AmongThe Rookie’s 126 episodes, the four that rank at the bottom feature one of the show’s many traditions, proving that this type of episode must come to an end. The ABCpolice proceduralis obviously doing something right. It has lasted for eight seasons (and will likely continue far beyond that unless something drastic happens). However,The Rookieisn’t perfect.
The Rookiehas had a few missteps over the years. Typically, the series addresses the issue and corrects it, resulting in a return to the crime drama that we all know and love. But it containsone big problem that arose in season 3 and has yet to go away.Consequently, this recurring issue has produced four ofThe Rookie’s worst episodes.
The Rookie’s 4 Lowest-Rated Episodes Are All Filmed Like True Crime Documentaries
The True Crime Style Is Clearly Not A Fan Favorite
According toIMDb,the four episodes at the bottom ofThe Rookie’s ratings were filmed like true crime documentaries.That means the footage comes from sources such as interviews with the characters, body cameras, street cameras, security cameras, etc. They also contain 9-1-1 calls. Essentially, the majority of these episodes feature all the things one would see in a true crime series.
The Rookieseason 7, episode 15
3.6
The Rookieseason 3, episode 7
4.5
The Rookieseason 5, episode 18
4.6
The Rookieseason 4, episode 16
July 20, 2025
4.9
The Rookieparodying the ever-popular true crime genre is an attractive idea.However, it fell flat. Instead of addressing the audience’s (mostly) negative reaction to the first instance of this format, the show just kept chugging along. As ofThe Rookieseason 7 finale, the crime drama has released four true crime documentary episodes (and more might be in the works).
The Rookie’s True Crime Style Needs To Go
This Tradition Has Been Overdone
Despite being a hit-and-miss right out of the gate,The Rookiehas yet to retire its true crime documentary style. It all began in season 3, episode 7, “True Crime.” During the hour,theRookiecharactersparticipated in filming a series documenting one of their recent cases. Yes,Frankie Muniz’s guest appearance was exciting, but even he couldn’t save the episode.
The three episodes that followed in “True Crime’s” footsteps did little to convince fans that this tradition was worth continuing. In fact, they only proved why the ABC police procedural must stop making them. The true crime documentary episodes clearly don’t resonate with viewers, and it’s well past timeThe Rookieabandons this format.
The Rookieseason 8 is set to premiere in early 2026 and consist of 18 episodes, just like season 7.
