Rookie Blue

Rookie Blue
Genre	Police drama
Created by	Tassie Cameron Morwyn Brebner Ellen Vanstone
Starring	Missy Peregrym Gregory Smith Eric Johnson Travis Milne Peter Mooney Enuka Okuma Charlotte Sullivan Ben Bass
Composer(s)	Ron Sures
Country of origin	Canada
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	52 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	David Wellington John Morayniss Noreen Halpern Ilana Frank Tassie Cameron
Producer(s)	Kathy Avrich-Johnson Linda Pope Sherry White
Editor(s)	Paul Day
Location(s)	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cinematography	David Perrault
Camera setup	multiple-camera setup
Running time	44 minutes
Production company(s)	Shaw Media Thump, Inc. Canwest Ilana C. Frank Films
Distributor	Entertainment One
Broadcast
Original channel	Global
Picture format	HDTV 1080i (Canada) 720pABC (U.S.)
Original run	24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) – present
External links
Website

Rookie Blue is a Canadian police drama television series starring Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith. It was created by Morwyn Brebner, Tassie Cameron, and Ellen Vanstone. The police drama premiered on 24 June 2010, at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central, and airs simultaneously on Global in Canada and on ABC in the United States.

On 12 July 2010, the series was picked up for a second season after only three episodes had aired. The second season of Rookie Blue premiered on Thursday, 23 June 2011 at a new time slot of 10:00 pm Eastern/9:00 pm Central on Global and ABC. The final two episodes of season two aired on 8 September 2011.

On 13 July 2011, Global announced that the show would be picked up for a third season, only three episodes into the second season. The third season premiered on Thursday, 24 May 2012, also at 10:00 pm Eastern, 9:00 pm Central.

On 26 June 2012 ABC and Global announced that it was renewed for a fourth season once again only three episodes into season 3.

On March 21, 2013, ABC and Global announced the fourth season premiere would be May 23, 2013, with another thirteen episodes.

Plot

Main article: List of Rookie Blue episodes

There's something really primal about the idea of being a rookie—it hits that horrible, eternal sense of feeling like a fraud, like a kid dressed in grown-up clothes, trying to pretend you know what you're doing. And I thought, what if you were feeling just like that—but with a gun?

—Tassie Cameron, Executive Producer.

The series follows the lives of five rookie cops from 15 Division who have just graduated from the academy. Training's over, life begins. They must learn not only to deal with their duties as police officers, but also deal with the problems and expectation of their families and friends. They are first responders and they are about to learn that no amount of training prepares you for life. "To serve, protect and..." is usually used in the parade room before shift starts by the cop leading the reunion. It always has a significant meaning in the episode plot or context. The one they use more often though is "to serve, protect and don't screw up". It has been described as Grey's Anatomy in the world of rookie cops.

Setting

The series is set in Toronto and, though similar to Flashpoint in that it does not make overt references, it does use local street names, such as King Street, Yonge Street and Jameson Avenue in Parkdale was the location of a call-out in the pilot episode. More recent episodes have focused the filming and plots to the area covered by Toronto Police's 51 Division, itself the basis for the show's 15 Division.

Cast

Rookies

• Missy Peregrym portrays Andrea ("Andy") McNally, the series protagonist. She is driven by the desire to do the right thing even if it means not following procedure. Her father, Tommy McNally, was formerly a homicide detective before he burned out. As a result McNally carries her father's baggage trying to prove herself. Andy is the most positive person on the job—because she knows first-hand where the job can take you, and she doesn’t want to go there. Her mother, Claire, is a social services worker who abandoned them when Andy was a teenager. She studied Sociology/Psychology before becoming a cop and she was an A student. She begins a relationship with Homicide Detective Luke Callaghan, and the two move in together at the end of Season 1, although she previously kissed and almost had sex with Sam Swarek, her training officer, before walking out on him, something that leaves them in discomfort for several episodes. She later becomes engaged to Callaghan but breaks up with him since he slept with his ex-girlfriend, Detective Jo Rosati. She finally confesses that she has feelings for Swarek, but he has already left on an undercover mission. The last three episodes of season 2 show viewers the beginning of Swarek and McNally's relationship, even though he is undercover, what leads them both to suspension for "conduct unbecoming" when they are discovered. In the beginning of season 3, Andy returns from a trip after her three months suspension and gets her job back as well as restarting her relationship with Swarek. When her mother suddenly appears in her life due to a work case she decides to let her back in after she asked for a second chance. After Detective Barber's death Swarek breaks up with her, which causes a lot of pain for Andy. After a month and a half, and in a life threatening situation when she is holding a grenade, Swarek says to her that he loves her and then he tries to get her back. Then Detective Callaghan asks her to participate in a task force, what will keep her isolated and away from 15 Division during the mission. She accepts but has to leave immediately which leaves Swarek drinking at the Penny while waiting for her.

• Gregory Smith portrays Dov Epstein. He was a sickly asthmatic kid who watched reruns of Starsky and Hutch in bed and his older brother, Adam, killed himself, something that Dov still doesn't understand. His parents were "hippies" but his grandmother paid for him to have a private education. He is often shown to be overeager to get involved in everything even when it is not necessary for him to do so. This characteristic has gotten him into trouble many times, so much so he has been told to "slow it down". However, in Season 2, Epstein's desire to be heavily involved enables him to save a man's life. He is Chris Diaz's best friend and roommate, and later Gail's roommate as well when she moves in with them. In season 2, he meets and becomes involved with Sue, a bomb technician from ETF, whom he always tries to impress thinking he does not deserve her. They break up when he develops feelings for Crystal, the sister of the boy he shot and killed.

• Charlotte Sullivan portrays Gail Peck. She spent few years as a half-goth. Underneath her caustic exterior, Gail is vulnerable and feels lonely. Because of her connections to high-ranking officials in the police force she is often seen by others as getting preferential treatment. Her mother is a superintendent, her father is an inspector, her brother a successful narcotics detective, and her godfather is the chief of police. Because of this, she feels the need to prove to herself and others that she can do the job without help, which further isolates her. In the first season, she develops a relationship with Chris Diaz. However, the two break up in season 2 because Chris believes that she likes Dov. In the third season it is revealed that she was previously engaged to the new rookie, Nick Collins, with whom she begins a new relationship. Later, she was kidnapped by a cab driver after working undercover as an escort and was rescued. When she takes the fall for a shooting in the 15 Division her job is questioned but they give it back to her with the condition that she will be treated as a new rookie.

• Enuka Okuma portrays Traci Nash. The calm in the eye of the storm and the consummate confidant, Traci is the anchor for her fellow rookies. She is also practical and responsible, likely the result of having had a child, Leo, while in high school. She is a single mother trying to find the balance between her work and her family. Complications arise both at work and at home as she once dated Detective Jerry Barber until she decided to try and get back together with her son's father, Dex. She is always trying to focus on her son, and do everything that is best for him. However, this sometimes gets in the way of her being a police officer. She later starts a serious relationship with Detective Barber. In Season 3, Traci becomes a detective. In Season 3, Tracy becomes devastated due to her relationship coming to an end when detective Barber dies.

• Travis Milne as Chris Diaz. He is often seen as taking the "by the book" approach. He believes in the chain of command, following orders, doing the right thing and above all, he believes in defending the weak. Despite this seemingly good trait, it makes him unable to take initiative. He was brought up in a small black-and-white town. He becomes involved in a relationship with Gail Peck until he is forced to notify the authorities of corruption that Peck's brother's partner was involved in. This temporarily costs him the relationship with Peck. However, the two reconcile and are seen happily together in the beginning of Season 2, until when their relationship becomes strained later, when he thinks that she has feelings for Dov. He accepts his role as a dad after being confronted with a baby by his previous girlfriend in the series, Denise. He considers a transfer to Timmins at the end of the third season because Denise doesn't want to live in the city as she thinks is dangerous and he doesn't want to be away from his kid.

• Peter Mooney as Nick Collins. Appears for first time in Season 3. A former soldier who served for four years including a tour in Afghanistan before becoming a cop. It is said that he was engaged to Gail Peck and ready to marry in Las Vegas before enlisting. When he comes back they start a relationship. His military training and experience is often considered as positive by his fellow colleagues. He is selected as the other officer to participate in Callaghan's task force.

Old Guard

• Ben Bass portrays Sam Swarek. He is known as a rogue cop because he follows his instincts, even if it means sometimes breaking rules. Formerly an undercover officer working on a money laundering operation, his cover was exposed when McNally arrested him, believing him to be a suspect in a murder case. He returns to 15 Division as a training officer for the rookies, awaiting a position to open up in Guns and Gangs. In episode 7 (Hot and Bothered) of season 1, Andy, upset and confused, goes to see him at night and almost sleeps with him. This makes their relationship awkward afterward but the two talk and make amends later. Although he is the love interest of McNally, he insists that their relationship is strictly professional. But in Season 2 there still might be hope for McNally and him because of the cheating of McNally´s fiance Luke Callaghan. During episode 10 (Best Laid Plans) of season 2, he went back into undercover operations before he had the chance of being romantically involved with McNally. However, they meet in the following episode and finally hook up. After getting suspended asks Andy to have a real relationship but she leaves to keep her job which leaves him disoriented. In the beginning of season 3 Andy convinces him to restart the relationship although he wants to take it slow. He has a sister, Sarah, who was attacked as a kid and that is why he became a cop. When Andy's mother reappear in her life he investigates her and we see that he doesn't like Claire because he blames her for Andy's pain. As Detective Barber dies he goes into a dark place and start to question Andy's instincts as a cop. He then wonders how much will he sacrifice for their relationship so he breaks up with her saying that he can not take it anymore. Everyone tells him how fool he is for what he's done but he has already noticed. When he sees Andy holding a grenade and scared he confesses his love for her. Then he tries to convince her that breaking up was a mistake but she is hurt and she is not sure he means it. He asks her for drinks but he is left waiting as she is already gone for the task force without talking to him. He's been dating Officer Marlo Cruz.

• Lyriq Bent portrays Sergeant Frank Best. Formerly a training officer himself, he becomes head of 15 Division after Boyko departs in Episode 8 of Season 1. At the beginning of Season 1, we learn he is newly divorced. He becomes romantically involved with Officer Noelle Williams. Then they have a daughter.

• Matt Gordon portrays Oliver Shaw, one of the rookies' training officers and a veteran of the police force. He is the kind of cop that doesn’t go looking for trouble but doesn't shy away from it when it finds him. He is one of the few older police officers with a functional marriage and family, having a wife and three daughters, but he is kicked out by his wife in Episode 9 of season 2 after she finds out that he went to a strip club. In the beginning of season 3 is known that Zoe and he are apart because she wants to have space and only lets him see their daughters on the weekends. It is revealed that is his wife Zoey who was an affair and that this situation is not the first time that happened. At the end of season three it seems that they have another chance.

• Noam Jenkins portrays Jerry Barber. A divorced detective at 15 Division, he actively participates in operations and stings, coordinating officers and other resources at his disposal. He later became Traci's boyfriend and eventually sells his car, Stella, as sign that he wants to be serious in being more family oriented. Detective Barber died in episode 9 of Season 3 due to a fatal stab wound to the abdomen while trying to solve Peck's kidnapping.

• Eric Johnson portrays Luke Callaghan. A homicide detective at 15 Division, he is tireless and exceedingly charming. He was involved in a relationship with McNally until he cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend, Jo Rosati. McNally ends the relationship, but Luke wants her back and the fallout causes Jo Rosati to leave 15 Division. He is heartbroken but eventually accepts that Andy doesn't want him back. This is particularly seen when he discovers that Andy and Sam had been seeing each other while he was undercover. He is gone half of third season due to a task force mission. He comes back with Gail's kidnapping. At the end of the season he asks Andy and Nick to participate in the task force with him.

• Melanie Nicholls-King portrays Noelle Williams. Another training officer and veteran of the police force, she hoped to become head of 15 Division but was beaten out by Frank Best. Noelle is not only great at her job, but is also an invaluable mentor for the rookies in her division. She has been trying to get pregnant and was doing hormone injections, however she was caught by Traci who subsequently helped her. In episode 9 of season 2, she and Frank Best kiss, embarking on a relationship. It is revealed in the finale of season 2 that Noelle is pregnant with Frank Best's child and in the beginning of the third season she is keeping it a secret. But in episode 9 of season 3 she goes into labor a month early and delivers a healthy baby girl.

• Aidan Devine portrays Sergeant Boyko, head of 15 Division until his departure in Episode 8 of season 1.

Supporting characters

• Peter Macneill as Tommy McNally. He is Andy's father. Formerly a homicide detective he has a drinking problem. His wife, Claire, abandoned him and Andy when she was a kid. In the first season Andy tries to have him helped what he refuses at first but finally agrees after her giving him an ultimatum. In episode 11 season 1 he becomes a murder suspect which has Swarek and Andy trying to prove that he didn't do it in which they finally succeed.

• Barbara Williams as Claire McNally. She is Andy's mother. She works in social services. She had an affair with a professor when Andy was a kid and asked her to leave with her which she refused. Andy's father gets then her custody and forbids Claire to talk or visit her as she was confused and hurt. She comes back into her life during a work case what reveals lots of contradictory emotions for both of them. Andy finally accepts her back and during the season we see them doing some mother/daughter stuff together.

• Aaron Abrams portrays Donovan Boyd. He is a guns and gangs detective who seems to be always over the edge. He is the one who drags Swarek into undercover operations. He gets ticked off with Andy when she and Chris arrest a drug dealer who is part of an operation that he is running on the dark, what makes him look as a fool. At the end of the second season he recruits Andy, Traci and Dov to go on a little scavenger hunt to accumulate drugs and money. That ends with Andy running into Swarek who is also on an undercover operation with a dangerous criminal, Jamie Brennan. Boyd is the responsible for the cover up of Brennan's wife and daughter murder which puts Sam at risk as Boyd didn't create a proper cover story for Swarek.

• Camille Sullivan as Jo Rosati. Appears from episode 1 to 7 in the second season. She is a homicide detective. She was engaged to Luke as they were partnered together for three years before leaving pursuing a career opportunity that only one of them could take, while Luke wanted them to stay together. She comes back to 15 Division trying to get Luke back just to find out he is with Andy now. This situation puts her in the middle of Luke and Andy's relationship. After Luke being shot she convinces him to do a surveillance job in a hotel room and they hook up in the end. While partnered with Andy the truth comes out and Andy calls off the engagement. Luke asks her to leave because he wants to get Andy back.

• Mayko Nguyen as Sue Tran. She is a bomb technician for ETF. She meets Dov when he is trapped by a bomb in a drug lab and saves him. On their first date she helps him solve a robbery bank case. In the beginning of season three it seems that they live together.

Production and development

The series is produced by E1 Entertainment, Canwest, and Thump, Inc. The pilot script was written by Ilana Frank. In February 2009, Canwest ordered the show straight-to-series with a 13 episode order under the working title Copper. ABC purchased the U.S. broadcast rights to the series in April 2009.

The first role cast was Andy McNally, portrayed by Missy Peregrym, followed by Gregory Smith cast as Dov Epstein. Additional casting was announced in early July. Production began in Toronto, Ontario, on 14 July 2009, and was expected to continue through November 2009. Thirteen episodes were produced.

On 21 June 2010 The Accessible Channel announced that Rookie Blue would be the first series to premiere with a simultaneous Described Video broadcast for people with vision impairments.

Filming of the second season took place between 1 September 2010 and 25 January 2011. Tassie Cameron serves as head writer and the series showrunner.

Filming of the third season took place between 25 August 2011 and 23 January 2012.

The fourth season started filming on 20 August 2012 and is scheduled to end on 25 January 2013.

Reception

Ratings

The Canadian premiere drew an audience of 1.9 million viewers with 712,000 in the 18–49 category, placing first for the night and second for the week. It is the highest rated premiere for a Canwest-commissioned drama series within the previous five years.

In the U.S. the premiere drew 7.253 million viewers and an audience share in the 18–49 category of 2.0 out of 6. Furthermore it improved upon the programming a year beforehand (20/20 special) by having +1.6 million viewers and +18% in the 18–49 age group. The premiere became the most successful scripted summer debut in over a year and in nearly six years for ABC.

Season	Timeslot	Original airing			Average viewers (millions)
		Season Premiere	Season Finale	TV Season	Canada	U.S.
1	Thursday 9:00 p.m.	24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)	9 September 2010 (2010-09-09)	2010	1.597	6.125
2	Thursday 10:00 p.m.	23 June 2011 (2011-06-23)	8 September 2011 (2011-09-08)	2011	1.351	4.995
3	Thursday 10:00 p.m.	24 May 2012 (2012-05-24)	6 September 2012 (2012-09-06)	2012	1.202	4.945
4	Thursday 10:00 p.m.	23 May 2013 (2013-05-23)		2013

Critical reception

Metacritic summarizes the response as "mixed or average reviews". One of the more favorable reviews came from Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times, saying "it's not a groundbreaking police drama, nor is it divertingly cheesy. It's well made and well meaning." Robert Lloyd from the Los Angeles Times was also favorable with the show, and agreed with Stanley describing it as nothing new to television, but he rather enjoyed it and saying "Rookie Blue doesn't oversell itself. It is modest and plain in a way that makes even its less likely moments feel credible enough." Rob Salem of the Toronto Star favorably compared the series to Grey's Anatomy. "Call it Blues Anatomy (or Gray's Academy, take your pick)." Salem found the show "slickly produced and engagingly acted" and had a particular fondness for Missy Peregrym's character, which he described as "the Meredith surrogate". The Globe and Mail's television critic, John Doyle, described Rookie Blue as "a good cop show with a terrible title." Doyle went on to say "it's a very slick, glossy melodrama, all handsome actors and admirably sharp storylines. Yet it's true to its Toronto roots."

Among the more negative reviewers was Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Owen calls the show "Grey's Anatomy in a police station." He did however hope to see some interaction between religion and police through one of the characters but stated "Given the generally bland nature of Rookie Blue, that's probably too much to ask." Paige Wiser from the Chicago Sun-Times describes the show as overly generic and claims that the rookies look more like puppies than police officers. She said "if you're looking for a new cop drama to serve and protect your entertainment interests, leave the rookies alone to ripen, and go for a ride-along with Jason Lee's Dwight." Randee Dawn from The Hollywood Reporter was much harsher, calling the writing lazy and describing the motivation of the rookies as selfish, saying that they are there to make themselves feel good and not to protect the city. Dawn said "at its core, Rookie is a terrible show." Alex Strachan of Montreal's The Gazette was unimpressed, stating that "The acting is uneven, the writing and directing aren't particularly stylish or inspired, and you've seen it countless times before." Strachan went on to say that Rookie Blue is "a harmless enough diversion on an otherwise lazy summer TV night."

Awards and nominations

Year	Presenter	Award	Work	Result
2011	Gemini Awards	Best Writing in a Dramatic Series	Big Nickel	Nominated
		Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series	Matt Gordon	Nominated
			Noam Jenkins	Nominated
		Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series	Melanie Nicholls-King	Nominated
			Enuka Okuma	Nominated
		Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series	Michelle Nolden	Nominated
	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a TV Series - Recurring Young Actor Ten and Under	Drew Davis	Nominated
		Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor Ten and Under	Jacob Ewaniuk	Nominated
2012	PRISM Awards	Performance in a Drama Episode	Missy Peregrym	Nominated
		Drama Series Episode	Bad Moon Rising	Nominated

International distribution

Rookie Blue is distributed by E1 Entertainment. NBC Universal Global Networks (also known as Universal Networks International) purchased broadcast rights in all markets except Canada (country of origin), France, Germany, and the United States.

Country	Channel	Premiere date
Argentina	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Australia	Universal Channel	12 September 2010
Austria	ORF eins	2012
Belgium	Vijf TV (Dutch) 13ème Rue Universal (French)	7 March 2011 15 November 2010
Bosnia and Herzegovina	BHT 1	29 October 2011
Brazil	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Bulgaria	Diva Universal	3 October 2010
Canada	Global addikTV (French)	24 June 2010 15 February 2011
Chile	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Colombia	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Denmark	DR HD	3 September 2012
Ecuador	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Czech Republic	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Finland	TV Viisi	4 September 2010
France	13ème Rue Universal	15 November 2010
Germany	13th Street	1 January 2011
Hungary	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
India	Zee Café	13 February 2012
Iran	Gem Tv	4 June 2012
Ireland	RTE Two	13 May 2011
Israel	Yes Action	4 September 2012
Italy	Steel	18 September 2010
Japan	Universal Channel	2 September 2010
Malaysia	Diva Universal (Asia)	September 2010
Mexico	Universal Channel	3 October 2010 8 August 2011
Netherlands	13th Street NET 5	7 October 2010 16 May 2011
New Zealand	TV2	26 September 2011
Norway	TVNorge	8 November 2010
Philippines	Diva Universal (Philippines)	19 September 2010
Poland	13th Street	13 September 2010
Republic of Korea	Fox (Korea)	4 February 2011
Romania	Diva Universal	3 October 2010
Russia	Diva Universal	19 September 2010
Serbia	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Slovakia	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Slovenia	Universal Channel TV 3 (only season 1 and season 2 to episode 8)	3 September 2010 23 April 2011
South Africa	Universal Channel	17 September 2010
Spain	13th Street DivinityTV	22 September 2010 26 June 2012
Switzerland	3+ (German) RTS Un(French)	8 January 2011 May 2011
United Kingdom	Universal Channel	27 February 2011
United States	ABC	24 June 2010
Venezuela	Universal Channel	3 September 2010
Turkey	Universal Channel

Home video release

Entertainment One releases the show on DVD and Blu-ray in Region 1. The Canadian releases contain an additional French audio track and the Canadian Blu-ray release is three discs instead of four.

DVD Name	Region 1 release date	Region 2 release date	Region 4 release date	Ep #	Discs	Additional information
Rookie Blue: The Complete First Season	31 May 2011	10 October 2011	4 April 2012	13	4	Making-Of Featurettes, The Stryker Report: Behind the Scenes on Rookie Blue, Season 1 Trailer, Season 2 On-Set Trailer
Rookie Blue: The Complete Second Season	29 May 2012	-	18 July 2012	13	4	Season 2: Every Day is a First, Shots Fired: Inside the Season Premiere, Horsing Around, Cops on Coffee, Travis Talk, Disorderly Conduct, Split Screen Behind-the-Scenes Footage

External links

• Official website for Global
• Official website for ABC
• Rookie Blue at the Internet Movie Database
• Rookie Blue at TV.com