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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 3d 18h•Peaking at 9.6/10

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 1 - Czech Mate
    9.6/10(81 votes)

    #1 - Czech Mate

    S8:E1

    The LAPD, FBI and Interpol work with Monica Stevens in Prague to target high-value terrorists operating within and outside the United States.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  2. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 16 - Greenlight
    9.0/10(3222 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(2452 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(2555 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 1 Episode 8 - Time of Death
    8.6/10(2415 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 10 - The Dark Side
    8.6/10(2125 votes)

    #6 - 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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Rookie

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  7. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 9 - Standoff
    8.5/10(2271 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 20 - Free Fall
    8.5/10(2102 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 8 - Wildfire
    8.5/10(1246 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 15 - Manhunt
    8.4/10(2112 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 8 - Clean Cut
    8.4/10(1858 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 19 - The Q Word (1)
    8.4/10(1713 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 6 - Poetic Justice
    8.3/10(1641 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 14 - Plain Clothes Day
    8.2/10(1933 votes)

    #14 - 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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  15. The Rookie Season 2 Episode 18 - Under the Gun
    8.2/10(1601 votes)

    #15 - 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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  16. The Rookie Season 3 Episode 14 - Threshold
    8.2/10(1837 votes)

    #16 - 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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  17. The Rookie Season 6 Episode 1 - Strike Back
    8.2/10(2314 votes)

    #17 - Strike Back

    S6:E1

    In the aftermath of the assaults in the explosive season five finale, 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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  18. The Rookie Season 6 Episode 9 - The Squeeze
    8.2/10(1065 votes)

    #18 - 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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  19. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 9 - The Kiss
    8.2/10(1064 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 10 - Flesh and Blood
    8.1/10(2019 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 19 - The Checklist
    8.1/10(1805 votes)

    #21 - 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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  22. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 1 - Double Down
    8.1/10(2020 votes)

    #22 - 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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  23. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 1 - The Shot
    8.1/10(1613 votes)

    #23 - The Shot

    S7:E1

    Now recovering from a gunshot wound and feeling the effects of his age, John and the team welcome two new rookies and continue the hunt for two dangerous inmates with very personal vendettas following their prison escape.

    Director:Alexi Hawley
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  24. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 4 - Darkness Falling
    8.1/10(1063 votes)

    #24 - Darkness Falling

    S7:E4

    Following his stint at the LAPD, Wesley returns to the district attorney's office where his past connects him to the team's investigation. Meanwhile, Bailey and John have conflicting feelings over safety, while Lucy grows suspicious of Seth.

    Director:John Hyams
    Writer:Madeleine Coghlan

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  25. The Rookie Season 1 Episode 11 - Redwood
    8.0/10(1954 votes)

    #25 - Redwood

    S1:E11

    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.

    Director:Sylvain White
    Writers:Liz Alper, Ally Seibert

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Best Episodes Summary

"Czech Mate" is the best rated episode of "The Rookie". It scored 9.6/10 based on 81 votes. Directed by Bill Roe and written by Alexi Hawley, it aired on 1/6/2026. This episode scored 0.6 points higher than the second highest rated, "Greenlight".