I’m pretty sure everyone I know has at least heard of The Rookie, and if you haven’t that should be considered a crime. I’d like to consider a seasoned-show watcher, as someone who has watched this show from its first air on Netflix in 2018, to now with its most recent season in 2026, I’d say I’m qualified to make a list ranking some of the random characters. Just to clarify, I am not saying these are the top 15 characters, I’m ranking them simply from worst to least when it pops up in my head.
15) Chris Sanford
I am so, so sorry, you could never make me like this guy. I don’t care what anyone says, this is one of the worst characters on the show. His relationship with Lucy felt so forced, it was a cheap copy of Wesley’s and Angela’s relationship and a poor job at giving Lucy a filler ove interest for the season. Boo, tomato, tomato, tomato. 0/10.
14) Tom Bradford
Just ew, get this guy off my screen. An abusive father, who appeared in one episode, had a secret affair, how many more checkmarks can he round up? I hate him, he’s irrelevant in my eyes. Just terrible. 1/10.
13) Officer Doug Stanton
Once again, I am disappointed. Doug added absolutely nothing to the season he was in, not only was he annoying to watch he was just simply a jerk the entire season. His presence in the show is slightly excusable because I did like the focus on Jackson during the season, but other than that he needs to leave. The only word I have left to say is barf, straight puke. 0/10.
12) Sandra de La Cruz
Evil, evil woman. Not only did she sacrifice her own son and got him killed, she kidnapped a pregnant lady to try and kill her baby? Who even does that? I got angry every time she was on screen. I enjoyed the season she was in, but how are you seriously going to do all of that and have the most anticlimactic death? 3/10.
11) Bailey Nune
Okay, I will admit, Grace’s actions are more excusable than the people’s prior. I’m sorry, I really tried liking her and not following the hate she gets in the show… up until she turned out to be hiding a husband from her boyfriend? I don’t care that he was in prison, she should have absolutely told Nolan about her husband. She’s not terrible, but I definitely don’t like her. 4/10, maybe 3.5/10.
10) Detective Nick Armstrong
The plotwist? Predictable. His death? Even more predictable. He’s not a bad character, I just think him turning out to be evil was expected, and that’s okay! 5/10.
9) Talia Bishop
Now, I wouldn’t say she’s an amazing character but I don’t understand the amount of hate she gets. I get that she was a bit boring, I understand how some saw her as annoying, but I just don’t think she’s that bad. I may think she’s boring, sure, and I might think Nyla replaced her and did it better, but I don’t believe she was a horrible character. 5/10.
8) James Murray
I actually really liked James in the show, but I just don’t think he and Nyla worked well together. They were cute, but I didn’t think they would get as far as they did. I don’t necessarily think he was a bad character, I liked his storyline, but he was just not the one for Nyla. 6/10.
7) Rachell Hall
Rachel was literally just a baby. I loved Rachel, I liked her and Tim together, I liked the season she was in. Overall she was a good character, I just wish we got to know her more in depth. She’s okay, I like her. 8/10.
5) Tim Bradford
I know people love him, and I enjoy his presence on my screen most of the time, but sometimes he is just so annoying. Most of the earlier seasons he’s just a nuisance that is mean to everyone. But, it’s okay because he’s still a good character and I like his development through the show. 8.5/10.
4) Tamara Collins
Tamara is so cute, she is such a good character. I loved her and Lucy’s bond and I adore the seasons she was in. I have nothing bad to say about her, I love her so much. 9/10.
3) John Nolan
Nolan has always been one of my favorites, he is such a good character. Not only is he the main character, he’s one of the best ones. I have nothing else today about Nolan, all of his character arks are perfect. 9.5/10.
2) Lucy Chen
Do I even have to explain? This girl is genuinely one of the best characters on the show, I don’t care if people say she’s overrated, I love her. She deserves everything and anything, Lucy Chen is perfect. 10/10.
- Skip Tracer Randy
Skip Tracer Randy is my GOAT. Not only was he hilarious in every episode he was in, he’s one of the most obscure and amazing characters on the show. Top of my list, for sure. 100/10.