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The Best Episodes of The Rookie

Every episode of The Rookie ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Rookie!

Binge this in 4d 7h•Peaking at 9.5/10

Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Rookie Season 8 Episode 18 - The Bandit
    9.5/10(75 votes)

    #1 - The Bandit

    S8:E18

    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.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  2. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 16 - Greenlight
    9.1/10(3682 votes)

    #2 - Greenlight

    S1:E16

    Officer Nolan gets a lesson in respect after his arrest of a gang member leads to a free-for-all on his life. Meanwhile, Officer Chen and Officer Bradford pull over Mario Lopez, who thinks he can talk his way out of a traffic violation.

    Director:Valerie Weiss
    Writer:Brynn Malone

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  3. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 22 - Under Siege
    9.0/10(2752 votes)

    #3 - Under Siege

    S5:E22

    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.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  4. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 11 - Day of Death
    8.8/10(2954 votes)

    #4 - Day of Death

    S2:E11

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

    Director:David McWhirter
    Writers:Brynn Malone, Fredrick Kotto

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  5. The Rookie Season 8 Episode 17 - Dead Ringer
    8.7/10(743 votes)

    #5 - Dead Ringer

    S8:E17

    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.

    Director:Ryan Krayser
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Brynn Malone

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  6. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 8 - Time of Death
    8.6/10(2719 votes)

    #6 - Time of Death

    S1:E8

    Nolan and Bishop respond to a silent alarm call at a local convenience store where two men are attempting to rob the place. Bishop helps coordinate a drug bust that hits a little too close to home for Bradford.

    Director:Michael Goi
    Writer:Brynn Malone

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Rookie

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  7. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 10 - The Dark Side
    8.6/10(2426 votes)

    #7 - The Dark Side

    S2:E10

    Officer 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. Meanwhile, Officer Chen meets a seemingly perfect man who sparks her interest, and Officer Lopez worries about Wesley as his PTSD continues to increase.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  8. The Rookie Season 8 Episode 3 - The Red Place
    8.6/10(1471 votes)

    #8 - The Red Place

    S8:E3

    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.

    Director:John Terlesky
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Brynn Malone

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  9. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 9 - Standoff
    8.5/10(2556 votes)

    #9 - Standoff

    S1:E9

    Officer Bradford’s wife, Isabel, is found shot but alive and he vows to track down the man responsible. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan must protect his home and the truth after a home invasion attack.

    Director:John Terlesky
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  10. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 20 - Free Fall
    8.5/10(2358 votes)

    #10 - Free Fall

    S1:E20

    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.

    Director:Michael Goi
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  11. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 8 - Wildfire
    8.5/10(1532 votes)

    #11 - Wildfire

    S7:E8

    Nyla remains suspicious of Liam Glasser as a wildfire erupts, causing chaos in the city. Meanwhile, James tries to help a friend, and Seth makes a costly mistake, putting two of their own in danger.

    Director:Michael Goi
    Writer:Brynn Malone

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  12. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 15 - Manhunt
    8.4/10(2373 votes)

    #12 - Manhunt

    S1:E15

    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.

    Director:Bill Johnson
    Writer:Robert Bella

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  13. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 8 - Clean Cut
    8.4/10(2082 votes)

    #13 - Clean Cut

    S2:E8

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

    Director:Toa Fraser
    Writer:Mary Trahan

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  14. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 19 - The Q Word (1)
    8.4/10(1928 votes)

    #14 - The Q Word (1)

    S2:E19

    Their rookie year is coming to an end and officers 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. Meanwhile, after one of their rookie classmates is involved in a shooting, the team uncovers some unsettling evidence .

    Director:David McWhirter
    Writers:Natalie Callaghan, Nick Hurwitz

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  15. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 6 - Poetic Justice
    8.3/10(1846 votes)

    #15 - Poetic Justice

    S4:E6

    Officer Nolan and team are on a hunt to retrieve a buried stash of gold before any treasure seekers get hurt. Meanwhile, Bradford is tasked with encouraging the oldest cop at the station to retire and invites him to ride with him.

    Director:Chi-Yoon Chung
    Writers:Bill Rinier, Natalie Callaghan

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  16. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 14 - Plain Clothes Day
    8.2/10(2180 votes)

    #16 - Plain Clothes Day

    S1:E14

    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. Meanwhile, 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.

    Director:Michael Goi
    Writer:Terence Paul Winter

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  17. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 18 - Under the Gun
    8.2/10(1803 votes)

    #17 - Under the Gun

    S2:E18

    Officers Nolan and Harper are tasked with escorting four juvenile offenders to a Scared Straight program at a correctional facility that quickly becomes a riotous situation. Meanwhile, Nolan is uncertain about his relationship with Grace after she fails to introduce him to her ex-husband.

    Director:Tori Garrett
    Writers:Terence Paul Winter, Elizabeth Davis Beall

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  18. The Rookie Season 3 Episode 14 - Threshold
    8.2/10(2064 votes)

    #18 - Threshold

    S3:E14

    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' wedding venue is seized by the FBI and Nolan meets his new neighbor.

    Director:Lisa Demaine
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Bill Rinier, Natalie Callaghan

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  19. The Rookie Season 6 Episode 1 - Strike Back
    8.2/10(2516 votes)

    #19 - Strike Back

    S6:E1

    In the aftermath of the assaults, the team must now try to understand why they were targeted and if there is a bigger plan in place. Meanwhile, Nolan must survive his last shift before his wedding to Bailey.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  20. The Rookie Season 6 Episode 9 - The Squeeze
    8.2/10(1258 votes)

    #20 - The Squeeze

    S6:E9

    Officer Nolan and Celina take on a special case; meanwhile, Monica enlists help to identify her attackers. Elsewhere, Lopez and Harper discover a connection to the trail of crimes.

    Director:Michael Goi
    Writers:Diana Mendez Boucher, Leland Jay Anderson

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  21. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 9 - The Kiss
    8.2/10(1314 votes)

    #21 - The Kiss

    S7:E9

    The team mobilizes to locate a suspect after a deadly series of events affects one of their own. Meanwhile, Celina takes on her first case with Bailey's help.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writers:Fredrick Kotto, Elizabeth Davis Beall

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  22. The Rookie Season 8 Episode 6 - Burn 4 Love
    8.2/10(1189 votes)

    #22 - Burn 4 Love

    S8:E6

    It's Valentine's Day, and the team is on the hunt for someone who is setting more than hearts on fire. Meanwhile, Celina thinks Miles' recent string of bad luck is the result of a curse, and she's determined to break it.

    Director:Lanre Olabisi
    Writer:Moira Kirland

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  23. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 10 - Flesh and Blood
    8.1/10(2259 votes)

    #23 - Flesh and Blood

    S1:E10

    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.

    Director:Jessica Yu
    Writer:Inda Craig-Galván

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  24. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 19 - The Checklist
    8.1/10(2028 votes)

    #24 - The Checklist

    S1:E19

    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. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop answer a silent alarm call at will.i.am’s house.

    Director:John Fortenberry
    Writers:Fredrick Kotto, Elizabeth Davis Beall

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  25. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 1 - Double Down
    8.1/10(2267 votes)

    #25 - Double Down

    S5:E1

    Officer John Nolan 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.

    Director:Tori Garrett
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Bandit" is the best rated episode of "The Rookie". It scored 9.5/10 based on 75 votes. Directed by Bill Roe and written by Alexi Hawley, it aired on 5/4/2026. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Greenlight".