The LAPD is heading to Europe. The Rookie Season 8 begins with a two-part international premiere, starting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. For the first time in the show’s history, the action moves overseas as John Nolan, Bailey, and Nyla Harper find themselves on a high-stakes mission in Prague, Czech Republic. The new season kicks off at 10:00 p.m. ET on the ABC network, following episodes of Will Trent and High Potential. Viewers will see the team partner with the FBI to track down terrorist targets in a “global operation” that promises more explosive action.
Release Schedule for Global Viewers
Fans around the world can watch the Season 8 premiere at the same time through various streaming services. The episode will be available to stream on Hulu in the United States the day after it airs on ABC. For international audiences, the show is expected to be available on Disney+ in many regions, though specific release times may vary by country. The season is scheduled for an uninterrupted run of 18 episodes, keeping its Tuesday night time slot on ABC.
Inside the Prague Premiere Storyline
The Season 8 premiere picks up just days after the events of the Season 7 finale. John Nolan, his wife Bailey Nune, and Officer Nyla Harper are in Prague working with FBI agent Matthew Garza. Their goal is to take down a notorious international arms dealer who operates across multiple countries. This mission also involves the return of corrupt lawyer Monica Stevens, who managed to broker an immunity deal with the U.S. government. Meanwhile, the rest of the officers back at the Mid-Wilshire station in Los Angeles work to stop the same arms dealer’s operations on the home front.
Showrunner Alexi Hawley explained the decision to take the show abroad. “Once I was like, ‘I want to go somewhere for the premiere,’ it became a conversation about where, which is both a story and a budgetary conversation,” Hawley told TV Guide. “Prague immediately jumped out as such a cinematic city. It obviously feels very different from Los Angeles, and it could not have been a better experience.”
What to Expect from the Full Season 8
While the premiere focuses on the international mission, the action will eventually return to Los Angeles. Hawley has described this season as feeling more “supersized” than usual, with plenty of action awaiting the team back home. Personal relationships will be tested, with Hawley noting that marriages will be strained for several of the show’s couples. Actor Nathan Fillion, who plays John Nolan, shared his ongoing enthusiasm for the role, stating, “What’s great is that, though he’s seven seasons into this new job, the job itself is not a static job. You don’t go in to do the same thing every day. Every time a call comes in, it could be something goofy and hilarious, it could be something life altering and dangerous.”
One significant character development fans can look forward to is the first appearance of Tim Bradford’s mother. After years of references to her, the character will finally be introduced this season. Hawley teased, “We’re going to see Tim’s mom this season for the first time, which is exciting. I don’t want to spoil who we got, but we got somebody amazing to play the part.”
Returning Cast and Character Updates
The full main cast from Season 7 is returning for the new season. This includes Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine, who played rookie Miles Penn, has been promoted to series regular status.
Aaron Thorsen, played by Tru Valentino, will make his return this season, though he is no longer a series regular. Hawley did not specify how many episodes Valentino will appear in. As for the rookie position at the station, Miles will continue as the primary rookie, with no immediate plans to introduce a new recruit. Hawley explained, “The reality is that recruit classes only graduate every six months, so it’s organic that you don’t immediately get a new rookie if you need one.”
The Latest on Chenford’s Relationship
The relationship between Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen, popularly known as “Chenford” to fans, reached a pivotal moment at the end of Season 7. After Lucy’s promotion to sergeant, Tim surprised her with breakfast and asked her to move in with him, though she had fallen asleep before hearing the question. Showrunner Alexi Hawley confirmed that the couple has “definitely turned a corner” but noted they still need to have an important conversation about their future.
Eric Winter, who plays Tim, shared his character’s perspective. “She’s a sergeant now, there’s no line of command [issue], and I think Tim has realized over the season what he gave up and that he’s trying to be a better person, and feels like they lost out on and missed a lot of time together,” Winter explained. “So I think this is his way of trying to speed things [up], move things along in a faster way, to get to know each other like that and see how compatible they really are.”
Hawley hinted that Tim’s feelings for Lucy will create new challenges in their professional lives. “There’s a vulnerability to having Lucy running around in danger. And there’s a moment midway through the season where that gets challenged again in a really powerful way. So I think his heart’s more on the sleeve, for sure.”
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How and Where to Watch
For viewers in the United States, new episodes of The Rookie air live on ABC at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Tuesday nights. Episodes become available for streaming on Hulu the following day. All previous seasons are currently available to stream on Hulu. International viewers can watch the series on Disney+ in many regions. The season will follow a straight run of 18 episodes without extended breaks.
The show continues under the leadership of creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley, who also serves as executive producer alongside star Nathan Fillion and others. Hawley is concurrently developing a new spin-off series starring Jay Ellis. In a social media post, Nathan Fillion expressed his excitement about the new season, writing, “It’s an incredible feat in a long career to still be experiencing firsts, but the season 8 premiere of #therookie finds us across the ocean in an international adventure. Add to that explosions, chases, intrigue and action and we have ourselves one heck of a season.”
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