The Rookie (2018–)

What is The Rookie About?

When John Nolan experiences an incident that will change his life, he decides to start over and focus on achieving his dream – becoming a member of the LA police department.

When he joins the squad as the oldest rookie officer, all of those around him wonder just how capable he is. Being the oldest on the team, can he overcome the reputation he has for being caught in a midlife crisis, and will he rise above the scepticism he receives?

Our Honest The Rookie Review

The greatest thing about The Rookie TV show? It’s more than just a police drama. It is nuanced and engaging, presenting some funny moments and mixed in with societal issues, making this a show that is like real life.

We automatically thought of Rookie Blue when watching this TV show, with John Nolan’s initial inadequacies reminding us of Andy McNally’s incompetencies. The comedic moments, such as when Nolan attempts to detain an individual travelling down the road in a forklift, are TV gold, making us think of the episode where McNally attempts to break a door down (and only ends up with an aching shoulder).

What Do the Critics Think of The Rookie?

The Rookie is a realistic TV show, packed with unexpected moments. The critics have the following opinions about the series:

• “It’s an above average police drama, I’d say, and it’s a nice change that it’s not about detectives solving a murder of the week.” – Richard Nelson.

• “All of the officers are perfect for their respective roles, and while you’d expect Fillion’s charm to carry this series, it is merely a complement to the dynamic of the entire cast. No one cast member stood out because each helped to deliver a strong arc for their character and that helps to elevate the series as a whole.” – Dylan Phillips

• “It was intriguing to learn that the story is based on true events which created allure for me while watching the pilot. The premise of this man trying to take another shot at life is inspiring, and I think that’s one of the best aspects of this show.” – Ariba Bhuvad

What Awards and Nominations did The Rookie Receive?

The Rookie has rightly sat near the top of a key list. In terms of views, The Rookie TV show is one of the dramas with the most viewers after five weeks across multiple platforms, and having received 11.3 million views, is second only to High Potential.

It additionally earned several nominations and awards, such as the ReFrame Stamp’s Top 200 Most Popular TV Titles 2021 – 2022, and the same award in 2020 – 2022.

Cast & Crew of The Rookie

Fun Facts About The Rookie

• The Rookie isn’t entirely fiction – it’s based on the life of William Norcross, who joined the Los Angeles police department in 2015 when he was in his mid-40s.

• While the character John Nolan is supposed to be the eponymous rookie, Fillion thinks of The Rookie as an ensemble show. He believes the show’s success comes from the skills of the entire cast.

• Before the first season, the entire cast underwent a police academy-style training session for two weeks. There, they learned how to drive a police vehicle, shoot, handcuff criminals and clear rooms.
  
• Since the actors in The Rookie TV show are often mistaken for actual police officers by members of the public, they often remove their duty belts and wear jackets between shooting scenes.
  
• Fillion decided to sign on to the show before reading a script. Based on the pitch and the skill of Alexi Hawley, creator of the show, he was confident that the show would be compelling and last several years.

Themes of The Rookie

Challenging stereotypes is one of the biggest themes in The Rookie, as is the underdog motif. We notice these themes from the moment Nolan is pointed out as a newbie who is “pushing his expiration date.”

But beyond this, the TV show also presents powerful themes of perseverance throughout such challenging moments. Sometimes this is shown with a hint of comedy, such as when one of the rookies, Jackson West greets Tim Bradford for the first time. Tim’s line “Did I say you could talk? You better pray I’m not your training officer, Boot, ’cause I’ll make your life a living hell,” sums up the challenges the rookies face, not just outside in the field, but from their training officers, too.

How Does The Rookie Compare to Bill Roe’s Other Work?

We’ve seen Bill Roe’s work elsewhere in Castle (2009) and The X-Files (1993), and The Rookie show strongly reflects the director’s process and style used in Castle.

A touch of comedy with quips between Richard Castle and Kate Beckett captured on screen in over-the-shoulder camera angles is just what we get in The Rookie. And although The X-Files may not feature such comedic moments, Roe’s work is similar to The Rookie in the themes of perseverance, determination, and challenges. 

Iconic Scenes from The Rookie

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

After watching it through streaming platforms, we learned more about the behind-the-scenes trivia from The Rookie series and found out some interesting facts:

• The writers noticed the competitive and teasing interaction between Eric Winter and Melissa O’Neil when creating the scripts and incorporated this dynamic into The Rookie, which is why we notice a similar dynamic between these characters on screen.

• Alexi Hawley, considers that the show isn’t entirely a cop show. In fact, she describes it as a character show that “masquerades” as a cop show and focuses more on the relationships between each cop on screen.

• A humorous, running gag behind the scenes that happens on set is having a character speak to someone on a backup channel and all the other characters switching to the channel to listen to the conversation.

What’s the Soundtrack Like for The Rookie?

Tracks in The Rookie’s score include Chin Chin’s Kings & Queens, an uptempo pop/rock track that reflects the fast-paced action of the characters as they focus their efforts on solving cases. The score also includes tracks such as My House by Beasts with No Name, a rock track that also emphasises the dramatic scenes seen between the cops and the criminals.

Best Quotes from The Rookie

• “We got some new blood this morning. And some, pushing their expiration date.” Lieutenant Wade Grey addressing the rookie squad and highlighting Nolan’s age.

• “After six months in the academy, you’ve earned your right to be here. But, you’ll have to prove yourself to stay.” Grey explaining that the new rookies have a challenging road ahead.

• “When you’re telling the story in lockup, you might want to skip the part where you got your ass kicked by a girl.” Tim Bradford mocking a criminal who was caught by rookie Lucy Chen.

• “Such grace and athleticism has never before been seen in the squad.” Grey mocking the actions of Nolan while reflecting on a key mission in front of the other rookies.
  
• “Officer Bishop. You get our 40-year-old rookie.” Grey pairs officer Bishop up with Nolan to work in the field and complete his training.
  
• “This crew attacked our people and killed six citizens. We won’t let them get away with this.” Grey briefs the squad and stresses the urgency of solving a dangerous case.
  
  

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