Although The Rookie is more of an ensemble series, it began with Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan. The protagonist was a middle-aged police officer fresh out of the academy. As the oldest rookie in the LAPD’s FTO program, Nolan was subject to scrutiny from those around him. As time went on, though, Nolan built a rapport with his coworkers, and now, he’s a training officer himself. A lot had to happen to get Nolan to this point, but fans only need to watch 10 episodes of The Rookie to understand his and the other characters’ stories, at least on a surface level.
The Rookie Season 1, Episode 1
“Pilot”
Over the course of “Pilot,” viewers get acquainted with important characters such as Nolan, Lucy, Jackson, Tim, Angela, and Grey. They form their first impression of the Rookie cast and the story. So, it’s safe to say that watching the series premiere is mandatory when trying to catch up with The Rookie.
The Rookie Season 5, Episode 6
“The Reckoning”
Based on the state of The Rookie‘s plot heading into season 8, fans can skip ahead to season 5, episode 6 in their rewatch (or first watch). “The Reckoning” might seem like an inconsequential episode compared to others. However, it introduces The Rookie‘s most prominent villain right now. Monica Stevens, played by Bridget Regan, makes her debut in the season 5 episode, marking the beginning of her long-winded journey that isn’t over yet, as she will undoubtedly return to wreak more havoc in season 8. However, at the start, Monica was simply known as Wesley Evers’ bitter, mean-spirited ex.
The Rookie Season 5, Episode 8
“The Collar”
Tim and Lucy’s relationship in The Rookie is, without a doubt, the fans’ favorite dynamic (which they have dubbed “Chenford”) and the show’s most important pairing. The two characters’ connected story began with Tim as Lucy’s training officer. However, as the seasons continued, they couldn’t deny their strong chemistry or their growing feelings for one another for very long, and it all came to a head in The Rookie season 5, episode 8.
I won’t venture too much into spoiler territory just in case. Let’s just say “The Collar” marks a turning point in Tim and Lucy’s relationship in The Rookie. Lucy was dating someone else, but was also conflicted about her feelings for Tim, resulting in one of the couple’s most memorable scenes. Just a forewarning, though, one might want to also watch The Rookie season 5, episode 9, given how episode 8 ends.
The Rookie Season 6, Episode 2
“The Hammer”
The Rookie Season 6, Episode 6
“Secrets and Lies”
Even though The Rookie season 6, episode 6, is a tough one to get through, it’s essential to the show’s overarching plot. More specifically, “Secrets and Lies” is important to Tim and Lucy’s story. During the hour, Tim confronts his past, which, in turn, leads to him reexamining his relationship with Lucy. The episode ends in heartbreak, and to this day, Chenford is trying to pick up the pieces of their connection that broke on that unfortunate night in season 6.
The Rookie Season 6, Episode 10
“Escape Plan”
The Rookie Season 7, Episode 1
“The Shot”
Similar to the season 6 finale, The Rookie season 7 premiere isn’t anything to write home about. Nevertheless, it explains Aaron Thorsen’s absence (albeit in a brief, wholly frustrating way), gives an update on the whereabouts of Monica, Oscar Hutchinson, and Jason Wyler, and introduces two new characters — Miles Penn and Seth Ridley. Miles and Seth are the crime drama’s newest rookies, meaning they play a major role in season 7. “The Shot” also informs the audience of Tim and Lucy’s relationship status following the events of the season 6 finale, making it an integral episode to watch.
The Rookie Season 7, Episode 8
“Wildfire”
Viewers will likely also want to watch the following episode because of how the midseason finale of The Rookie season 7 ends.
That only grazes the surface of what happens in “Wildfire.” Nevertheless, including The Rookie season 7, episode 8 on the rewatch list might be a bit of a cheat. Viewers will likely also want to watch the following episode because of how the midseason finale of The Rookie season 7 ends.
The Rookie Season 7, Episode 16
“The Return”
“The Good, the Bad, and the Oscar”
The Rookie season 7 finale is arguably the most important episode to watch when trying to catch up on the show ahead of the season 8 premiere. It contains numerous incidents that will come into play in future episodes. In “The Good, the Bad, and the Oscar,” Nolan locates Oscar, but before he can take the longstanding villain into custody, he kidnaps the police officer first. By the end of the finale, Oscar remains in the wind.
