The next episode of The Rookie, titled “The Red Place,” is scheduled to air on January 20, 2026. Fans can watch the episode live on ABC at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time in the United States. The show will settle back into its Los Angeles-based storytelling after the season’s opening two episodes featured an international mission and a presidential security crisis.
When and Where to Watch The Rookie Season 8 Episode 3
For viewers in the United States, the primary way to watch the new episode is on ABC during its live broadcast. The episode will air at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Tuesday, January 20.
If you miss the live broadcast, the episode will be available for streaming the next day. Hulu is the official streaming home for new episodes in the U.S., where they are posted the morning after the ABC airing. The show is also accessible through the Hulu hub on Disney+ for subscribers.
Here is the global release schedule for “The Red Place”:
- United States (East Coast): Tuesday, January 20, 10:00 p.m. ET (ABC), streams January 21 on Hulu.
- United States (Central): Tuesday, January 20, 9:00 p.m. CT.
- United States (Pacific): Tuesday, January 20, 7:00 p.m. PT.
- Canada: Tuesday, January 20, 10:00 p.m. ET.
- India: Wednesday, January 21, 8:30 a.m. IST.
- Australia: Wednesday, January 21, 1:00 p.m. AEDT.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, Sky and its streaming service NOW have historically been the home for The Rookie. New seasons typically start airing several months after the U.S. run concludes, with Season 8 expected to arrive around mid-2026.
Story Preview and What Happened Last Episode
“The Red Place” features multiple storylines for the Mid-Wilshire team. The official plot synopsis states: “Nolan makes a quiet arrest; Lucy and Celina race to rescue a kidnapping victim; Harper and Lopez help outsmart a killer; Miles visits a familiar face”.
This episode follows the events of Season 8, Episode 2, “Fast Andy.” That story centered on a high-stakes presidential visit to Los Angeles. The LAPD partnered with the Secret Service to manage threats, which tested Officer Miles Penn’s instincts. Professionally, Tim Bradford stepped into the role of interim Watch Commander, while Lucy Chen adjusted to her new duties as a sergeant on the day shift. The episode also continued to explore the rekindled relationship between Tim and Lucy, showing them navigating their personal and professional boundaries. Meanwhile, Angela Lopez was seen pondering her future and life beyond the LAPD following a difficult case with Nyla Harper.
Main Cast and Series Regulars
The full main cast from the previous season returns for Season 8. The series regulars appearing in Episode 3 are:
- Nathan Fillion as Officer John Nolan
- Melissa O’Neil as Sergeant Lucy Chen
- Eric Winter as Officer Tim Bradford
- Mekia Cox as Detective Nyla Harper
- Alyssa Diaz as Detective Angela Lopez
- Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey
- Lisseth Chavez as Officer Celina Juarez
- Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Nolan’s wife
- Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers
- Deric Augustine as Officer Miles Penn, who was promoted to series regular for Season 8
Also Read:
Creator Alexi Hawley returns as showrunner and executive producer. He recently shared that this season will be “dynamic” and will challenge the characters both personally and professionally.
“We’re going to see Tim’s mom this season for the first time, which is exciting,” Hawley told TV Guide. “It took us a little while to try and land on who that might be. I don’t want to spoil who we got, but we got somebody amazing to play the part”.
While not a series regular, Bridget Regan also returns in Season 8 as the cunning and corrupt lawyer Monica Stevens. She was a key part of the two-part season premiere set in Prague.
Also Read: The Boys Season 5 Will Have a Six-Month Time Jump, Showrunner Confirms
