Common Sense Media Review
By Martin Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Police procedural balances high-stakes violence with heart.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Rookie
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 33 parent reviews
Parents say the show has received mixed reviews, with some praising its strong character development, humor, and emotional depth, making it suitable for older children despite certain violent and mature themes. Conversely, others express deep disappointment regarding recent documentary-style episodes, criticizing them for straying from the series' original cop drama format and feeling low-budget, thus negatively impacting the overall quality and engagement of the show.
- mixed reviews
- strong characters
- emotional depth
- controversial episodes
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Based on 95 kid reviews
Kids say the show is entertaining but contains significant themes of violence, drugs, and sexual content which may not be suitable for younger viewers, with many recommending it for teenagers and up. While it features good role models and character development, parents are advised to assess their child's maturity and sensitivity to such content before allowing them to watch.
- violence concerns
- age recommendation
- good role models
- mature themes
- entertaining content
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
On the day he files his divorce papers, 40-something John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) helps thwart a violent bank robbery, which inspires him to reimagine his life and become THE ROOKIE in the Los Angeles Police Department. The show picks up after Nolan has completed basic training and begins his first year on the force. He and fellow first-years Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) and Jackson West (Titus Makin) are assigned training officers and sent out on patrol. Each episode follows the ever-evolving ensemble cast as they learn and grow on the job, encountering plenty of hardened criminals and eccentric civilians along the way.
Is It Any Good?
No one is going to mistake a Nathan Fillion vehicle for prestige TV—but for a network police show, this series does a lot of things well. The Rookie is unique in that it doesn't use a crime-of-the-week format the way most procedurals do, but rather follows three sets of officers as they go on their patrols, encountering many criminals over the course of the day and keeping the action rolling.
The show has an extremely diverse cast of charismatic actors who can pull off both the dramatic and comedic aspects of the writing. In general, it feels like the writers aren't afraid to take risks and try to breathe some life into a genre that often seems way past its prime. The results are mixed, but The Rookie makes up for its flaws with fast-moving episodes that pack a lot into their run time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Rookie's John Nolan. What inspires him to become a police officer in the middle of his life? What are the obstacles he faces? What advantages does Nolan's age give him? What disadvantages?
In what ways do police officers have to conduct themselves differently from civilians? What are the codes and regulations that they follow? Why do you think they have these codes?
How do Nolan and his co-workers show compassion, humility, and courage on the job? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 16, 2018
- Cast : Nathan Fillion , Melissa O'Neil , Afton Williamson , Richard T. Jones
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Humility
- TV rating :
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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