So long Richard Castle, hello John Nolan.
The Rookie is a cop-themed dramedy starring Nathan Fillion that centers around the oldest rookie in the LAPD. According to ABC’s official description, Fillion’s Nolan leaves behind his cushy, small-town life and moves to L.A., but things aren’t exactly as he imagined. Determined to make his second chance at life count, Nolan puts himself in dangerous (and hilarious) situations as he navigates the unpredictable world of the LAPD.
Not sold on The Rookie just yet? Well, fret not, because we’ve got five reasons you’ll fall head over heels for this new drama. Keep reading to find out what they are.
1. The Rookie is helmed by Castle showrunner Alexi Hawley.
Yeah, you can go ahead and whoop it up now! Seriously, if you’re suffering from major Castle withdrawals, you’re in luck. Apart from the great writing, expect the same level of intensity and high-quality acting. Fillion is one hunky dude who will brighten up your dreary lives — and he’ll be wearing a proper police uniform this time!
2. It’s a fish out of water story for the ages, inspired by a real cop.
Fillion’s Nolan is based on the true story of the oldest recruit in the LAPD. Can you imagine completely changing your career at the age of 40? That takes some serious cajones! Despite having roots in the real world, though, The Rookie is heavily grounded in fiction.
“I met the original guy, but we’re not trying to reflect his life,” Fillion explained in an interview with TV Guide. “We’re chasing a big bowl of starting over. There’s a cultural shift: People reboot at 40. We also train with police consultants and have them on set to make sure we lend reality to procedure.”
3. The jam-packed action will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Everyone on the task force is put through the ringer! There is so much sprinting, jumping, and fighting on the show. From crazy chase downs to dangerous criminals, The Rookie does not hold back when it comes to action sequences. Watching Fillion running with the wind in his hair is truly the cherry on top.
4. There are plenty of empowering female characters.
Melissa O’Neil plays Lucy Chen, who is inarguably the biggest badass on the series. Apart from chasing down the bad guys, she is also an evolving, caring individual. If the pilot is any indication of how the series will progress, Lucy is one of the most complex and carefully crafted cops on The Rookie.
Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz), Captain Zoe Anderson (Mercedes Mason), and Talia Bishop (Afton Williamson) round out the incredible female cast. Whether they’re high-ranking officials or newbies on the cusp of something great, all of these women are fierce, dynamic, and three-dimensional.
5. The realistic depictions of cops convey a deeper message we all need to hear.
At a time when police brutality is constantly in the headlines, the ABC series is choosing to lend its valuable voice to the narrative. Rather than treading lightly and tiptoeing around the topic, The Rookie will deal with these issues head-on.
“The way we look at it on the show is that we try to be aspirational about police work because what they’re talking about is the hardest thing to do: To not react with emotion,” creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley shared during the show’s panel at PaleyFest. “Also, the instinct to seek vengeance or your own version of justice is really prevalent. The thing where cops fall down is when they let emotions get the best of them. A big part of the job is fighting that. What we do with the show is approach it with how we think cops should act in a situation… How many times have we seen a story about a mentally ill person who’s been shot by a cop because they don’t have the training to deal with people with mental health issues?”
“In the pilot, because John Nolan talked to that guy [who is mentally ill] and got him down off the car,” Hawley continued, “what John discovered is that the guy was just looking for his kid. He left his kid in the car and he didn’t know where he was. If we tased that guy or we shot that guy, he would have died… I think it’s very important for us to try and show a way this should be done. It’s not like they won’t fall down, it’s not like there won’t be bad cops [on the show] or that they won’t make mistakes. As a network television show that doesn’t have the wherewithal to give respect to these storylines which are so enormous, this is what we can do.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=k9K06dCP-lc
The Rookie premieres Tuesday, October 16 10/9c on ABC.
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