The Rookie is a police procedural built around Nathan Fillion and his character, John Nolan, as the LAPD’s oldest rookie. However, from the very start, the series was an ensemble show with a dynamic cast of characters that fans have grown to love over the many seasons since its debut.
One reason the series remains so popular is how The Rookie keeps its best characters front-and-center in each episode. Below, readers can find the best characters they can see week-to-week on The Rookie over the past six seasons and, hopefully, in Season 7 when the show returns in 2025.
15
Quigley Smitty Is Not a Good Cop, but He’s Not a Bad One Either
From Finding Good Snacks to Accidentally Starting QAnon, Smitty Is a Gem
Despite appearing in less than half of The Rookie episodes (only once in the first season), Quigley Smitty (Brent Huff) is a fixture in the Mid-Wilshire Police Precinct. He’s not a good cop, but, to his credit, he’s also not a bad one. For almost every character on this list, being a police officer is a vocation. For him? It’s just a job. Yet, whether finding the best snacks or accidentally starting the QAnon conspiracy while writing This Is Us fanfiction, Smitty is someone his fellow cops can count on, so long as they don’t expect too much.
Most of the time, Smitty is good for a few laughs as he slacks off at work and does his best not to get involved in the cop drama his colleagues do. However, when called on to help his fellow officers, he truly tries his best. The only truly questionable thing he’s ever done was try to fight dirty in the Union Rep election against Nolan. Even after he lost in a landslide, he didn’t hold a grudge. In fact, every so often, Smitty has valuable insight into investigations or simple life lessons.
14
Pete Nolan Is the Perfect Mirror Image of His Big Brother
A Lovable Screwup, He Blends Humor and Heartwarming Storytelling
John Nolan’ family has often been a source of drama in The Rookie, but one of his best relations is his half-brother Pete. Neither of the two knew about each other until their father, Charles, an alcoholic and drug addict, passed away and left a beloved family car to his eldest son. After assaulting John and getting arrested, the two brothers bonded over the shared trauma of their absent father. The two brothers couldn’t be more different, which is what makes them such an entertaining pair.
Pete only appeared intermittently in the series, dropping by John’s house unexpectedly. While their relationship creates dramatic tension, it’s always a source of humor that throws off the straight-laced John. Despite being absent for the past two seasons, hopefully Pete returns in Season 7 and beyond to make Nolan’s life interesting. If John and Bailey end up adopting a child, “Uncle Pete” storylines are rife with humorous possibilities.
13
Bailey Nune Had a Rough Start on the Rookie
Some Fans Didn’t Love the Character at First
When Bailey Nune (Jenna DeWan) first showed up on The Rookie, some fans found the character annoying. However, just as she grew on Nolan himself, Bailey has become an indispensable member of The Rookie family. The storytellers use the character in a fantastic way. She is an Emergency Medical Technician, so she understands the importance of her husband’s job and the pressures he faces. The show also never bothered to put Nolan or Bailey in a love triangle, allowing their relationship to be a source of lightness in a show with heavy themes and events.
Instead, the drama in stories focused on her and Nolan are more interesting than the typical way romance is played on network television. In Season 6, for example, Bailey discovers that she is unlikely to get pregnant naturally. Nolan is supportive and understanding, especially when she says she doesn’t want to deal with the stress and expense of invitro fertilization procedures. Similarly, when Nolan suggests they adopt, she’s hesitant but open. Bailey is a great character who, along with Nolan, proves romantic couples don’t need “will they or won’t they?” drama to succeed in a show.
12
Oscar Hutchinson Is a Lovable Slimeball
Despite Having No Redeeming Qualities, He’s Very Likable
At first glance, Oscar Hutchinson doesn’t seem like a master criminal, but he is one of the most formidable recurring villains on The Rookie. There is a unique charm about him that makes audiences like him and the characters underestimate him. Yet, as he proves time and again, his capacity for villainy knows no bounds. From conning his own daughter into saving his life to taking on contract killings to escape from prison, he can be a threat.
First introduced in an episode involving the unexpected hijacking of a prisoner transfer, Oscar has spent most of his time behind bars. Only, in the Season 6 finale, he successfully escaped from prison and is loose in Los Angeles. Too smart to stick out his neck for petty vendettas, he will surely cross paths with the Mid-Wilshire Police Principal officers when his next scheme gets underway. Despicable though he may be, there is something about him that fans love to hate.
11
Sergeant Wade Gray Is Exactly What a Police Leader Should Be
Equal Parts Tough and Compassionate, Gray Is Great at the Top
When The Rookie premiered, Sergeant Wade Gray (Richard T. Jones) was one of many officers who seemed to actively discourage Nolan. However, with each successive appearance, he not only grew to respect the show’s central character, audiences learned why everyone in the precinct respects him. Gray has flirted with retirement, but with each new season it becomes more difficult to imagine the show without him. Jones effortlessly shifts between projecting leadership, comic relief and, just the same, can be that hard, demanding boss.
While Sgt. Gray is very much a part of The Rookie family, he is still able to be a leader. When his officers mess up, he doesn’t hold back from showing his disappointment or ensuring there are consequences. He is never the stereotypical cop boss who shouts at his officers for going rogue. In fact, when his officers screw up, he usually takes a quiet, even tone with them, making his dressing down that much more intimidating. Yet, when his officers are threatened or just in serious need, Gray ensures they are taken care of.
10
Aaron Thorsen Is the Unique Character on the Force the Show Needed
Thorsen Is Rich, Famous and Formerly a Murder Suspect
After Officer Jackson West was killed off in The Rookie, Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) was brought in to fill that vacancy in the cast. He is a child of privilege, the son of a famous rapper and part of a family with a hit reality television show. Thorsen was falsely accused of murdering his friend and exonerated. Like Nolan, he wasn’t welcome on the LAPD, but unlike the oldest rookie, Thorsen had to file a lawsuit to be allowed to join the force. Since then, he’s become a trusted and valued member of the team, and Thorsen almost died in the Season 5 finale.
What makes Thorsen such a great character is that, despite his privilege, he knows what it’s like to be failed by the system. Just as West’s final storyline was about systemic racism and abuse, Thorsen looks out for suspects’ rights. This goes beyond mere racial demographics, too. While West was a child of a cop, Thorsen joined the force to be the kind of police officer he needed when he was falsely accused. While empathetic to the plight of suspects, he wears a police uniform out of a commitment to truth and justice. Alas, the character will be written out of the series starting in Season 7.
9
Nyla Harper Could’ve Felt Like a Copycat Character After Bishop
Mekia Cox Made the Role Her Own and That Made All the Difference
After Afton Williamson’s Talia Bishop left the show, Mekia Cox stepped in as Nyla Harper, Nolan’s new training officer. A former undercover officer, she took the job so that she could keep regular hours and be a mother to her estranged daughter. Since then, she’s gotten married, had another child and became a detective. Despite her similar stony demeanor in her approach to training Nolan as Bishop, Cox quickly made Harper stand out as her own, unique individual.
Harper is still one of the toughest people on The Rookie, but has evolved from all sharp edges to a well-rounded character. Along with training Nolan, she was instrumental in helping Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) find her confidence, both as a beat cop and undercover operator. Now partnered with Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz), Harper still outranks Nolan and the others, but they are a team just the same. For example, in The Rookie Season 6 finale, Nyla was all in on John’s crazy plan to rescue Blair London (Danielle Campbell).
8
Officer Jackson West Was One of The Rookie’s Most Promising Characters
His Unceremonious Off-Screen Death Felt Undeserving of the Character
Officer West was one of the three Rookies introduced in the pilot, but his story was very different from the others. The son of a decorated, high-ranking officer, being a cop was always what he believed he wanted to be. However, after early struggles with post-traumatic stress his journey on the force was difficult. One of The Rookie‘s few queer characters, West was representational in a lot of ways, especially in Season 3 when he was paired with a racist, abusive training officer. After nearly dying, he outsmarted his T.O. and forced the LAPD to act.
Sadly, actor Titus Makin, Jr. wanted to leave the show, and instead of simply being written off his character was killed. Since the actor didn’t return, a double was used to film his murder, which was only shown on security footage. While the death affected the other characters, fans felt he deserved better. Producers said the actor’s departure painted them into a corner, but it was nonetheless unsatisfying and, arguably, a little insulting. Still, he remains one of the best characters in the history of the show.
7
Celina Juarez Is Equal Parts Sweet and Silly
She’s Perfect as John Nolan’s Rookie Trainee
When Nolan got his “golden ticket” from the LAPD Chief, he became a training officer. His first rookie is Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez), and it proved Nolan was born for it. Juarez’s history and losing her sister to a kidnapping gave her a strong faith in intuition and spirituality. On her first day, she clashes with Nolan after pulling someone over without probable cause. It could’ve been the end of her career, but Nolan didn’t give up on her. Eventually, Officer Juarez started acting like a cop, but she lost none of her charm as a character.
She brings a jovial energy to the team and isn’t afraid to make the job fun. She is a decent rookie, but also a great source of comic relief on the show. After Tamara Collins (Dylan Conrique) moves out of Lucy Chen’s apartment, Celina is invited to move into her empty room. Whether on the job or off-the-clock at Lucy’s place, Celina lights up every scene she’s in. Chavez is one of the best additions to The Rookie cast, because she’s a dynamic character unlike any of the others.
6
Tamara Collins Is a The Rookie Success Story
The Character’s Departure in Season 6 Was Meant to Be Triumphant
Officer Lucy Chen had a sentimental attachment to her beat-up old car, until it was stolen in Season 3, Episode 2, “In Justice.” The thief turned out to be a young, unhoused girl who stole it to use as a safe place to live while going to school. After Lucy decided not to arrest her, Tamara became Lucy’s “puppy,” as described by Tim Bradford. Lucy ended up giving her the car and offering to be in her life as a mentor and friend. Eventually, Tamara moved in with Lucy after the death of Jackson West.
Over the next few seasons, Tamara became like a sister to Lucy. She was there for her through her relationships, especially the start of her romance with Bradford. Eventually, Tamara disappeared from The Rookie. In this case, “no news was good news,” because Tamara was excelling in school and making friends. In Season 6, she moved out of Lucy’s apartment to live with others her age. While she’s technically gone from the show, she and Lucy remain close, and she could easily appear in Season 7 and beyond.
5
Tim Bradford Has Some of The Rookie’s Best Growth
The Surly T.O. Who Felt Cops Were Persecuted Has His Eyes Opened
Throughout much of Season 1, Eric Winter’s Tim Bradford was a tough, unforgiving training officer to his rookie, Officer Chen. He hated internal affairs and, despite his commitment to the law, almost broke it to help his ex-wife Isabel escape drug charges. Yet, in the following season Bradford softened. He’s now a much more balanced character who understands the police don’t always get it right. He is still a consummate professional, though he is willing to “go rogue” from time to time. However, it was Winter’s on-screen chemistry with O’Neil that fortified his status as a fan-favorite character on The Rookie.
Fans started to ship Chen and Bradford (Chenford) from the onset. For almost two seasons, the two were a couple and their romance worked on-screen. He transferred to a new division since he was in Chen’s chain of command, but he still helped her with police work and studying for her detective exam. Yet, Season 6 left Chenford fractured, after Tim broke up with Lucy. Still, it’s only a matter of time before the two reunite, bringing back The Rookie‘s best romantic couple.
4
Rosalind Dyer Was Something Special
Dyer Was a Formidable Opponent With a Long Reach
Introduced in Season 2, Rosalind Dyer was a serial killer who had a history with one of John Nolan’s mentors, and she took a liking to the elder rookie. She is perhaps the most efficient criminal mastermind in the series, able to toy with the lives of the officers even while behind bars. While not as chaotic as Batman’s Joker, she had a similar vibe. Once she escaped from prison, she seemed content to let John Nolan kill her because it would corrupt him. He ultimately chose to arrest her, but she was killed by a sniper.
Played by the late Annie Wersching, the character stands as an example of the immeasurable loss of this talented actor. In less capable hands, Rosalind Dyer could’ve been the type of hacky, mustache-twirling villain that ends up being unintentionally comedic. Instead, she was poised and terrifying, with every twist and shocking story development feeling fully authentic. There hasn’t been an antagonist on the show before or since who matched her raw menace and captivating screen presence.
3
Angela Lopez Is a Ride or Die Friend First and a Cop Second
From Training Officer to Mother to Detective, Lopez Does It All
Originally Jackson West’s training officer, Angela Lopez quickly left the uniformed ranks to become a detective. She also began a romance with Shawn Ashmore’s Wesley Evers, a defense attorney turned prosecutor. They were married and now have two children, but this hasn’t tamed Lopez in the slightest. She’s a fearsome detective and unflinching when faced with mortal danger. However, she’s also a loyal friend, suggesting at times she’d help her “family” in the precinct run from the law, if needed. While she may be joking, it doesn’t always read that way.
Lopez and Bradford have the show’s best friendship, working together on many cases. As a training officer, she was as tough as the rest of them, but she approached the work with the same compassion she shows her friends. When West suffered from post-traumatic stress after a shooting, she assisted him in getting help. As a detective, partnered with Harper, she allowed the series to keep its focus on street-level policing, while still providing closure to the cases of the week.
2
John Nolan Is Why the Show Exists, but Not Why It’s Great
Nathan Fillion Is the Rare Lead Actor Who Lets the Ensemble Shine
There was a time when some believed Nolan was The Rookie‘s weakest character, but he’s always been integral to the story. Nathan Fillion’s ability to play charming and tough shines through in every performance. Some sequences, such as an LA garage band serenading him with a song called “Daddy Cop,” allow Fillion to play up his comedic abilities. While the surrounding characters enrich the story in myriad ways, Nolan is still the lead for a reason. Yet, perhaps his most important characteristic is how the character, and actor Nathan Fillion, is able to uplift the rest of the ensemble.
From being the titular rookie to his role as union rep and training officer, Nolan is The Rookie‘s Obi-Wan Kenobi. He gets into his share of action-oriented shootouts and moments of heroics, but his greatest strength is not getting in the way of the ensemble around him. While this is true for many of the others on this list, Nolan is one of the best on The Rookie for blending toughness and compassion. Audiences believe he truly cares about the job, the victims and, in many cases, the suspects. Even though he’s no longer the LAPD’s oldest rookie, the show would not work without him.
1
The Rookie Is Lucy Chen’s World; the Other Characters Just Live In It
From Undercover Ops to American Idol, Chen Can Anchor Any Story
Originally, Lucy Chen was Nolan’s love interest, but that relationship didn’t work and ended quickly. Thankfully, this change in the status quo allowed Lucy to develop and evolve without being defined by who she loves. She specifically joined the LAPD because she wanted to change the organization for the better, as she told her father in Season 1, Episode 17, “The Shake Up.” She does this in many ways, such as helping Tamara after she stole Lucy’s car. Later, Lucy became an undercover cop, fearlessly inserting herself into dangerous situations without losing the soft touch that makes her character special.
Still, since she is the other half of Chenford, her relationship with her former T.O. Bradford has further defined the character. The storytellers were correct to take things slow with Lucy’s relationship. Even though Chenford is now broken up, she remains as compassionate and helpful to Tim as she is to the rest of her colleagues. O’Neil turns in heartfelt performances and is the center of many of The Rookie‘s best episodes. She is clever, empathetic and a stone-cold survivor. While Nolan may be the series lead character, The Rookie is as much her show as it is his.
The Rookie Seasons 1-6 are now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and Season 7 is expected in early 2025.
