The fourth episode of The Rookie Season 8, titled “Cut and Run,” is scheduled to premiere on Monday, January 26, 2026. This episode marks a major change for the show, as it moves from its previous Tuesday night slot to a new regular broadcast time of Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. Following the network airing, the episode will be available for streaming on Hulu the next day.
Release Date and Major Schedule Change
Episode 4, “Cut and Run,” arrives on Monday, January 26, 2026. This is not just another episode but the beginning of the show’s new permanent night. After airing its first three episodes of the season on Tuesdays, ABC is moving the popular police drama to Monday nights. The new time is Mondays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time and 9 p.m. Central Time.
The schedule shift places The Rookie after the season premiere of American Idol on ABC’s Monday night lineup. Fans will need to adjust their viewing habits for the remainder of the season. The move comes as the show experiences strong viewership; its Season 8 premiere became its biggest premiere ever on streaming platforms.
What Happens in Episode 4: “Cut and Run”
The official overview for the episode sets up a tense and personal story. While out in the city, John Nolan and his wife, Bailey Nune, witness a murder happening in public. They immediately spring into action, trying to find the person responsible for the crime.
Meanwhile, another story unfolds for Detective Angela Lopez and her husband, Wesley Evers. They are facing a significant life decision that has the potential to affect their future together. This continues the show’s trend of blending high-stakes police action with the personal challenges of its characters.
Showrunner Alexi Hawley has described Season 8 as “relationship-forward” and hinted that marriages within the show will be challenged. The dilemma for Angela and Wesley appears to be a key example of this narrative direction.
How to Watch and Streaming Details
Viewers have several options to watch the new episode. The primary method is watching it live on ABC at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, January 26.
For those without traditional cable, the episode can be accessed through live TV streaming services that carry ABC. These services include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream.
The most common way viewers catch up is via streaming. New episodes of The Rookie are available on Hulu the day after they air on ABC. This means Episode 4 will be on Hulu on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Hulu offers several subscription plans, including an ad-supported tier and an ad-free premium option.
The Main Cast for Season 8
The show features a large returning ensemble cast led by Nathan Fillion as Officer John Nolan. The main cast members appearing in Season 8 include:
- Nathan Fillion as John Nolan
- Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen
- Eric Winter as Tim Bradford
- Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper
- Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez
- Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey
- Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune
- Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers
- Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez
- Deric Augustine as Miles Penn
Deric Augustine, who plays rookie Miles Penn, was promoted to a series regular for Season 8 after appearing as a recurring character in Season 7. Bridget Regan also returns as the controversial character Monica Stevens, who was granted immunity and is now supposedly helping law enforcement track a major weapons trafficker.
The season has already seen the return of other characters, including Patrick Keleher as Seth Ridley, whose attempted redemption arc has sparked conversation among fans.
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A Season of Big Changes On and Off Screen
Season 8 of The Rookie brings changes beyond the television schedule. For the first time in the show’s history, production went international. The season premiere, “Czech Mate,” was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic. Showrunner Alexi Hawley cited his positive experience working on another project overseas as inspiration for taking the cast and crew abroad.
Hawley has promised a season with significant scale, calling it potentially the show’s biggest ever in terms of action and set pieces. He also teased that the show will explore different genres, with one episode being very intense and another leaning more into horror movie elements.
The eighth season is scheduled to have a total of 18 episodes, running uninterrupted through the winter and spring. If the network maintains the weekly schedule without breaks, the season finale is expected to air in mid-to-late May 2026.
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