Throughout The Rookie‘s seven aired seasons and 126 episodes, the show has certainly released many memorable episodes, but also has some duds that aren’t worth watching. The ABC police procedural series, created by Alexi Hawley, has been a success for the network since its premiere in 2018. Despite its achievements (great ratings, positive reviews, longevity, etc.), though, not everything has been perfect. But most TV shows have produced mediocre episodes that viewers would like to forget. The good news is that The Rookie doesn’t have many, but there are still a handful that fans can skip over on a rewatch.
The Rookie‘s best episodes that are must-watches range from “Day of Death” in season 2 to “Wildfire” in season 7. These are examples that prove that when the ABC series is good, it’s really good. However, for every “Greenlight” (from season 1), there is a controversial true crime documentary episode or a middle-of-the-season episode that is completely inconsequential and dull. Out of all of those, The Rookie has 10 that don’t need to be viewed to understand what’s going on in the show.
10The Rookie Season 3, Episode 7
“True Crime”
As mentioned above, The Rookie‘s true crime documentary episodes are a source of contention among fans. Many abhor them, while others love that they have become a tradition. Nevertheless, no one can deny that most of these types of episodes aren’t necessary for a rewatch, starting with the very first one — The Rookie season 3, episode 7, “True Crime.”
9The Rookie Season 4, Episode 14
“Long Shot”
While Flula Borg’s Skip Tracer Randy is certainly a memorable Rookie character, some of his episodes are quite forgettable, including “Long Shot” in season 4. From beginning to end, the episode is a blur. I can’t tell you one thing that happened that had a long-lasting (or even a medium-lasting) effect on the series. Even the side stories don’t matter. So, unless one is a Skip Tracer Randy superfan, “Long Shot” is one of the episodes of The Rookie that viewers can miss. Those who love Borg’s character might want to sit this one out, too, as he has plenty of other great appearances.
8The Rookie Season 4, Episode 19
“Simone”
While Niecy Nash-Betts’ The Rookie: Feds character, Simone Clark, is arguably overhated and deserves respect, if new and old fans aren’t planning on watching the spinoff, they can skip over its backdoor pilot in the parent series. The Rookie season 4, episode 19, tells Simone’s origin story and sets up Feds. It features some of the other characters that make up the spinoff’s main cast.
So, much of what happens during the hour doesn’t affect the original show like it does the offshoot. Ultimately, “Simone” is only intriguing if you enjoy Nash-Betts’ character or if you’re planning on watching The Rookie: Feds. If not, it’s not essential.
7The Rookie Season 4, Episode 20
“Enervo”
Since The Rookie: Feds‘ backdoor pilot is a two-parter, viewers can breeze past The Rookie season 4, episode 20, as well. It simply caps off the events of the first half and continues laying the groundwork for Simone’s first official day at the FBI in the spinoff (which ABC sadly canceled after only one season). As a result, if you breeze past “Simone,” you don’t have to watch “Enervo,” either. In fact, it would be rather confusing if one only watched one or the other.
6The Rookie Season 5, Episode 18
“Double Trouble”
Some might enjoy the Adventures of Dim and Juicy, but after Tim and Lucy got together in The Rookie, their doppelgängers never needed to appear again. Unfortunately, the show’s writers didn’t get that memo. The fact that (what should be) a down-to-earth police procedural series even has doppelgängers of their most popular characters in the first place is something I would rather forget. It also doesn’t help that “Double Trouble” is one of The Rookie‘s controversial true crime episodes.
“Double Trouble” evidently wasn’t memorable or important to the show as a whole.
Still, Dim and Juicy returned in The Rookie season 5, episode 18, for one reason or another. Honestly, I don’t remember why, and I don’t wish to. “Double Trouble” evidently wasn’t memorable or important to the show as a whole. No one asked for Dim and Juicy’s return, but we got them anyway. On the bright side, fans don’t need to watch “Double Trouble” a second time (if they don’t want to, of course).
5The Rookie Season 6, Episode 3
“Trouble In Paradise”
Whereas The Rookie‘s 100th episode (season 6, episode 2) was one for the books, the hour after it was the complete opposite. “Trouble in Paradise” tracks Nolan and Bailey’s honeymoon at a secluded resort. Unfortunately, nothing can ever go perfectly for the couple, even after their wedding was almost a disaster, as they are soon put to work on the island when a dead body washes ashore.
Then, the hour all but turns into a horror movie. Overall, The Rookie season 6, episode 3, doesn’t match the show’s tone and is rather creepy, something I don’t wish to watch again as someone who gets scared easily. Lucy also takes the detective’s exam during the hour, which is important. However, one can learn about that in a simple “Previously On” segment in the next episode.
