On Call vs The Rookie: Similarities and differences between police procedurals explored

Amazon Prime is back with an American police procedural show called 'On Call'. Created by Elliot Wolf and Tim Walsh On Call premiered on Prime Video on January 9, 2025. Since its release viewers have been hooked on it and many found similarities with the classic ABC police drama 'The Rookie'.

The Rookie Season 1 premiered on October 16, 2018, on ABC. This police procedural drama's seventh season premiered on January 7, 2025. The Rookie is one of the longest-running popular police shows on the network due to its star-studded cast. The Rookie delves into the story of John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) a man in his 40s, the oldest rookie in the LAPD squad. The series is an easy watch and provides the right amount of entertainment.

On Call is the perfect police drama for the modern audience. This show is based on a pair of police officers, veteran Traci Harmon (Troian Bellisario) and rookie trainee Alex Diaz(Brandon Larracuente), as they solve cases from the streets of Long Beach. Produced by Dick Wolf, the maker of many enforcement and emergency service procedures like Law & Order the format of this Prime series is different. On Call episodes are shorter than other crime shows and are only half an hour to watch.

Both police procedures have some similarities and differences, let's have a look at them.

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Similarities between On Call and The Rookie

1. Both the series highlight the Rookie-Veteran relationship

On Call, shows the veteran officer Traci Hramo (Troian Bellisario) and her rookie partner, Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente) come in contact with brutal crimes as they patrol Long Beach, California. They solve these crimes together with the help of clues and also face the harsh truth of society.

The Rookie also shows the interesting rookie-veteran relationship between John Nolan (the oldest rookie who later becomes a training officer) and Quigley Smith (a veteran LAPD officer). Their rookie-veteran partnership is hilarious as Nolan approaches a case with calmness, Quigley is quite impulsive. Despite their differences, they push each other to grow and develop mutual respect.

2. Same police procedural format

Both shows follow the police procedural format involving the LAPD force solving brutal crimes and facing challenges. The Amazon Prime series 'On Call' shows the LAPD officers patrolling the streets of Long Beach dealing with gritty street-level crimes while addressing the harsh realities of society.

The Rookie, also shows the LAPD solving cases all over Los Angeles. This ABC series blends personal stories with procedural elements highlighting the personal and professional lives of the officers. Both shows explore the character's lives, growth, and the complexities of being a crime officer.

Differences between On Call and The Rookie

1. Different settings and focus

On Call is set in Long Beach, California, a city that becomes an important part of the show as it highlights the city's community and societal challenges. The series focuses on the psychological challenges of the officers exploring their emotions while they tackle crimes.

The Rookie is based in Los Angeles and mainly focuses on the journey of John Nolan, an old rookie in his 40s who is seen adapting to his new career in the forces. The focus here is more on Nolan's personal growth and resilience. His constant struggle to prove himself to the team is also shown.

2. Critical reception

On Call has faced divided opinions among the viewers. The critics have argued that the Amazon Prime series has not delved properly within the police procedural genre. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has just 56% critics score. However, the audience has praised the storyline of the series for the engaging drama and the star cast, especially Troian Bellisario.

Conversely, The Rookie has received better reviews from the critics especially due to Nathan Fillion's portrayal of John Nolan. While both shows have earned high audience ratings, The Rookie provides a good mix of humor, action, and character growth.

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