I have always been a fan of fast-moving television shows like medical dramas, romances and, in this case, police dramas. Around spring break, I came across the ABC show “The Rookie.” Currently in its seventh season, this police drama’s action, bonds between friends and broken stereotypes contribute to the show’s appeal.
“The Rookie” follows three new recruits to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD): John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.). As the show progresses, the three “rookies” each gain ranks within the department while facing multiple challenges and, of course, drama along the way. Alongside these new recruits, ranking officer Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and detectives Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) and Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) help the rookies during their first few years in the department. Throughout the show, viewers witness the team face off against dangerous criminals, solve mysteries, adjust to new situations and grow together.
Adding to viewer appeal, “The Rookie” also features bent societal expectations and stereotypes. One of the first things that I noticed when watching was the bend in gender stereotypes. In many places, jobs seem seemingly male dominant, so the three strong female characters of Chen, Harper and Lopez appeal to the female audience, or at least to me. Seeing these powerful figures appealed to me as I watched them face current-day problems in strategic and smart ways. I love how the show defies gender roles and points out the fact that women can easily do hard work and show passion when doing it.
In addition, the show challenges society’s ideas regarding career moves late in life. Take John Nolan for example, outside of being one of LAPD’s newest rookies, he stands out as the oldest. This causes a lot of disruption when, in reality, his character’s role appeals to the idea that “age is just a number.” Nolan continues to shine throughout the series and proves everyone wrong in the department that he is no less of a cop than his fellow rookies. I really adore this because it shows that anyone can do anything, no matter their age.
The catchy theme song of “The Rookie” is one of the next things that I admire about the show. It is one of my favorite theme songs, and not only is it catchy, but it catches the attention of the audience as it changes with the show’s scenes. Sometimes, the show’s title is flipped, and sometimes, it is black and white, demonstrating the fun character the show has.
Overall, the show contains many real-world elements. The show’s appeal centers on broken gender and age stereotypes, music and creative motives and dramatic suspense.
