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The Best Episodes of The Rookies

Every episode of The Rookies ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Rookies!

Binge this in 3d 20h•Peaking at 8.9/10

The Rookies is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1972 until 1976. It follows the exploits of three rookie police officers working in an unidentified city for the fictitious Southern California

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Rookies Season 2 Episode 16 - The Authentic Death of Billy Stomper
    8.9/10(36 votes)

    #1 - The Authentic Death of Billy Stomper

    S2:E16

    A college girl from Jamaica witnesses the murder of a notorious drug pusher and Terry Webster is assigned to get her testimony in the days that follow, they fall in love, but the girl is tracked down by the murderer and killed. Terry uses himself as a decoy to trap the killers.

    Director:Gene Nelson
    Writer:William Blinn

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  2. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 19 - Eyewitness
    8.8/10(27 votes)

    #2 - Eyewitness

    S2:E19

    A young man with a Jekyll - Hyde personality becomes a puzzle for Terry and Willie when he gives them a description of a suspected cop-killer. But for Mike and Ryker he poses a different problem: extreme danger.

    Director:Barry Shear
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Rookies Season 1 Episode 10 - To Taste of Terror
    8.7/10(47 votes)

    #3 - To Taste of Terror

    S1:E10

    In an effort to prove he's no 'old man', Officer Danko chases down a fleeing criminal. While he succeeds in apprehending the thief, his partners Webster and Gillis fail to catch the criminal's brother, who is also running from the law. Danko testifies in court against the criminal he caught, thereby infuriating the brother who is unassumingly observing in the courtroom.

    Directors:Ralph Senensky, Jerry Jameson
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Rookies Season 1 Episode 19 - Three Hours to Kill
    8.7/10(38 votes)

    #4 - Three Hours to Kill

    S1:E19

    A daring plan is crafted by a convict's wife to release a prisoner from incarceration: an innocent and helpless police officer, who is undergoing surgery, is taken hostage. The rest of the medical staff in the operating room is also put at risk, including Mike Danko's wife, Jill.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Rookies Season 3 Episode 3 - Legacy of Death
    8.7/10(35 votes)

    #5 - Legacy of Death

    S3:E3

    Chris is partnered with a patrolman who gets involved in suicidal situations so that he might be killed in the line of duty and his family would be secure with financial compensation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Rookies Season 3 Episode 20 - S.W.A.T. (1)
    8.7/10(28 votes)

    #6 - S.W.A.T. (1)

    S3:E20

    Harrelson is the head of the Special Weapons and Tactics team, a unit trained to handle unusually volatile situations. His hard-nosed attitude about police work irks rookie Terry Webster. (This Rookies episode served as the pilot for the S.W.A.T. series).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Robert Hamner

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Rookies

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  7. The Rookies Season 1 Episode 17 - Snow Job
    8.6/10(31 votes)

    #7 - Snow Job

    S1:E17

    Country, a small time hood with a cocaine addiction, learns that police HQ is storing a large amount of drugs. He becomes involved to steal the cache before it's destroyed. Webster is taken hostage trying to help Country beat his problem.

    Directors:Gene Nelson, Ralph Senensky
    Writer:William Douglas Lansford

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  8. The Rookies Season 1 Episode 22 - A Farewell Tree from Marly
    8.6/10(37 votes)

    #8 - A Farewell Tree from Marly

    S1:E22

    The rookies are presented with a ""difficult"" court case. While the case is essentially an open and shut, obvious manslaughter conviction, trouble arises: the most important element in the conviction, the only witness, is discovered to suffer from mental retardation.

    Directors:Harry Falk, Lou Antonio
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 7 - A Matter of Justice (a.k.a.) Justice for Jill Danko
    8.6/10(32 votes)

    #9 - A Matter of Justice (a.k.a.) Justice for Jill Danko

    S2:E7

    Jill Danko is seriously wounded by a seemingly demented gunman while dining with her husband Mike. Later, they find out that the gunman is unable to be prosecuted in court, because he is suffering from a brain tumor which appears to be the cause of his action. The rookies take it upon themselves to prove the man is dangerous and can place society in jeopardy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 8 - Blood Brother
    8.6/10(29 votes)

    #10 - Blood Brother

    S2:E8

    Like many Vietnam veterans returning home after the war, Jimmy Webster is angry at society for treating him as if he was an outsider, and not openly accepting him. He is unable to find employment and is left with an important decision to make: either he can fall back on his cousin, Terry Webster, and turn to him for support, or he can join a robbery operation and make a large amount of money.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 9 - Code 261
    8.6/10(38 votes)

    #11 - Code 261

    S2:E9

    A young nurse suffers a terrifying ordeal when she is raped in the underground garage of Memorial Hospital. The rookies attempt to help the woman by offering support. They offer encouragement and assistance as the woman proceeds through the legal formalities which often are unsympathetic to the rape victim, and sometimes humiliate her.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 11 - Down Home Boy
    8.6/10(33 votes)

    #12 - Down Home Boy

    S2:E11

    A telethon featuring an extremely famous country western singer requests of the police department extra protection. The rookies are assigned to the event. Their placement on this assignment results in their protecting the singer from a couple of bitter and unforgiving country folk from Tennessee. The hillbillies hold the singer responsible for the death of their sister, who died while she was giving birth.

    Director:Leonard Horn
    Writer:Paul Savage

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  13. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 18 - The Teacher
    8.6/10(43 votes)

    #13 - The Teacher

    S2:E18

    The rookies must contend with 'The Teacher' an ex-convict who masterminds several well executed robberies using the young boys who are in the city looking for excitement.

    Director:Gene Nelson
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Rookies Season 4 Episode 5 - Ladies Day (a.k.a.) Ladies Kill, Too
    8.6/10(36 votes)

    #14 - Ladies Day (a.k.a.) Ladies Kill, Too

    S4:E5

    Jill is working in a womens prison, fighting an outbreak of diphtheria. In order to protest for better food and working conditions, inmates take Jill Danko and Dr. Malcolm hostage.

    Director:Fernando Lamas
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Rookies Season 4 Episode 15 - The Code Five Affair
    8.6/10(32 votes)

    #15 - The Code Five Affair

    S4:E15

    The rookies stake out an abandoned factory where a heroin deal is about to take place, and are able to seize the drugs and arrest all but one man. This man must get the heroin back from the police.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Rookies Season 4 Episode 19 - From Out of the Darkness
    8.6/10(28 votes)

    #16 - From Out of the Darkness

    S4:E19

    Terry vows to find the murderer of Dan Kennedy, a retired cop turned security guard. Dan was the father of a blind girl, Terry's former girlfriend.

    Director:Randal Kleiser
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Rookies Season 1 Episode 12 - A Bloody Shade of Blue
    8.5/10(36 votes)

    #17 - A Bloody Shade of Blue

    S1:E12

    Investigating a shooting, the Rookies learn the victim Miller wore a police uniform as a costume. In the next attack, Webster loses his sight temporarily; despite this disability, he helps break the case.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Rookies Season 1 Episode 14 - Rabbits on the Runway
    8.5/10(42 votes)

    #18 - Rabbits on the Runway

    S1:E14

    A shady man claims to be the father of a runaway teen who's recently crossed the path of Gills. The rookies set out to find her for him unaware he has lied to them from the start.

    Director:Gene Nelson
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 2 - Margin for Error
    8.5/10(37 votes)

    #19 - Margin for Error

    S2:E2

    While performing their routine patrol, Gillis and Danko unexpectedly stumble upon a robbery that is taking place. They radio for additional support and a veteran police team arrive at the crime scene. One of the veteran policeman is killed in the midst of the robbery, and his partner places fault on Danko. The veteran policeman makes the suggestion that Danko be appointed to ride with him, a suggestion that turns out to have almost catastrophic results.

    Director:Harry Falk
    Writers:Hoke Howell, Robert Harland

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  20. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 12 - Lots of Trees and a Running Stream
    8.5/10(34 votes)

    #20 - Lots of Trees and a Running Stream

    S2:E12

    Jill is confronted by her past when a former lover of hers appears at her home. Mike is currently out of town. The unanticipated visitor gives the impression that he is fatally ill, thereby luring Jill into becoming involved with him, despite her uncertainty. Only after a period of time does Jill realize the great lengths this former lover will go to try to get her back and claim her as his own.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Rookies Season 3 Episode 19 - The Shield
    8.5/10(34 votes)

    #21 - The Shield

    S3:E19

    The rookies are involved in a case of mistaken identity when they charge the wrong man with the murder of a policeman.

    Director:Fernando Lamas
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Rookies Season 3 Episode 2 - Key Witness
    8.4/10(38 votes)

    #22 - Key Witness

    S3:E2

    The murder of a construction company owner is witnessed by a woman and her married boyfriend, a doctor. Because of the possibility of a scandal, the doctor will not allow the girl to give information to the rookies. They do not know that the killers are now after the witnesses.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Rookies Season 1 Episode 23 - Easy Money
    8.3/10(34 votes)

    #23 - Easy Money

    S1:E23

    The rookies may be confronted with a problem worse than the nurse who holds a grudge against all police officers: they discover that her younger brother is associating with thugs who are the organizers of a current neighborhood protection scandal.

    Director:Lou Antonio
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 4 - Frozen Smoke
    8.3/10(33 votes)

    #24 - Frozen Smoke

    S2:E4

    Juvenile detail is typically known to be a relatively easy tour. However, this is not the case for Willie. While on juvenile detail, Willie discovers that he is not as emotionally strong as he once thought. He is presented with pain and death, in amounts that are greater than he can manage.

    Director:Harry Falk
    Writer:Robert I. Holt

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  25. The Rookies Season 2 Episode 5 - Get Ryker
    8.3/10(27 votes)

    #25 - Get Ryker

    S2:E5

    Jill, Danko's wife, is assigned to protect Lieutenant Ryker after he is wounded by a former prisoner who desires to take revenge. However, Ryker decides to take charge of the situation when Jill's life is at stake.

    Director:Leonard Horn
    Writer:William Douglas Lansford

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Authentic Death of Billy Stomper" is the best rated episode of "The Rookies". It scored 8.9/10 based on 36 votes. Directed by Gene Nelson and written by William Blinn, it aired on 1/14/1974. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Eyewitness".