Parents' Guide to

The Rookie

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Nathan Fillion vehicle brings new energy to a tired genre.

TV ABC Drama 2018
The Rookie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Riley B.
Riley B. Adult
August 6, 2023
age 13+

Great Show

Great show, with plenty of drama and storylines. A bit unrealistic but doesn't take away from the great storylines

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Steve B.
Steve B. Adult
February 27, 2023
age 14+

A+++

This is an excellent show. Little graphic for some younger kids but the story lines and acting are excellent!
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

On the day he files his divorce papers, 40-something-year-old John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) helps thwart a violent bank robbery, which inspires him to reimagine his life and become a police officer. THE ROOKIE picks up after Nolan's gone through basic training and begins his first year on the force. He and fellow first-year officers Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) and Jackson West (Titus Makin) are assigned training officers and sent out on patrol. Each episode follows Nolan, Chen, and West as they learn on the job, encountering plenty of hardened criminals and eccentric civilians along the way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (10 ):

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 show 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.

Plus, it features 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 attempt to breathe some life into a genre that's often seemed 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 runtime.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about John Nolan. What inspires him to become a police officer in the middle of his life? What are the obstacles he faces in The Rookie? How is he different from his peers? Do you think he's too old for the job?

  • What advantages does Nolan's age give him? What disadvantages?

  • In what ways do police officers have to conduct themselves differently from regular people? What are the codes and regulations that they follow? Why are these codes so rigid?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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