John Nolan and the Mid-Wilshire team are currently in the middle of an action-packed eighth season, and fans looking to keep up without a pricey cable subscription have several ways to watch every new episode for free. The police procedural starring Nathan Fillion has taken the action international this year, with storylines stretching from Prague to Mexico, and staying on top of the broadcast schedule requires a simple game plan.
For viewers who have cut the cord or simply want to stream the show on their own time, the options are straightforward. New episodes of The Rookie air weekly on ABC, and several streaming platforms offer free trials that let you watch live or on-demand without paying immediately.
Where to Watch The Rookie Season 8 Live for Free
The most reliable way to catch episodes as they broadcast is through live TV streaming services. Both DirecTV and Fubo TV are currently running free trial promotions that include ABC in their channel lineups.
Fubo TV offers new subscribers a free trial period, which provides access to live broadcasts of The Rookie on Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET. The service also includes cloud DVR storage, so you can record episodes to watch later if the Monday night time slot does not work for your schedule.
DirecTV similarly provides a free trial option for cord-cutters. Their streaming service carries ABC in most markets, meaning you can watch Season 8 episodes live as they air. After the trial ends, the service continues at regular rates, but the trial period alone can cover several weeks of new episodes.
Sling TV offers another pathway to watch The Rookie, though they do not currently have a free trial available. However, they do provide discounted first-month rates and various pass options, including Day Passes for $4.99, Weekend Passes for $9.99, and Week Passes for $14.99, which can be more affordable than a full monthly subscription.
Streaming New Episodes on Hulu the Next Day
For viewers who do not need to watch live, Hulu remains the most convenient streaming home for The Rookie. Every new episode of Season 8 becomes available on Hulu the day after it airs on ABC.
Hulu offers several pricing tiers, including an ad-supported plan for $9.99 per month or $99.99 for a full year. Eligible students can access this plan for just $1.99 per month. The platform also provides bundle options with Disney+ and ESPN+ starting at $10.99 per month.
A free trial is available for new Hulu subscribers, though you must provide payment information to sign up. The trial length varies depending on which subscription tier you select, but it generally provides enough time to watch several episodes before any charges apply.
International Viewing Options for The Rookie
Viewers outside the United States have different options for watching The Rookie Season 8 depending on their location.
Canadian residents can stream the show for free on CTV. New episodes arrive every Wednesday and remain available for streaming for seven days after their release. This gives Canadian fans a full week to watch each episode without any subscription cost.
German audiences can find The Rookie on Sky and WOW. New episodes appear on Fridays between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. local time. Episode 6 of Season 8, titled “Burn 4 Love” which translates to “Für die Liebe brennen,” became available on February 13, 2026, with the German dubbed version following two weeks later on February 27.
For UK and Australian viewers, The Rookie Season 8 will eventually be available on Sky Witness and 7Plus respectively, though specific release dates have not yet been announced. These versions typically arrive several months after the US broadcast, likely during summer 2026.
Travelers who find themselves outside their home country can use a VPN service like NordVPN or ExpressVPN to access their usual streaming platforms. These tools allow viewers to connect through servers in their home country, maintaining access to services like Hulu, CTV, or ABC apps while abroad.
The Rookie Season 8 Episode Schedule and What to Expect
Season 8 of The Rookie premiered on January 6, 2026, and new episodes continue to air weekly on ABC. The show has moved to Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET, starting with episode 6 which aired on February 9.
The current episode, “Baja,” aired on February 16 and sends Detective Nyla Harper played by Mekia Cox and Sergeant Lucy Chen played by Melissa O’Neil undercover in Mexico to track a killer targeting young women. Back in Los Angeles, Tim Bradford played by Eric Winter coordinates with an FBI task force while John Nolan played by Nathan Fillion and Bailey Nune played by Jenna Dewan navigate the early challenges of a long-distance marriage.
Episode 6, titled “Burn 4 Love,” featured the team hunting an arsonist during Valentine’s Day week, with the case ending in injuries at Mid-Wilshire after an explosive device detonated near Lucy and Celina’s vehicle.
The season kicked off with a trip to Prague in the premiere “Czech Mate,” marking the show’s first international filming location. Nolan, Bailey, and Harper traveled to the Czech capital to collaborate with the FBI and Interpol, tracking terrorist targets while dealing with the return of shady lawyer Monica Stevens played by Bridget Regan.
Monica is not the only familiar face back in the mix. Serial killer Oscar Hutchinson played by Matthew Glave has also resurfaced, creating complications for the team. Meanwhile, Lucy Chen, recently promoted to sergeant, must handle the challenges of the night shift.
Where to Watch Previous Seasons of The Rookie
For new viewers wanting to catch up or longtime fans looking to rewatch favorite episodes, The Rookie library is available across multiple streaming platforms.
Hulu currently carries all seven full seasons of the show, making it the most comprehensive streaming option for binge-watching the entire series.
In Germany, viewers can find the series on multiple services. WOW and Sky offer Seasons 1 through 8, while Disney+ carries up to Season 7. Prime Video has Seasons 1 through 7 available for purchase, and Netflix currently streams Seasons 1 through 6. The ZDF-Mediathek also rotates various seasons through its free library.
German free-TV viewers can catch episodes on Sky One and ZDFneo, with multiple airings scheduled throughout the week. On February 19, 2026, ZDFneo is broadcasting several Season 1 episodes back-to-back starting at 2:20 p.m., offering a convenient way to watch without any subscription.
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Main Cast of The Rookie Season 8
The Rookie continues to feature its core ensemble cast in Season 8. The main cast includes:
- Nathan Fillion as John Nolan
- Eric Winter as Tim Bradford
- Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen
- Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey
- Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez
- Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper
- Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers
- Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune
- Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez
- Deric Augustine as Miles Penn, who has been promoted to the main cast after his introduction in Season 7
The show also features recurring appearances from Matthew Glave as Oscar Hutchinson and Bridget Regan as Monica Stevens, keeping the pressure on the Mid-Wilshire team.
For international viewers, actress Jenna Dewan shared her excitement about the Prague filming locations on Instagram, calling the city “absolutely stunning” as the cast filmed at historic sites including the Invalidovna complex and Jan Palach Square.
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