E2 Crash Course Oct 23, 2018
- E3 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Oct 30, 2018
- E4 The Switch Nov 13, 2018
- E5 The Roundup Nov 20, 2018
- E6 The Hawke Nov 27, 2018
- E7 The Ride Along Dec 4, 2018
- E8 Time of Death Dec 11, 2018
- E9 Standoff Jan 8, 2019
- E10 Flesh and Blood Jan 15, 2019
- E11 Redwood Jan 22, 2019
- E12 Heartbreak Feb 12, 2019
- E13 Caught Stealing Feb 19, 2019
- E14 Plain Clothes Day Feb 26, 2019
- E15 Manhunt Mar 5, 2019
- E16 Greenlight Mar 19, 2019
- E17 The Shake Up Mar 26, 2019
- E18 Homefront Apr 2, 2019
- E19 The Checklist Apr 9, 2019
- E20 Free Fall Apr 16, 2019
Season 2 · 20 episodes
- E1 Impact Sep 29, 2019
- E2 The Night General Oct 6, 2019
- E3 The Bet Oct 13, 2019
- E4 Warriors and Guardians Oct 20, 2019
- E5 Tough Love Oct 27, 2019
- E6 Fallout Nov 3, 2019
- E7 Safety Nov 10, 2019
- E8 Clean Cut Nov 17, 2019
- E9 Breaking Point Dec 1, 2019
- E10 The Dark Side Dec 8, 2019
- E11 Day of Death Feb 23, 2020
- E12 Now and Then Mar 1, 2020
- E13 Follow-Up Day Mar 8, 2020
- E14 Casualties Mar 15, 2020
- E15 Hand-Off Mar 22, 2020
- E16 The Overnight Apr 5, 2020
- E17 Control Apr 12, 2020
- E18 Under the Gun Apr 26, 2020
- E19 The Q Word (1) May 3, 2020
- E20 The Hunt (2) May 10, 2020
Season 3 · 14 episodes
- E1 Consequences Jan 3, 2021
- E2 In Justice Jan 10, 2021
- E3 La Fiera Jan 17, 2021
- E4 Sabotage Jan 24, 2021
- E5 Lockdown Feb 14, 2021
- E6 Revelations Feb 21, 2021
- E7 True Crime Feb 28, 2021
- E8 Bad Blood Mar 28, 2021
- E9 Amber Apr 4, 2021
- E10 Man of Honor Apr 11, 2021
- E11 New Blood Apr 18, 2021
- E12 Brave Heart May 2, 2021
- E13 Triple Duty May 9, 2021
- E14 Threshold May 16, 2021
Season 4 · 22 episodes
- E1 Life and Death Sep 26, 2021
- E2 Five Minutes Oct 3, 2021
- E3 In the Line of Fire Oct 10, 2021
- E4 Red Hot Oct 17, 2021
- E5 A.C.H. Oct 31, 2021
- E6 Poetic Justice Nov 7, 2021
- E7 Fire Fight Nov 14, 2021
- E8 Hit and Run Dec 5, 2021
- E9 Breakdown Dec 12, 2021
- E10 Heart Beat Jan 2, 2022
- E11 End Game Jan 9, 2022
- E12 The Knock Jan 23, 2022
- E13 Fight or Flight Jan 30, 2022
- E14 Long Shot Feb 27, 2022
- E15 Hit List Mar 6, 2022
- E16 Real Crime Mar 13, 2022
- E17 Coding Apr 3, 2022
- E18 Backstabbers Apr 10, 2022
- E19 Simone Apr 24, 2022
- E20 Enervo May 1, 2022
- E21 Mother's Day May 8, 2022
- E22 Day in the Hole May 15, 2022
Season 5 · 22 episodes
- E1 Double Down Sep 25, 2022
- E2 Labor Day Oct 2, 2022
- E3 Dye Hard Oct 9, 2022
- E4 The Choice (I) Oct 16, 2022
- E5 The Fugitive Oct 23, 2022
- E6 The Reckoning Oct 30, 2022
- E7 Crossfire Nov 6, 2022
- E8 The Collar Dec 4, 2022
- E9 Take Back Dec 4, 2022
- E10 The List (I) Jan 3, 2023
- E11 The Naked and the Dead Jan 10, 2023
- E12 Death Notice Jan 17, 2023
- E13 Daddy Cop Jan 24, 2023
- E14 Death Sentence Jan 31, 2023
- E15 The Con Feb 14, 2023
- E16 Exposed Feb 21, 2023
- E17 The Enemy Within (I) Feb 28, 2023
- E18 Double Trouble Mar 21, 2023
- E19 A Hole in the World Mar 28, 2023
- E20 S.T.R. Apr 18, 2023
- E21 Going Under (I) Apr 25, 2023
- E22 Under Siege May 2, 2023
Frequently asked questions
Who created the series?
The series was created by Alexi Hawley.
When did the show premiere?
The show premiered on ABC on October 16, 2018.
Who plays the lead character?
Nathan Fillion stars as John Nolan.
What is the premise of the show?
A small-town man joins the LAPD as the force's oldest rookie following a life-altering incident.
Is the show still airing?
The series has received repeated renewals for additional seasons.