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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!

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 higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis.

Genres:CrimeDramaComedy
Network:ABC

Season 5 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Rookie" season 5 is "Double Down", rated 8.1/10 from 1405 user votes. It was directed by Tori Garrett and written by Alexi Hawley. "Double Down" aired on 9/25/2022 and is rated 0.6 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Labor Day".

  • Double Down
    8.1/10 1,405 votes

    #1 - Double Down

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2022

    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

  • Labor Day
    7.5/10 988 votes

    #2 - Labor Day

    Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2022

    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

  • Dye Hard
    7.4/10 900 votes

    #3 - Dye Hard

    Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2022

    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

  • The Choice (I)
    7.2/10 1,098 votes

    #4 - The Choice (I)

    Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2022

    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

  • The Fugitive
    7.6/10 861 votes

    #5 - The Fugitive

    Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2022

    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

  • The Reckoning
    7.2/10 837 votes

    #6 - The Reckoning

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/2022

    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

  • Crossfire
    7.3/10 806 votes

    #7 - Crossfire

    Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/2022

    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

  • The Collar
    7.8/10 834 votes

    #8 - The Collar

    Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 12/4/2022

    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

  • Take Back
    7.6/10 820 votes

    #9 - Take Back

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 12/4/2022

    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

  • The List (I)
    7.3/10 935 votes

    #10 - The List (I)

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 1/3/2023

    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

  • The Naked and the Dead
    7.5/10 748 votes

    #11 - The Naked and the Dead

    Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 1/10/2023

    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

  • Death Notice
    7.8/10 824 votes

    #12 - Death Notice

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 1/17/2023

    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

  • Daddy Cop
    7.9/10 816 votes

    #13 - Daddy Cop

    Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2023

    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

  • Death Sentence
    7.5/10 720 votes

    #14 - Death Sentence

    Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 1/31/2023

    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

  • The Con
    7.5/10 833 votes

    #15 - The Con

    Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 2/14/2023

    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

  • Exposed
    7.3/10 770 votes

    #16 - Exposed

    Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 2/21/2023

    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

  • The Enemy Within (I)
    7.9/10 759 votes

    #17 - The Enemy Within (I)

    Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 2/28/2023

    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

  • Double Trouble
    4.4/10 1,489 votes

    #18 - Double Trouble

    Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 3/21/2023

    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

    Writer: Glen Mazzara, Caroline Bible

  • A Hole in the World
    7.9/10 744 votes

    #19 - A Hole in the World

    Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 3/28/2023

    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

  • S.T.R.
    7.2/10 735 votes

    #20 - S.T.R.

    Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 4/18/2023

    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

  • Going Under (I)
    7.5/10 713 votes

    #21 - Going Under (I)

    Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 4/25/2023

    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

    Writer: Alexi Hawley, Brynn Malone

  • Under Siege
    9.0/10 1,654 votes

    #22 - 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.

    Director: Bill Roe

    Writer: Alexi Hawley