The Rookie is one of the best cop shows on TV that has racked up quite a few TV records. Thanks to a lively social media presence and a sweet combination of a near-perfect simulation of real-life policing and romance, the ABC show keeps fans wanting more.
Eight seasons later, fans have reveled in the slowest burn in TV with the show’s first couple, ChenFord. An enemies-to-lovers pairing, the unlikely pair in Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) and Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore) who, when they are not keeping fans on the edge of their seats by pissing off all the wrong people, have fans relishing Angela’s brag about how rich she is and why she doesn’t really need her police job.
As for Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan, props to him for somehow always snagging top-tier women who are simply out of his league. Talking about Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil), Grace Sawyer (Ali Larter), and Jessica Russo (Sarah Shahi), and of course his current love interest, Bailey Nune.
The Rookie: Everything Fans Love About the Show (and the Few Things They Don’t)
Despite all the TV perfection, fans have also seen some plotlines that would have been better without them.
1. CheNolan Was Definitely a Thing – Season 1
Since the first season, when Officer John Nolan and Lucy Chen had a relationship and called it off, the show has not made any reference to it. So much so that it seems John Nolan and Lucy’s desire to erase the relationship broke the fourth wall, and since then, the entire The Rookie universe (fans included) has forgotten about it.
Just wishful thinking, but Season 9 of The Rookie could reference this romance, with Bradford finding out about the relationship, just for an epic (and possibly hilarious) reaction.
2. Anything Can Happen: Zombies and Vampires – Season 4
Throughout its eight seasons, The Rookie has featured a couple of zombie apocalypse plots. These unhinged Angelenos were typically under the influence of drugs and appeared in Halloween-themed episodes. While these storylines were entertaining for most viewers and offered a dose of tension, they belonged to an entirely different genre and often felt forced.
These plots laid the groundwork for Pete Davidson’s character, Pete Nolan, who joined the action by going undercover to bust a drug ring in a hilarious season 4 finale. That episode was also one of the most emotional of all eight seasons, as Lucy was forced to kill a civilian in self-defense. While these episodes delivered on entertainment, the bloodthirsty and zombie elements are arguably too unrealistic for an otherwise near-perfect police procedural drama.
3. Disappearing Characters – Season 1
The Rookie has had characters like Afton Williamson’s Talia Bishop and Michael Beach’s Percy West, who had a strong presence in the first seasons of The Rookie, disappear from the show.
For Talia Bishop, after the scandal involving her foster brother who reemerged, it was understandable that her career took a deep dive at the end of Season 1. However, fans never really bargained for such a clean break and somehow still hold out hope for one more cameo in a future season.
Secondly, after Officer Jackson West’s death at the end of Season 4, the head of Internal Affairs, Percy West, who, although not a regular character, had a strong and commanding presence, also disappeared. At the very least, The Rookie fans would have appreciated seeing Percy mourn or seek revenge for his son.
4. Superhuman Bailey
Clearly, the show is committed to giving John Nolan a strong female partner, as seen in the lineup of John Nolan’s love interests mentioned earlier. But for Jenna Dewan’s Bailey Nune, it’s getting to a point where the audience may begin to squint a little.
Bailey Nune is not only an excellent baker, but also an Army reservist, a firefighter, and a… well, she is a lot of amazing things that’s just a bit much. Sure, the show tries to soften her with the coyote-puppy confusion and the messy portrait she made for Nolan, but capturing a coyote and dying three times makes it quite impossible to humanize Bailey Nune.
5. Dim and Juicy Bits – Season 6
After five seasons of waiting for Tim and Lucy to at least break the ice with a kiss, it finally happened. The perfect tease for the audience was the practice make-out sessions and the stolen kiss in the airplane bathroom. Still, both Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) also low-key quoted Love Island’s Cobin and said, “F*** the consequences,” when Lucy invited Tim into her apartment for some “undercover naked time.” By the end of Season 5 of The Rookie, fans would have accepted any plot that got ChenFord together, but the manufactured characters Dim and Juicy were too improbable, as for many fans, almost cheapened
6. Monica Stevens’ Death – Season 8
The Rookie fans would have loved to see Bridget Regan’s Monica Stevens return to the mix, or at least sail off into the sunset instead of meeting an untimely end on a street corner. As one of the series’ most complex and layered villains, she was always scheming with an ace up her sleeve. Her death highlighted just how much nuance she brought to the show—a compelling antagonist who evoked the same enigmatic energy and the best use of leverage as Blacklist’s Raymond Reddington. Monica Steven was stylish in power suits and had an impressive grasp of America’s legal system. This means, despite being aware of her crimes, law enforcement could not really do much about it.
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7. Missed Reactions
Percy West’s reaction to his son’s death is not the only core plot point the TV show overlooked. Throughout the eight seasons of The Rookie, there have been several others, including everyone’s reaction to Tim and Lucy’s relationship. Lucy and Chris’s breakup happened almost immediately after everyone found out ChenFord were together. Chris Sanford’s take on ChenFord would have been a satisfying watch for fans, as he should have been, because ChenFord actually did him dirty.
Furthermore, Danielle Campbell’s character, Blair London, also disappeared abruptly after becoming entangled in Monica Stevens’s web of crimes. It’s understandable why she might have received the “Oscar Hutchinson treatment,” becoming an insufferable villain fans love to hate. Regardless, Danielle Campbell was an excellent addition to the cast.
Mariam Emily Adama is a copywriter, SEO strategist, and digital marketer passionate about using words to inform, inspire, and influence. With over seven years of experience writing for global brands and managing digital campaigns, she brings a data-driven yet creative approach to content creation. When she’s not writing or analyzing trends, Mariam enjoys exploring new cultures, reading, and documenting stories that celebrate African excellence.