7 Shows To Watch If You Love ‘The Rookie’

ABC’s The Rookie brings us a new take on the classic crime procedural genre. For the past five seasons, we’ve watched John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) transform from a divorcee in a mid-life crisis to an awe-inspiring LAPD cop. The mixture of high-intensity action scenes with romance, humor, and personal drama is constantly keeping viewers on their toes and eager for more. 

For those looking for shows like The Rookie as we wait for Season 6, here are seven that provide a similar unique spin on the crime drama, from off-beat comedies like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, to highly popular police stalwarts like Law & Order. 

1. ‘Blue Bloods’

   Family comes first in this long-running cop drama. Blue Bloods follows the Reagans, a multigenerational police family led by Frank, the commissioner for New York City. With multiple unique perspectives through all members of the family, The Rookie fans will love how the series perfectly weaves in cop stories with family troubles and relatable characters.

   WHERE TO STREAM BLUE BLOODS

2. ‘S.W.A.T.’

   Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson of S.W.A.T. may experience a different set of life struggles than John Nolan, but they both share a complicated path that led them to their life-saving careers. The series centers on a Los Angeles’ S.W.A.T lieutenant as he attempts to balance his loyalty to the streets with his loyalty to his prestigious job and fellow officers. Though a bit heavier and political than The Rookie, the character-driven narrative and heart-pounding action will keep fans hooked. 

   WHERE TO STREAM S.W.A.T.

4. ‘Law & Order’

   Despite its 12-year hiatus, Law & Order remains one of the most loved police procedurals and could be called the blueprint for shows like The Rookie. In the drama, detectives of the NYPD solve murder cases and assist DAs in getting solid convictions. With a little less personal narratives and a little more dramatic detective work, Law & Order’s mix of courtroom proceedings and impressive problem-solving will quickly prove to fans why it’s so popular in the crime drama world. 

   WHERE TO STREAM LAW & ORDER

5. ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’

   If you love The Rookie for its quick-witted humor and unique fun-loving characters, then Brooklyn Nine-Nine is your perfect next binge. The comedy series follows detective Jake Peralta, a talented yet immature cop with the best arrest record. But when a new commanding officer joins Brooklyn’s 99th precinct, Peralita is forced to play by the rules. The parody series was made for people who may or may not love procedurals, but with its impeccable comedy and dynamic action sequences, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is hard not to love.

   WHERE TO STREAM BROOKLYN NINE-NINE

6. ‘9-1-1’

   9-1-1 shares the same character-driven narrative, occasional humor, and high-stakes action that we get in The Rookie. It centers around the lives and careers of LA’s police, firefighters, and EMTs as they respond to their daily dish of crimes and accidents. While less serious than The Rookie, 9-1-1’s Los Angeles setting and over-the-top twist on police procedurals are sure to bond the two fandoms together. 

   WHERE TO STREAM 9-1-1

7. ‘Castle’

   Before John Nolan, there was Richard Castle, both new members of law enforcement with quirky humor — and both played by the beloved Nathan Fillion. In Castle, mystery writer Richard Castle finds himself involved in solving crimes and catching bad guys with NYPD detective Kate Beckett. Aside from their lead actor, both shows boast interesting crime cases and a dash of comedic personal and romantic drama.

   WHERE TO STREAM CASTLE

8. ‘The Rookie: Feds’

   How could we forget the Rookie’s spin-off The Rookie: Feds! The series follows Simone Clark, the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy, who’s assigned to support the Los Angeles field office. The Rookie fans will love the show for the sense of humor, fun action, and lunkheaded energy it took from the parent show.

   WHERE TO STREAM THE ROOKIE: FEDS