The Rookie: Feds

Special Agent Simone Clark joins the FBI as an unconventional recruit, late in life but with a clear purpose and relentless energy. She arrives at the Los Angeles bureau as the agency's oldest rookie, and rather than fitting a neat mold she upends expectations, using grit and life experience to learn federal tradecraft fast. Surrounded by a diverse team of newer agents and seasoned supervisors, Simone tackles high-stakes criminal investigations while building trust and sometimes clashing with colleagues. The show focuses on casework, procedural detail, and the daily pressure of bringing dangerous offenders to justice, without revealing major plot twists or final outcomes.

The series premiered in 2022, created by Alexi Hawley, Terence Paul Winter, and Stephanie Hicks, and stars Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark, with Felix Solis, James Lesure, Britt Robertson, and Kevin Zegers rounding out the principal cast.

By centering an older Black woman as an FBI rookie, the show prompted conversations about age, representation, and who gets to be the lead in law enforcement dramas. Its casting choices and Simone's outsider-with-experience perspective encouraged viewers and commentators to talk about career reinvention and diverse role models on mainstream procedural TV.

Audience response has been generally favorable, with a vote average of 7.168/10 from 104 votes, reflecting steady viewer interest. The series blends case-of-the-week elements with longer character threads, highlighting themes like perseverance, teamwork, ethical complexity in federal investigations, and the contrast between institutional rules and personal instincts. Performances, especially the lead, shape much of the series' tone, while the procedural framework keeps the pace focused on solving crimes.

As of the show’s early run there were no major industry awards attached to the title, though it drew attention for its casting and premise rather than a sweep of accolades.