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The Best Episodes of The Rookie Season 5

Every episode of The Rookie Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Rookie Season 5!

Binge this in 15h 46m•Peaking at 9.0/10

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
    The Rookie Season 5 Episode 1 - Double Down
    8.1/10(2090 votes)

    #1 - 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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  2. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 2 - Labor Day
    7.5/10(1504 votes)

    #2 - Labor Day

    S5:E2

    Officer John Nolan is moving closer to his new role as a training officer. In preparation, he is tasked with overseeing Officer Aaron Thorson and must uncover the truth about another officer’s suicide. Meanwhile, Lucy’s successful undercover assignment earns her an invitation for specialized training in Sacramento and she must decide if this is the path she wants to take.

    Director:Rob Seidenglanz
    Writer:Elizabeth Davis Beall

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  3. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 3 - Dye Hard
    7.3/10(1399 votes)

    #3 - Dye Hard

    S5:E3

    Officer John Nolan is assigned his first rookie, Officer Celina Juarez, whose unconventional approach to police work poses a unique challenge for him.

    Director:Bethany Rooney
    Writer:Natalie Callaghan

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  4. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 4 - The Choice (I)
    7.3/10(1695 votes)

    #4 - The Choice (I)

    S5:E4

    Rosalind returns with a vengeance and Bailey’s life is left hanging in the balance. With a ticking clock, the LAPD and the FBI join forces, and Officer John Nolan is forced to make a deadly decision after a harrowing ultimatum. The crossover continues on The Rookie: Feds S01E04 To Die For (II).

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Fredrick Kotto

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  5. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 5 - The Fugitive
    7.6/10(1349 votes)

    #5 - The Fugitive

    S5:E5

    Officer John Nolan and Officer Celina Juarez are on the hunt for a fugitive after a car incident goes awry. Meanwhile, a past injury comes to haunt Tim and Lucy comes through during his time in need in more ways than one.

    Director:Cherie Nowlan
    Writer:Diana Mendez Boucher

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  6. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 6 - The Reckoning
    7.2/10(1331 votes)

    #6 - The Reckoning

    S5:E6

    Officer John Nolan and a sleep-deprived Celina investigate a cash deposit linked to an old DEA case. Meanwhile, Wesley grows increasingly concerned about his deposition and is shocked when he realizes Elijah’s attorney is a familiar face from his past.

    Director:Lanre Olabisi
    Writer:Leland Jay Anderson

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  7. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 7 - Crossfire
    7.3/10(1275 votes)

    #7 - Crossfire

    S5:E7

    Officer John Nolan and Celina witness a shooting, realize the victim was already dead, and investigate further. Back at home, Bailey has been feeling off-center ever since the proposal, leaving Nolan to wonder what he can do to make her feel more comfortable. Elsewhere, Lopez and Harper enlist Lucy’s help to investigate the gang-related murder of a local shopkeeper.

    Director:Jon Huertas
    Writer:Glen Mazzara

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  8. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 8 - The Collar
    7.8/10(1334 votes)

    #8 - The Collar

    S5:E8

    Officers John Nolan and Celina Juarez are in a race against time to stop the source of an explosive rampage.

    Director:Robert Bella
    Writer:Paula Puryear

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  9. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 9 - Take Back
    7.5/10(1302 votes)

    #9 - Take Back

    S5:E9

    Officer John Nolan and the team investigate the unexpected death of a suspect in police custody. Their search also uncovers a very delicate loose end that could jeopardize Officer Celina Juarez's career. Meanwhile, Sergeant Grey and his wife, Luna, go to New York to visit their daughter, Dominique, only to realize she never made it home from the night before.

    Director:David McWhirter
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  10. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 10 - The List (I)
    7.3/10(1454 votes)

    #10 - The List (I)

    S5:E10

    Detective Nyla Harper and James find themselves in the middle of a bank robbery which leads the entire team on a citywide manhunt. Meanwhile, Tim and Lucy finally go on their first date, but it does have a few complications. The crossover continues on The Rookie: Feds S01E10 The Silent Prisoner (II).

    Director:Robert Bella
    Writer:Vincent Angell

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  11. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 11 - The Naked and the Dead
    7.4/10(1199 votes)

    #11 - The Naked and the Dead

    S5:E11

    The search for a missing boy leads the team into the middle of a dangerous drug war between two rival gangs.

    Director:Chi-Yoon Chung
    Writer:Steph Garcia

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  12. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 12 - Death Notice
    7.7/10(1325 votes)

    #12 - Death Notice

    S5:E12

    Nolan and Celina must stand guard at a hospital after a dangerous prisoner needs surgery. Aaron, Lopez and Harper look into a string of robberies. Tim and Lucy consider how their secret relationship will affect their work. Lopez gets unexpected news.

    Director:Tori Garrett
    Writer:Brynn Malone

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  13. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 13 - Daddy Cop
    7.9/10(1335 votes)

    #13 - Daddy Cop

    S5:E13

    In the midst of a heatwave and a citywide blackout, Officer John Nolan and Aaron follow increasingly large leads after they discover criminals hiding at the station. While on duty, Officer Chen makes an alarming discovery after being called to a scene where a pungent smell has wreaked havoc. Meanwhile, Lucy and Harper scheme to get Tim out of his new job and into a more exciting position.

    Director:Anne Renton
    Writer:Fredrick Kotto

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  14. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 14 - Death Sentence
    7.5/10(1170 votes)

    #14 - Death Sentence

    S5:E14

    Officer John Nolan and Bailey are on the hunt for a mystery gunman after a shooting hits a little too close to home. Meanwhile, Aaron struggles to live within his means and joins Lucy to help Tamara when the mother of a child she babysits goes missing. Elsewhere, Wesley suspects that a judge is taking bribes after he excludes valuable eyewitness testimony from a case.

    Director:Faye Brenner
    Writer:Diana Mendez Boucher

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  15. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 15 - The Con
    7.6/10(1309 votes)

    #15 - The Con

    S5:E15

    With help from the FBI, Detective Lopez puts everything on the line to help Elijah Stone take down a gang leader in exchange for her safety. Meanwhile, Nolan and Bailey must deal with the secrets and shady dealings his late mother left behind.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Leland Jay Anderson

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  16. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 16 - Exposed
    7.3/10(1242 votes)

    #16 - Exposed

    S5:E16

    The team must stop a militia from detonating a highly combustible truck in their possession. Meanwhile, Officers Nolan, Thorson, Juarez and Detective Harper search for three men who may have been exposed to Ebola and detain them for quarantine.

    Director:Ryan Krayser
    Writer:Paula Puryear

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  17. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 17 - The Enemy Within (I)
    7.9/10(1246 votes)

    #17 - The Enemy Within (I)

    S5:E17

    Now that Elijah and Abril have become allies, the team must rely on Monica, Elijah’s lawyer, to uncover their plans. Meanwhile, Officers Nolan and Juarez reopen her sister’s case and discover a discrepancy that leads them on a new trail. The crossover continues on The Rookie: Feds S01E17 Payback (II).

    Director:Lanre Olabisi
    Writer:Vincent Angell

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  18. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 18 - Double Trouble
    4.6/10(2276 votes)

    #18 - Double Trouble

    S5:E18

    When Dim goes missing, Officer Chen and Sergeant Bradford, along with the CIA, set out to find him and enlist the help of Juicy.

    Director:Jon Huertas
    Writers:Glen Mazzara, Caroline Bible

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  19. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 19 - A Hole in the World
    7.9/10(1236 votes)

    #19 - A Hole in the World

    S5:E19

    The team investigates a pattern of kidnappings which leads them to a discovery that hits close to home with one of their own. Meanwhile, Lucy and Tim’s relationship is put to the test as they begin to feel the hard hours of their jobs.

    Director:TK Shom
    Writer:Brynn Malone

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  20. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 20 - S.T.R.
    7.2/10(1219 votes)

    #20 - S.T.R.

    S5:E20

    Officer Tim Bradford’s ex-wife returns and asks the team to help her save someone from her undercover past. Isabel’s return also creates additional pressure in Lucy and Tim’s relationship as they assist in the search.

    Director:Chi-Yoon Chung
    Writer:Natalie Callaghan

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  21. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 21 - Going Under (I)
    7.5/10(1202 votes)

    #21 - Going Under (I)

    S5:E21

    Officer Lucy Chen goes undercover to infiltrate an illegal firearm operation, and Detective Harper and Officer John Nolan work together to solve a mystery involving severed limbs found around the city. The crossover continues on The Rookie: Feds S01E21 Bloodline (II).

    Director:Anne Renton
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Brynn Malone

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  22. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 22 - Under Siege
    9.0/10(2530 votes)

    #22 - 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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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Double Down" is the best rated episode of "The Rookie" season 5. It scored 8.1/10 based on 2090 votes. Directed by Tori Garrett and written by Alexi Hawley, it aired on 9/25/2022. This episode is rated 0.6 points higher than the second-best, "Labor Day".