The Rookie will be back on the air in January 2026, and after so many plotlines were teased at the end of season 7, it’s definitely tough to wait. Besides being frustrated with the season 8 premiere delay, fans are nervous about the state of Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim Bradford’s (Eric Winter) relationship. I agree that it’s been hard to watch these characters dance around each other and ignore their true feelings. But even though there are several more months to go until the season 8 premiere, I’m sure the wait will be worth it as The Rookie is one of the funniest and most charming procedurals on the air.
If The Rookie fans all want Chenford to get back together, they can’t agree on whether Seth Ridley (Patrick Keheler) should come back. Fans have debated another memorable element of the ABC procedural, and while I think it’s a fun narrative device that should be used again, I have one main concern.
The Rookie Season 8 Should Continue The Show’s Documentary-Style Episodes
One Redditor likes them:
“I enjoyed all of them. The interviews are really fun.”
Another shared:
“I’m not a big fan of them. They break the 4th wall a bit too much for me… I prefer to get sucked in to the regular stories.”
Redditor @Fishfilteredcoffee is a fan but can understand why some would prefer that they aren’t included. They wrote:
“I love them, but I like The Rookie so much because it leans in to its campy, silly side. I can see why people who want a more serious drama don’t like them.”
I like The Rookie‘s documentary episodes because they’re a creative and unique break from the formula of the show. Like other procedurals, the show has a new case every week, villains who pop in and out of the plot, and several smart and likable main characters. It’s easy to picture The Rookie airing for several more seasons because the formula works so well. I also like this format because John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) is often awkward and ready to cut the interview short, and that makes me laugh every single time. He always looks like there’s somewhere else he would rather be.
However, if The Rookie season 8 features one or two documentary-style episodes, one big change has to be made: the episode has to move the plot forward. This is a common complaint that fans have, and I agree with it. By the end of season 7, episode 15, “A Deadly Secret,” fans know that Lucy Chen has forgiven Tim Bradford for breaking up with her. But it takes a few more episodes for Chenford to make a bit of progress in their relationship. While it’s great to see them work together on a case and be honest with each other, it’s hard not to wish that they got back together shortly after having this conversation.
There’s always a fine line between making fans happy and trying something new on a long-running TV show, but I think this storytelling format is great. Since The Rookie is a police drama, there are only so many narrative devices that can be used. The series has to explore the main characters’ work lives in every episode. A documentary is an easy way for the show to do something different without moving too far away from the premise of the show.
Here’s What I’d Like To See If The Rookie Season 8 Has A Documentary-Style Episode
If The Rookie season 8 has another documentary episode, I think it would be a great opportunity for the show to lean into its signature sense of humor. It would be fun to see a famous guest star like Pete Davidson in this kind of episode. Nolan and his half-brother Pete (Davidson) could witness a crime and be interviewed about it, or maybe they could participate in a documentary about people who find long-lost family members.
What are The Rookie’s documentary-style episodes?
- “True Crime” (season 3, episode 7)
- “Real Crime” (season 4, episode 16)
- “Double Trouble” (season 5, episode 18)
- “A Deadly Secret” (season 7, episode 15)
This kind of episode could also allow Tim Bradford to experience some character growth. Throughout The Rookie season 7, Tim struggles to share his feelings about his breakup. Although he makes some progress by the finale, it would have been great to see this happen earlier. I’d be happy to see another documentary being filmed on the ABC drama, but it should feel like an important part of the plot and not a standalone episode.
