The Rookie Season 7 Episode 16 release date & everything we know

We’re barrelling towards the finale at lightning speed, but there’s still a few things left to resolve before we get there. The Rookie Season 7 Episode 16 has teased a big return that could change everything.

Whether it’s 9-1-1 Season 8 or Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, ABC fans are eating good this year. On top of this is The Rookie Season 7, which is effortlessly fleshing out the measly 10-episode offering we got with Season 6 last year.

This time around, the binge-worthy TV show is throwing out drama like there’s no tomorrow, including Henry and Abigail’s surprise breakup, Nolan being told he can’t adopt, and the return of a favorite face (but more on that later).

With only three episodes left until the season finale, fans can’t rest on their laurels just yet. Here’s everything you need to know about The Rookie Season 7 Episode 16, including when to catch it.

The Rookie Season 7 Episode 16 release date and time

9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 16, titled ‘The Return,’ will air on April 29, 2025, on ABC at 9pm ET.

You can check when it drops in other time zones below:

• 8pm CT
• 10pm Brazil
• 1am UK (May 2)
• 2am CEST
• 6:30am India Standard Time
• 11:30am Australia
• 1pm New Zealand

For UK viewers, episodes have usually dropped at 1am. If you want to catch the 9-1-1 Season 8 finale at this time, you’re going to need a VPN for the job (it won’t be available to stream immediately, but more on that later).

Season 7 Episode 16 runtime

An official runtime hasn’t been revealed yet, but we can expect Season 7 Episode 16 to clock in at around 45 minutes.

ABC

All Season 7 episodes so far have been between 40-45 minutes, and there’s no reason for anything to change during the home stretch.

If any episode of The Rookie Season 7 is going to be significantly longer, it will be the season finale – which is Episode 18, for those not keeping up.

What will happen in The Rookie Season 7 Episode 16?

As you might have guessed from the above trailer, Season 7 Episode 16 is all about Ridley’s return, throwing the entire station into turmoil.

ABC

We’ve also got Lucy’s performance on the sergeant exam coming up, which is bound to hugely affect her future. She’s having some major problems with Tim, and scoring top marks could mean their unique power dynamics are as skewed anymore.

Thanks to showrunner Alexi Hawley, fans can also expect Bailey and Nolan’s adoption storyline to soon be drawn to a close. “I think it has. I think that’s a road, sadly, with a lot of low points for them. But I think that’s also a reality for lots of people. The part, [especially], where they couldn’t have a kid biologically was very recognizable,” Hawley told ScreenRant.

“I do think that, at the end of the day, just the sheer volume of near-death experiences that they both have on the daily… obviously, first responders can adopt, so we’re not saying that, but [it’s] the reality of their unique situation. But I think they’ve come through it and, for now at least, have made their peace with [the fact] that it’s just the two of them.”

Season 7 episode release schedule

ABC

• Season 7 Episode 1: ‘The Shot’ – January 7
  • Recovering from a gunshot wound, John and the team welcome two new rookies and continue the hunt for two dangerous escaped inmates.
• Season 7 Episode 2: ‘The Watcher’ – January 14
  • The team is tasked with community policing while hunting for a local vigilante. Meanwhile, Celina’s instincts are tested, and Tim and Lucy discover secrets about the two new rookies.
• Season 7 Episode 3: ‘Out of Pocket’ – January 21
  • John looks for clues to find Jason Wyler before Bailey comes home; Tim and Lucy switch rookies; a friendly face returns to the station; Wesley is uneasy about Angela.
• Season 7 Episode 4: ‘Darkness Falling’ – January 28
  • Wesley rejoins the DA’s office after leaving LAPD. His history becomes relevant to a current investigation. Bailey and John disagree about safety issues. Lucy becomes wary of Seth’s behavior.
• Season 7 Episode 5: ‘Til Death’ – February 4
  • The team searches for a serial killer as Nyla struggles with the attack. Lucy’s relationship with Seth takes a turn, while Bailey battles her fear of Jason.
• Season 7 Episode 6: ‘The Gala’ – February 11
  • Grey gives Tim and Lucy an unromantic assignment, while John and Celina track down a missing girl. Multiple relationships come to a head at a charity gala.
• Season 7 Episode 7: ‘The Mickey’ – February 18
  • On Celina’s last day as a rookie, John gives her one final test, Bailey makes a new friend, and Lucy places her faith in Seth for an undercover assignment.
• Season 7 Episode 8: ‘Wildfire’ – February 25
  • Lucy and Tim are unsure of where their relationship is leading them. Nolan and Juarez find themselves in a tricky situation. Angela and Nyla are scheming up a plan.
• Season 7 Episode 9: ‘The Kiss’ – March 11
  • The team mobilizes to locate a suspect after a deadly series of events affects one of their own. Meanwhile, Celina takes on her first case with Bailey’s help.
• Season 7 Episode 10: ‘Chaos Agent’ – March 18
  • John, Lucy and Angela investigate the suspicious stabbing of three teenage girls while the team experiences technical difficulties at the station.
• Season 7 Episode 11: ‘Speed’ – March 25
  • John and Celina find themselves in a hostage situation while undercover for a public safety initiative. Tim challenges Lucy’s decision-making skills.
• Season 7 Episode 12: ‘ April Fools’ – April 1
  • An April Fools’ prank on LAPD’s social media leads to citywide chaos. Meanwhile John’s skills are tested and Wesley is assigned a challenging case.
• Season 7 Episode 13: ‘ Three Billboards’ – April 8
  • When anti-LAPD billboards emerge throughout the city, the team searches for who’s responsible; a car bombing prompts an investigation; Miles reconnects with an old friend; John and Bailey assess their ability to adopt.
• Season 7 Episode 14: ‘ Mad About Murder’ – April 15
  • Tim receives a strange message, launching a larger investigation into the dark web; Celina works to take down a popular podcast; Miles helps update the department’s training videos.
• Season 7 Episode 15: ‘ A Deadly Secret’ – April 22
  • Documentary filmmakers interview the LAPD on a complicated missing person’s case connected to John.
• Season 7 Episode 16: ‘ The Return’ – April 29
  • The team has mixed feelings when a familiar face returns hoping to prove himself; an influencer gets his fans to come after Wesley; Tim supports Lucy as she prepares for the sergeant’s exam.
• Season 7 Episode 17: ‘ Mutiny and the Bounty’ – May 6
  • The team helps skip tracer Randy when his new love interest is kidnapped; Angela and Nyla enlist their mums to help catch a con artist; Wesley is threatened to drop a case.
• Season 7 Episode 18: ‘ TBA’ – May 13

How to watch

Fans have two possible ways to watch The Rookie Season 7 Episode 16: watch it live on ABC, or wait until it’s available to stream on Hulu.

ABC

If you have a traditional cable subscription to ABC, you’re all set. You also have the option to use your cable username and password to watch the episode live on ABC.com or with the ABC app.

Alternatively, the finale will be streaming on Hulu the day after. For international fans, this will be on Disney+ instead.

For more, check out new TV shows streaming this month, the best TV shows of the year so far, and anticipated 2025 releases you cannot miss.