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The Worst Episodes of The Rookie

Every episode of The Rookie ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Rookie!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Rookie Season 8 Episode 15 - Survive the Streets
    3.1/10(2935 votes)

    S8:E15

    The team works together after Nolan and Celina discover a possible suicide that spirals into conspiracy.

    Director:Ashley Williams
    Writers:Natalie Callaghan, Nick Hurwitz

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  2. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 15 - A Deadly Secret
    3.7/10(3033 votes)

    S7:E15

    Documentary filmmakers interview the LAPD on a complicated missing person's case connected to John.

    Director:Ashley Williams
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  3. The Rookie Season 3 Episode 7 - True Crime
    4.5/10(4500 votes)

    S3:E7

    The team gets the true crime docuseries treatment when they analyze a recent case featuring a former child actor whose adult life has garnered him a cult following.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Zoe Cheng

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  4. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 18 - Double Trouble
    4.6/10(2662 votes)

    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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  5. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 16 - Real Crime
    4.9/10(2979 votes)

    S4:E16

    Desperate to reset the way the world sees him, Officer Thorsen reluctantly decides to be a part of a reality show to help rebrand his image, only to be thrust back into yet another deadly situation. With cameras rolling, the show’s producer is found murdered and the team must investigate before Aaron is made suspect number one.

    Director:Rob Seidenglanz
    Writers:Bill Rinier, Paula Puryear

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  6. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 19 - Simone
    6.0/10(2481 votes)

    S4:E19

    Officer Nolan and the LA division of the FBI enlist the help of FBI trainee Simone Clark when one of her former students is suspected of terrorism following an explosion at a local power station.

    Director:Liz Friedlander
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Terence Paul Winter

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  7. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 20 - Enervo
    6.1/10(2246 votes)

    S4:E20

    The team alongside the LA Division of the FBI are in a race to stop bombs that have been scattered throughout the city by a suspected terrorist. Meanwhile, the joint task force is suspicious of the CIA’s involvement in the situation.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Terence Paul Winter

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  8. The Rookie Season 3 Episode 3 - La Fiera
    6.3/10(3008 votes)

    S3:E3

    Officer John Nolan's mom makes an unannounced visit that complicates his life, and Sergeant Grey considers retiring.

    Director:Sylvain White
    Writers:Terence Paul Winter, Natalie Callaghan

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  9. The Rookie Season 6 Episode 3 - Trouble in Paradise
    6.3/10(1700 votes)

    S6:E3

    Nolan and Bailey’s honeymoon is more of a nightmare than a dream when it turns into an active crime scene. Meanwhile, Tim and Celina partner up and must uncover the identity of John Doe.

    Director:TK Shom
    Writers:Glen Mazzara, Madeleine Coghlan

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  10. The Rookie Season 3 Episode 2 - In Justice
    6.4/10(3028 votes)

    S3:E2

    Officer John Nolan and Officer Nyla Harper are assigned to a community policing center to help rebuild their station’s reputation in the community. Nolan is determined to make a positive impact but Nyla has her doubts.

    Director:Michael Goi
    Writers:Brynn Malone, Fredrick Kotto

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  11. The Rookie Season 3 Episode 4 - Sabotage
    6.7/10(2592 votes)

    S3:E4

    Officer Jackson West’s relationship with his new training officer, Stanton, has escalated and he begins to work with Sergeant Grey to find a solution.

    Director:Daniel Willis
    Writers:Vincent Angell, Diana Mendez Boucher

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  12. The Rookie Season 3 Episode 6 - Revelations
    6.7/10(2610 votes)

    S3:E6

    Officer Nolan’s decision to return to school in order to become a training officer is proving to be much harder than he expected. Meanwhile, Officer Chen considers going into undercover work after getting a taste of the job when Harper’s former colleague needs help.

    Director:Chi-Yoon Chung
    Writers:Fredrick Kotto, Corey Miller

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  13. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 14 - Long Shot
    6.7/10(1831 votes)

    S4:E14

    Officer Nolan and Detective Harper help Skip Tracer Randy on his first bounty hunter case. Meanwhile, Officer Chen and Sergeant Bradford are on the hunt for a perpetrator on a citywide crime spree.

    Director:Fernando Sariñana
    Writer:Natalie Callaghan

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  14. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 22 - Day in the Hole
    7.0/10(2371 votes)

    S4:E22

    Officer John Nolan is forced to spend a week in solitary confinement in a quiet border town with a young local officer who is in need of some training. Meanwhile, Sergeant Bradford and Officer Chen discover that looks are deceiving and go undercover together in a possible drug trafficking case.

    Director:Alexi Hawley
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  15. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 8 - Hit and Run
    7.1/10(1864 votes)

    S4:E8

    The team goes on a city-wide hunt for an individual who is threatening a mass casualty event. Meanwhile, Tim’s sister Genny shows up unannounced with some surprising news, and Lopez continues her inner struggle over Wesley’s deal with Elijah and tries to come up with a plan to get them out of it.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writer:Vincent Angell

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  16. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 17 - Coding
    7.1/10(1719 votes)

    S4:E17

    Officer John Nolan and the team feel they must negotiate with a distraught man who is holding a hospital hostage to ensure his wife receives a lifesaving surgery.

    Director:Bill Roe
    Writers:Nick Hurwitz, Sylvia Franklin

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  17. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 12 - The Knock
    7.2/10(1665 votes)

    S4:E12

    The team responds to the report of a severed hand washing up on the beach and are on the hunt to find its owner. Meanwhile, Tim attempts to prove he isn’t a control freak to Lucy and invites her on a double date with him and Ashley.

    Director:Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul
    Writer:Zoe Cheng

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  18. The Rookie Season 4 Episode 13 - Fight or Flight
    7.2/10(1704 votes)

    S4:E13

    Officers John Nolan and Lucy Chen must fulfill three quests if they want to get a stolen police helicopter back safely from a teenage thief. Meanwhile, Detective Nyla Harper and Officer Aaron Thorsen must guard a convicted cop killer in the hospital following a prison riot.

    Director:Lanre Olabisi
    Writer:Brynn Malone

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  19. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 6 - The Reckoning
    7.2/10(1592 votes)

    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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  20. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 7 - Crossfire
    7.2/10(1531 votes)

    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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  21. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 20 - S.T.R.
    7.2/10(1477 votes)

    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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  22. The Rookie Season 6 Episode 2 - The Hammer
    7.2/10(1761 votes)

    S6:E2

    The team comes together to celebrate John and Bailey’s wedding; meanwhile, Celina discovers a discrepancy in her case, leading to a new discovery. Elsewhere, Lucy and Tim’s relationship is put to the test.

    Director:Alexi Hawley
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Brynn Malone

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  23. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 3 - Dye Hard
    7.3/10(1671 votes)

    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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  24. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 4 - The Choice (I)
    7.3/10(2006 votes)

    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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  25. The Rookie Season 5 Episode 16 - Exposed
    7.3/10(1495 votes)

    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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Worst Episodes Summary

"Survive the Streets" is the worst rated episode of "The Rookie". It scored 3.1/10 based on 2935 votes. Directed by Ashley Williams and written by Natalie Callaghan, Nick Hurwitz, it aired on 4/13/2026. This episode scored 0.6 points lower than the second lowest rated, "A Deadly Secret".