John, Lucy, Tim and Nyla during The Rookie season four episode, Heart Beat. They are standing in the middle of a crime scene where a plane crash has taken place. © Getty

The Rookie season six: cast of 2024, plot details and key moments from season 5 finale

Nathan Fillion stars as John Nolan 

TV Writer
Updated: February 20, 2024

The Rookie returns to our screens with its long-awaited sixth season on Tuesday night - and we can't wait to see what's in store for John Nolan and the rest of the LAPD team. 

Following production delays as a result of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the show is back and fans will finally be able to find out what happened following the dramatic season five finale. So, what can we expect from the new episodes? Here's all we know...

WATCH: Nathan Fillion shares sneak peek of The Rookie season six

The Rookie season six release date

Season six of The Rookie will premiere on Tuesday 20 February at 9pm ET on ABC and Hulu in the US.

While a UK release date has yet to be announced, we can expect the new episodes to arrive on Sky Witness at a later date.

The Rookie season six plot

ABC has remained tight-lipped over what we can expect from the season, with the synopsis simply reading: "In the aftermath of the assaults in the explosive season five finale, the team must now try to understand why they were targeted and if there is a bigger plan in place."

However, after the dramatic season five finale, there are plenty of questions that still need answering, including the fate of Aaron Thorsen (played by Tru Valentino). 

© Getty

Season six is expected to reveal Aaron Thorsen's fate

After being shot by masked assailants, the character was rushed to hospital where he continued to fight for his life. Considering that season five ended with Aaron in a coma, the sixth season is set to reveal whether he lives or dies. 

© Getty

The season five finale introduced a brand new villain, played by Kristian Bruun

It looks like the new episodes will also introduce a brand-new villain. At the end of season five, the Mid-Wilshire Division established that Luke Moran had recruited the mercenaries to attack them, but the question of why remained unclear. The episode then panned to a pair of Escalades traveling on the highway. 

Inside was an unnamed character, played by Kristian Bruun, who – as it turns out – had masterminded the whole thing. Dressed in a sharp suit, the mystery man gloated about paying for the attack as a distraction. "And by the time they realize the damage we've done," he said, "we'll be long gone."

Fans can also expect to see the show mark its 100th episode in season six - and it's set to be a good one. Taking to social media in December last year, producer Alexi Hawley revealed that filming had wrapped on the episode. "That's a wrap on Episode 100. The most fun I've ever had on set making, quite possibly, the best Rookie episode ever. Can't wait for everyone to see it in the New Year."

The Rookie season 6 cast

We can expect the main cast to reprise their roles for season six, including Nathan Fillion as LAPD cop John Nolan. 

Also returning are Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Richard T Jones as Wade Grey, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune and Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers. 

Late last year, it was confirmed that Lisseth Chavez has been promoted to series regular, meaning fans we'll be seeing a lot more of Celina Juarez in the new season. 

Key moments from the season five finale 

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Aaron Thorsen and Celina Juarez were attacked at the start of the episode

© Getty

John and his team realized that the masked assailants were actually hired mercenaries

© Twitter

Lucy and Tim took on the masked assailants in an epic fight scene

© Twitter

Angela Lopez and Wesley Evers welcomed their baby

© Twitter

A mystery man was revealed as the mastermind behind the attack

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