Hooked on ‘The Rookie’? 9 TV Shows to Watch While Waiting for Season 9

Dan Clarendon
3 Comments
'The Mentalist,' 'Brooklyn South,' 'Chicago P.D.,' 'The Rookie'
Colleen Hayes/CBS/Courtesy: Everett Collection, Tony Esparza/CBS/Courtesy: Everett Collection, Parrish Lewis/NBC, Mike Taing/Disney

The Rookie is coming back for Season 9 alongside its new spinoff, The Rookie: North. However, fans still have months to wait: ABC seems to be holding both shows for midseason.

So if you’re missing the Mid-Wilshire crew, the good news is that there are some similar TV shows that might help fill the void — including several with Rookie talent. You could, for example, watch the show that kept Nathan Fillion employed for the better part of the 2010s, or ones that gave Richard T. Jones and Lisseth Chavez a season’s work of worth. Read about those and more below.

Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle in 'Castle'
Adam Taylor/ABC/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Castle

Before he was Officer John Nolan, Fillion was solving TV crimes as mystery novelist-turned-NYPD consultant Richard Castle on this series, for which The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley was a showrunner. (Bonus: Keep an eye out for Rookie alums Mercedes Mason and Titus Makin Jr. in guest-starring parts.) Currently streaming on Hulu, Prime Video, and The Roku Channel.

Simon Baker as Patrick Jane in 'The Mentalist'
Colleen Hayes/CBS/Courtesy: Everett Collection

The Mentalist

Along the same tracks, The Mentalist starred Simon Baker as a different kind of police consultant: His Patrick Jane uses observational skills, honed during his years as a fraudulent psychic, to assist investigations. And The Rookie’s Eric Winter recurred in Seasons 3 and 4 as FBI Agent Craig O’Laughlin. Currently streaming on Hulu.

Dennis Franz of 'NYPD Blue'
Michael Ginsburg/20th Century Fox Television/Courtesy: Everett Collection

NYPD Blue

One of the highest-rated TV shows of the 1990s — and one of our picks for the best shows of that decade — NYPD Blue is a police procedural TV show with an ensemble cast on the opposite coast. For his performance as Detective Andy Sipowicz, Dennis Franz earned a record four Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy Awards. First five seasons currently available for purchase at Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Dylan Walsh, Michael Deluise, Klea Scott, and Adam Rodriguez of 'Brooklyn South'
Tony Esparza/CBS/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Brooklyn South

After creating NYPD Blue, Steven Bochco and David Milch worked together to put this ensemble police drama on the air. The show followed the cops working a rough-and-tumble Brooklyn precinct, with The Rookie’s Richard T. Jones on board as Officer Clement Johnson. Currently available on DVD.

Lisseth Chavez as Vanessa Rojas in 'Chicago P.D.'
Parrish Lewis/NBC

Chicago P.D.

Former NYPD Blue and Brooklyn South writer Matt Olmstead and Law & Order mastermind Dick Wolf created this police procedural, a spinoff of Chicago Fire. The show follows the officers of Chicago’s fictional 21st District, and The Rookie’s Lisseth Chavez starred in Season 7 as Officer Vanessa Royas. Currently streaming on Peacock and Prime Video.

Missy Peregrym as Andy McNally and Gregory Smith as Dov Epstein in 'Rookie Blue'
Caitlin Cronenberg/ABC/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Rookie Blue

If you prefer your ensemble police dramas to be of the Canadian variety, check out this series, which was billed as Grey’s Anatomy in the world of rookie cops. For six seasons, viewers tracked the professional lives and love lives of five newbie police officers in Toronto. Currently streaming on The Roku Channel and the CW app.

Amy Jo Johnson, Hugh Dillon, Enrico Colantoni, and David Paetkau of 'Flashpoint'
Steve Wilkie/CBS/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Flashpoint

Speaking of imports from our neighbors to the north, Flashpoint chronicled the work of an elite police tactical team called the Strategic Response Unit, inspired by the real-life Emergency Task Force in Toronto. Cast members include Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars) and Amy Jo Johnson(Felicity). Currently streaming on Paramount+.

Nathan Fillion as Director West in 'The Recruit'
Netflix/Courtesy: Everett Collection

The Recruit

The aforementioned Alexi Hawley also devised this TV show about another kind of rookie: Noah Centineo’s Owen Hendricks goes from CIA lawyer to CIA operative when a former asset threatens the agency. And Nathan Fillion, pictured in the show here, turns up in an impactful role! Currently streaming on Netflix.

Niecy Nash as Simone Clark in 'The Rookie: Feds'
Raymond Liu/ABC

The Rookie: Feds

And, of course, we have to mention The Rookie: Feds, The Rookie’s first spinoff, which ABC canceled after one season. The police procedural starred Niecy Nash as Simone Clark, a former guidance counselor who becomes the FBI Academy’s oldest trainee. Currently available for purchase at Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Brooklyn SouthCastleChicago P.D.FlashpointNYPD BlueRookie BlueThe Recruit (2022)The Rookie (2018)The Rookie: FedsThe Rookie: North



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  1. J

    Jena

    Of these, I've only ever watched The Mentalist. And that's all I need. If Simon Baker (or his character Patrick Jane) smiled at me, I'd confess to being on the grassy knoll. sigh

    *and if you don't get the reference about the grassy knoll, look it up!!!

    1. B

      BWD15

      Cute, Jena! I have to agree!!

  2. C

    Colten Hamilton

    I hope so l like the TV show