Top shows to watch if you love ‘The Rookie’

Must-watch shows like The Rookie you can’t miss

If you love The Rookie and crave more gripping crime dramas, shows like Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and The Killing (Danish) will keep you hooked. Criminal Minds focuses on FBI profilers analyzing criminal behavior, while CSI brings forensic investigations to life.

For an international twist, The Killing offers a haunting murder mystery, and Broadchurch explores the emotional fallout of a similar case. Each series offers suspenseful storytelling with complex characters and intricate investigations.

Monk

Tony Shalhoub stars as Adrian Monk. He’s a former homicide detective who suffered a breakdown after his wife was murdered. He leaves the force and becomes a private investigator. His severe OCD helps him spot the tiniest inconsistencies.

The arc follows Monk’s quest to solve his wife’s murder. In each episode, he uses his genius to crack cases. Monk shares a lighthearted tone with The Rookie. Both series can turn dark when needed. Shalhoub matches Fillion’s charisma, and their leads drive each show’s success.

Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods puts family at its core. The show has been on the air for over ten years. It follows the Reagan clan. This multigenerational police family is led by Frank Reagan. Frank serves as New York City’s police commissioner.

Fans of The Rookie will appreciate Blue Bloods’r-driven stories. Every family member offers a unique point of view. The series blends police drama with real family struggles. Its intelligent and likable characters make it truly riveting.

LA’s Finest

LA’s Finest only lasted two seasons. But it gave fans a thrilling mix of comedy and drama that feels just right if you love The Rookie. This Bad Boys spinoff teams two female detectives with messy pasts as they join forces to take down LA’s biggest criminals.

It ditches the goofball humor of Brooklyn Nine‑Nine in favor of a more grounded, action‑packed vibe. Its character‑driven plots and can’t-stop-watching cases make it perfect for a binge.

Bones

After years of playing a soulful vampire on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, David Boreanaz took on a realistic role as FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth. He was teamed with forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan, played by Emily Deschanel.

Like The Rookie, this duo leads an ensemble cast whose investigators play big parts in solving cases and story arcs. Both Bones and The Rookie blend humor and romance with mystery and tease a “will they or won’t they” relationship across seasons.

Third Watch

Years before 9‑1‑1 brought police, paramedics, and firefighters together. Third Watch did it first. The series follows the nightly work of NYC’s 55th Precinct officers. It highlights intense emergency calls. It also explores the tangled personal lives of these uniformed heroes.

It included paramedics. It included firefighters. It offered a fresh spin on police procedurals. Third Watch set itself apart. It paved the way for modern favorites like The Rookie.

Chicago P.D.

Chicago P.D. has quietly become a mainstay of the procedural genre. It brought the cop show back to basics. The Intelligence Unit’s detectives use their expertise to tackle major crimes that plague the city. The Rookie leans more on character-driven moments.

Chicago P.D. still delivers after-hours drama through its side plots. But its real strength lies in its procedural elements. With 13 seasons and spin-offs, its formula has proven foolproof.

Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds stands apart from shows like The Rookie. The Nathan Fillion series stays light but still pits the LAPD against dangerous criminals. Criminal Minds instead focuses on the darkest offenders, inspired by real-life serial killers.

The team must stop these threats or risk innocent lives, including children’s. The true heart of Criminal Minds lies in the agents’ bond. They trust each other completely and risk everything to save one another. Later, The Rookie embraced that same team-first spirit.

S.W.A.T.

Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson stars in S.W.A.T.  John Nolan leads The Rookie. Their backgrounds differ. Their challenging journeys into law enforcement power both show. S.W.A.T. follows Lieutenant Harrelson as he juggles loyalty to his neighborhood and his team.

The series tackles political issues that most procedurals shy away from. It carries a heavier tone than The Rookie. Its character-driven storytelling and crisp, high-octane action deliver an addictive and compelling experience. Itlivers action-packed drama with heart. S.W.A.T. hits the mark.

9-1-1

Ryan Murphy co-created 9‑1‑1 and gave it a cheeky vibe that was missing from traditional cop shows. It’s one of the best series, like The Rookie, because it offers fresh takes on the genre. The writers focus on character arcs, slip in humor, and deliver heart-pounding action.

The story follows LA police officers, firefighters, and EMTs as they tackle the city’s craziest emergencies. Over-the-top moments keep viewers guessing each week. With endless story possibilities, 9‑1‑1 is here to stay.

Rookie Blue

The Rookie tells the story of new police officers and their training partners. That’s just the starting point, though. In 2010, a Canadian series called Rookie Blue followed a similar group of recruits determined to prove themselves on the street.

Both shows explore how these rookies learn on the job. Both highlight the bonds rookies build and the respect they earn. Missy Peregrym stars before she moved on to the FBI. Travis Milne appears years before his Detective Peyton role in Chucky.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Even the most serious fan of The Rookie needs a comedic break. Brooklyn Nine‑Nine provides it. The show brings law and order to Brooklyn’s 99th precinct. Immature cop Jake Peralta has to learn the rules of the job.

This series shares The Rookie’s witty banter, fresh perspective, and high-octane action. With its perfect blend of original humor and affectionate parody, Brooklyn Nine‑Nine stands on its own. After eight seasons, it even jumped networks. Fans of The Rookie will find a new favorite here.

FBI

Dick Wolf is the creator of the famous Law & Order series. He hit procedural gold again with the FBI. The show stars Missy Peregrym as Maggie Bell and Zeeko Zaki as Omar Adom Zidan. They work at the FBI’s New York office.

They tackle bizarre, high-stakes cases with relentless pace. Fans will love Maggie and Omar just like they loved John Nolan from The Rookie. FBI leans toward action over quirky humor and delivers a thrilling ride.

Hawaii Five-0

You might know Hawaii Five‑0 as a loving remake of the original Hawaii Five-0. The series aired from 1968 to 1980. The reboot ran 10 seasons with 240 episodes. It shares its world with NCIS. It also overlaps with Magnum P.I. and MacGyver.

The show plays out much like The Rookie , with officers balancing duty and personal life. It survived cast-ups by promoting new faces. Hawaii Five-0 wrapped up in 2020 with its sister reboots. It remained a hit on CBS.

Southland

Both The Rookie and Southland are set in Los Angeles. Each series follows a police officer who is new to the force. In Southland, LAPD rookie Ben Sherman begins to question his role after partnering with a veteran who follows his own rules.

Southland offers a grittier view of policing than The Rookie. It isn’t afraid to explore the darker side of law enforcement. Despite its serious tone, it shares the same premise and location as The Rookie.

If you’re a fan of the show, check out 15 defining moments in Lucy and Tim Chenford’s relationship on ‘The Rookie’.

Castle

What many fans of The Rookie may not know is that Nathan Fillion already headlined a hit crime drama called Castle. It stands among the best shows like The Rookie. Castle stars Fillion as mystery writer Richard Castle. He ends up teaming with NYPD detective Kate Beckett to solve crimes.

Each show features interesting cases that keep you hooked. Their banter provides humor and sparks a slow-burning romance. Castle balances crime plots with comedy just as The Rookie does.

Get the inside scoop on your favorite A-list romances, and discover how these 15 celebrity couples went from Hollywood’s hottest duos to where they stand today.

If you can’t get enough of The Rookie, we’ve rounded up the next best shows that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Here’s what to binge next!

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.