Nathan Fillion’s police procedural, The Rookie, is considered a dramedy due to its impressive ability to blend action and humor, and the best episodes of The Rookie usually combine these elements seamlessly. Neither genre suffers at the hands of the other, and the series makes viewers laugh and cry in equal measure. While it’s centered around a 44-year-old cop in training named John Nolan (Fillion), there is a wide range of storylines going on throughout each episode and an incredible ensemble cast whose chemistry is palpable. John Nolan faces various ups and downs in his fledgling career at the LAPD and in his personal life.
Tim Bradford, Lucy Chen, and Angela Lopez quickly became the most likable characters in The Rookie, and they contributed to its large following. Due to the show’s incredible cast and multiple subplots, it’s difficult to find an episode without at least one entertaining aspect. There are some installments that stand out above others, and the best episodes of The Rookie usually contain a fair amount of humor, a dash of action, and Nathan Fillion’s personal brand of charm. With almost 100 installments to choose from and the series still going, The Rookie has a wealth of content to choose from.
15 Standoff — Season 1, Episode 9
Due to the nature of their jobs, all the best episodes of The Rookie feature the characters in some kind of danger. However, the squad was on their own against a savage drug dealer, and they were left more vulnerable than they ever had been before. The stakes were especially high for Tim and Lucy, who were trapped in an apartment with the pregnant woman Vance was after.
Things got even more out of control when she went into labor, and Tim was forced to face off with the person who shot his wife. Tim was clearly struggling to contain his range of emotions, and viewers were able to get to know the most closed-off character a bit better. It was a clever way for The Rookie to provide insight into Tim’s character, and this episode is certainly one of the best the series has to offer in terms of twists and turns.
14 Time Of Death — Season 1, Episode 8
There wasn’t a dull moment in “Time of Death,” making it one of the best episodes of The Rookie, as every character was faced with more than they could handle. However, the most thought-provoking plot line belonged to Nolan, who had shot and killed a perpetrator in self-defense. Nolan’s compassion is his most outstanding trait, and his desire to protect others is what led him to join the police force.
By putting Nolan in this complex situation, viewers got to follow his internal journey, as well as his external one. Any murder, no matter the circumstance, requires an in-depth investigation, and Nolan spent the episode struggling to come to terms with taking a life. Between exploring Nolan’s psyche and addressing a very real issue that’s not often depicted in crime procedurals, The Rookie used this episode to set itself apart from other crime procedurals on the market.
13 The Checklist — Season 1, Episode 19
It’s not surprising that “The Checklist” is one of the best episodes of The Rookie, as it’s one of the funniest of season 1. It’s also the perfect example of why the show is considered a dramedy, with Nolan and Bishop’s more intense plot line creating a balance. In the installment, Tim and Angela are both determined to help their rookies finish their checklist, so they won’t be held back in the program.
The humor comes in when they fight over calls they both need and race each other to the scene. The episode establishes how much their training officers cared about Lucy and Jackson’s success, and further strengthens the bonds between them. Fillion has impeccable comedic timing and the episode is a perfect example of how The Rookie handles its character’s relationships.
12 Manhunt — Season 1, Episode 15
The Rookie thrives off of chaos, and “Manhunt” was the most disorganized installment of the series, making it one of the best episodes of The Rookie. It wasn’t muddled in a way that took away from its enjoyment, as it’s clear that the episode was written to showcase a complete disaster. After a prison transport bus crashed and a group of murderous inmates escaped, Nolan and the rest of the officers were faced with a situation that simply couldn’t be controlled.
The L.A.P.D. runs amok attempting to round up the criminals, and it was one of the most stressful plots the procedural had ever delivered. “Manhunt” proved that The Rookie was just as capable at high-stakes drama as other hit crime procedurals such as Criminal Minds or NCIS. Despite being so comedy-forward, The Rookie is a serious and compelling show, and “Manhunt” proved it.
11 Under Siege — Season 5, Episode 22
Finales are generally when The Rookie does its best work, and The Rookie season 5 ending was definitively one of the best episodes of The Rookie. Not one cast member wasn’t in danger at some point or another in the installment. Grey, Tim, and Lucy show up to a scene in which Aaron has been shot by a masked assailant, and Celina is left to tend to his wounds. Soon, however, masked people start attacking members of the L.A.P.D. at random.
Nolan and Bailey are attacked next, followed by Nyla and James. Through some detective work, the team is able to see where the masks were purchased. However, it isn’t revealed until the end of the episode that the assailants that were caught turned out to be framed. Season 5 of The Rookie saw a lot of drama, and not nearly as much action as the previous chapters. It was the perfect choice to end the season completely action-forward, reminding audiences why they fell in love with the show in the first place.
10 Clean Cut — Season 2, Episode 8
“Clean Cut” is one of the best episodes of The Rookie, because, no matter which characters or relationships viewers prefer, each had an engaging storyline. Jackson having an allergic reaction to the drugs he accidentally inhaled during a traffic stop is one of the funniest moments in The Rookie to date. Simultaneously, Lucy and Tim had Chenford shippers rejoicing, as Lucy proved just how far she would go for him.
Elsewhere, it seemed as though Nolan wouldn’t have much to do after he was tasked with babysitting a crime scene, but even that took a riveting turn. It’s certainly not easy to have an ensemble-driven show that also includes meaningful and interesting subplots. However, The Rookie nails it in “Clean Cut” and still manages to bring subplots to a satisfying conclusion without injuring the pacing of the show.
9 Lockdown — Season 3, Episode 5
“Lockdown” is one of the best episodes of The Rookie because of its seamless blending of two separate plots and Brandon Routh’s superb performance as Doug Stanton. In addition, the installment features plenty of action, seeing protagonist John Nolan taken hostage. The hostage situation causes the whole station to go on lockdown as the officers scramble to identify the subject and rescue Nolan.
Within this high-stakes narrative is the subplot of Officer Jackson in the throes of losing his career due to a roadblock in his relationship with Stanton. However, The Rookie manages to work this into the main narrative without any issues or detracting from the frenzied nature of the central situation. It’s a credit to the show’s writers and production team that these two issues can work out within the confines of one episode, and it’s this balancing act that makes it one of the best episodes of The Rookie.
8 The Dark Side — Season 2, Episode 10
“The Dark Side” is one of the best episodes of The Rookie for several reasons, but the biggest is likely due to the introduction of Rosalind Dyer. Rosalind has become, objectively, the most powerful and interesting antagonist in the history of The Rookie. While gruesome, the character’s task to locate the bodies she buried alive made for an entertaining installment.
It was the events of this episode that set “Day of Death” into motion, as Rosalind’s protégée was revealed when he took Lucy as his next victim. Rosalind was certainly one of the best antagonists in The Rookie, and she appeared in the series multiple times. However, her introduction remains one of the best episodes that she’s in, and one of the best episodes of the show as the team is tasked with escorting the notorious female serial killer to the graves of her victims.
7 Consequences — Season 3, Episode 1
The season 3 premiere turned out to be one of the best episodes of The Rookie thanks to its artful way of seeing through the season 2 finale cliffhanger and tackling complex topical issues without breaking a sweat. In addition, the fan-favorite antagonist Rosalind makes an appearance in the installment. The episode picks up with John Nolan facing the consequences of his investigation against Detective Nick Armstrong.
After being framed and arrested, Nolan tries his hardest to uncover Armstrong’s connection to the Armenian mob by going undercover. However, Armstrong eventually catches up with him and prepares to get rid of John Nolan once and for all. The installment contains some serious police work from the rookie Nolan and jam packs a ton of action into a 45-minute run time. It’s one of the most nail-biting installments of the series, and many were wholly convinced that Nolan was about to meet his end.
6 Free Fall — Season 1, Episode 20
Although they didn’t get together until season 5, Tim and Lucy have the potential to be one of the best couples in The Rookie. “Free Fall” was the episode that first solidified their strong connection, and the scene featuring Tim and Lucy on opposite sides of the wall allowed them to be emotionally vulnerable with each other, making this one of the best episodes of The Rookie.
Tim was quarantined after being exposed to a deadly virus that was being weaponized against the city of Los Angeles, while Nolan, Angela, and Jackson attempted to stop the spread. It was an incredible way to end the very first season of the show, and viewers were left wondering if Tim would survive. The Rookie season 1 finale proved to be one of the best installments of the series thus far, as after an intense introduction the show refused to let up and keep audiences hanging on the line for season 2.
5 Threshold — Season 3, Episode 14
The season 3 installment “Threshold” is one of the best episodes of The Rookie based on its bombastic cliffhanger ending alone. A lot of plot threads are at play in “Threshold.” John is injured when he catches a shoplifter and the DA wants to press charges while Nolan simply wants to let it go; Lucy goes undercover; Lopez’s wedding venue is seized by the FBI; and John ends up meeting his new neighbor.
The Rookie brought its A-game once again for the finale, as season 3 ends so shockingly that it has to be seen to be believed: with Angela and Jackson held at gunpoint. The installment also saw the end of La Fiera, and Nolan’s eventual fiance Bailey is introduced. The chemistry between the cast is on point in this episode, and it was another fantastic ending to a season of The Rookie.
4 The Hunt — Season 2, Episode 20
“The Hunt” saw John Nolan’s investigation against Officer Armstrong take a dangerous turn, and it turned out to be one of the best episodes of The Rookie. When Nolan reviews the footage from his camera, he comes to the conclusion that Officer Nick Armstrong murdered Erin. However, he’s forced to find definitive evidence of this or suffer losing his job. In a desperate attempt, Nolan breaks into Armstrong’s home but quickly discovers just how deep his corruption goes.
The revelation that Armstrong is involved with the Armenian mob brings the issue to somewhere well above John Nolan’s pay grade, and he’s painfully aware of this. He seeks help from Rosalind Dyer, but it ends up being too late as Nick attempts to frame John (and to great success) in the season 2 finale. It was an unexpected way to end the sophomore season, and the scope of the issue mixed with the intrigue of the narrative makes it one of the best episodes of The Rookie.
3 The Q Word — Season 2, Episode 19
Despite being at a disadvantage due to his late start as a cop, Nolan is the most intelligent character in The Rookie. Detective Armstrong realized his potential, and they formed a strong bond while Armstrong helped get him prepared to someday join his line of police work. If audiences have any doubts about John Nolan’s intuition and powers of deduction, then look no further than “The Q Word.”
Armstrong appeared untrustworthy when he was first introduced, but he proved himself to the audience by trading his life for Lucy’s when she was kidnapped. Therefore, his betrayal made “The Q Word” one of the most shocking, but one of the best episodes of The Rookie, and Nolan discovering that Armstrong was a dirty cop further proved his aptitude. Between the twist and a satisfying win for Nolan, this installment stands out among the pack as its narrative had reverberating consequences for the rest of the series.
2 Day Of Death — Season 2, Episode 11
The only thing that comes as a surprise about “Day of Death” appearing on a list of the best episodes of The Rookie is that it isn’t ranked higher. Not only was it one of the most intense and high-stakes episodes of the series, but it was an audience favorite due to the heavy focus on Tim and Lucy’s relationship. It featured one of several scenes that prove Tim and Lucy are meant to be in The Rookie, and it implied that romance could be on the horizon for them in the future, which was finally paid off in season 5.
Viewers were on the edge of their seats as the L.A.P.D. raced to save Lucy, who had been buried alive. But the series is consistent when it comes to female empowerment, and Lucy saves herself after leaving behind a ring that she knew Tim would recognize. The incredible installment also brings formidable antagonist Rosalind Dyer back into the mix, as it was her protege that kidnapped Lucy.
1 Greenlight — Season 1, Episode 16
“Green Light” rightfully earned its place as the best episode of The Rookie, yet it’s also one that many viewers never want to see again. None of the characters came out of their shift the same person they were before, and the installment was impactful, emotional, and utterly devastating, as it saw one of the first major and arguably the saddest character deaths of the whole series.
Captain Andersen was a tenacious woman who earned the respect of her subordinates by holding them to high standards, while still making them feel valued. She died saving Nolan’s life, and the heartbreaking experience helped shape him into the reputable cop he became. The episode stands out as one of the best episodes of The Rookiebecause it contains the perfect blend of themes that make the series a success. There’s humor, devastation, and danger packed neatly into this one installment.