Fans of ABC’s procedural crime drama The Rookie have noticed a significant number of crossover events between the show and its spin-off, The Rookie: Feds, since its premiere in 2018. The Rookie: Feds was introduced as a two-episode backdoor pilot during The Rookie’s fourth season in April 2022.
However, some fans have become frustrated with the constant crossovers, especially after the Season 5 mid-season premiere, which saw both casts teaming up for the second time. While the reasons behind the many crossovers are unclear, they may be an attempt by the network to generate more viewership and increase the success of both shows.
The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds Crossover Takes Fans on an Intense and Satisfying Ride Across Two Law Enforcement Worlds
Despite criticism from some fans about the number of crossover events between The Rookie and its spin-off, The Rookie: Feds, showrunners Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter have defended the shared universe approach. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the duo suggested that the two shows allow for shared plot lines to develop in different directions.
Alexi noted that while there are characters who cross over between the shows, “There is a satisfying conclusion to a certain extent in The Rookie, and then it gets handed off to Feds as it goes in a separate direction.” Terence added that the Season 5 mid-season crossover sees “our favorite feds get the assist from our favorite former rookie at the LAPD,” as Nolan joins the federal agents to take on the handoff of what happens at the end of The Rookie and ask more questions.
The interview also touched on the historic tension between the FBI and the local police force when cases get taken from one jurisdiction to another, with Alexi explaining that this tension will be less present in the Rookie shows because of the character of Supervisory Special Agent Matthew “Matt” Garza, played by Felix Solis.
While some fans of ABC’s The Rookie have embraced the show’s crossover events with its spin-off, The Rookie: Feds, others have taken to Twitter to voice their frustrations. Following the announcement of the Season 5 mid-season finale, which would be another crossover, fans complained of “too many crossovers.” Some fans feel that the crossovers take away valuable screen time from the show’s main cast, with one user noting that the feds always seem to come to The Rookie, while the Rookie cast rarely appears on Feds. Others questioned whether fans even wanted the characters from the spin-off to appear on The Rookie at all.
