You would expect the main character to give a lengthy, epic explanation of why a show like The Rookie is superior to NCIS. However, Nathan Fillion? Similar to the show itself, he kept it brief, sweet, and direct.
The Rookie adds new energy, crazy cases, and that distinctive Fillion charm, even if NCIS has been the dominant force for decades. The man making the decisions has the best explanation for why this show is so great, and to be honest, he may have just hit the mark.
Nathan Fillion explains why The Rookie is unique and a challenger to NCIS.
The Rookie is a serious contender in the police procedural genre, and Nathan Fillion did more than simply hype it up. He opened up about what makes the program work during ABC’s Winter 2024 TCA press tour. Fillion clarified,
The people, their connections, and their interactions are what make the show appealing to viewers. We can all identify with these things. I believe that the procedural nature of it is simply the format that our show adopts. I have never cared so much about parts I don’t play on a show.
The cases? only the background. The cast’s chemistry is the true draw. In addition, The Rookie has a strong lineup. The Rookie makes every character matter, in contrast to NCIS, which has had its ups and downs.
Fillion’s enduring appeal was supported by showrunner Alexi Hawley, who described him as a unique leading man who isn’t scared to fail and be seen to fail. Fillion kept things realistic whether he was training as the oldest rookie in LAPD, solving mysteries, or leading a starship. Audiences stay because of this. Hawley stated,
Here’s what I would say about Nathan and the reason I believe he appeals to so many people: he is one of the few leading men who isn’t afraid to make mistakes, be viewed as a failure, be the target of a joke, and just be human.
Regardless of whether Nathan is the captain of a starship, a mystery writer, or the oldest rookie in the LAPD, I believe that he has a certain humanity that many leading males on television feel is necessary. People want to watch him, in my opinion, because they see that he can fall and still come back up.
Fans have also made it apparent. Drivers, parents, and even children told him how much they adored The Rookie everywhere he went. arguing over who is the finest police officer? Most shows aspire to that kind of involvement.
It’s easy to overlook how many people are watching, Fillion acknowledged. However, every fan engagement served as a reminder that The Rookie was more than just a police drama. It was a phenomena.
Nathan Fillion was correct when he said that Castle had to finish sooner.
Although Nathan Fillion had a perfect conclusion in mind for Castle, the show fell short. After eight seasons, the ABC sensation came to an end, although Fillion once stated (via Digital Spy),
I want to do it for six years, maybe seven if it’s still strong, and then finish it up.Wouldn’t six years be fantastic? I want to finish strong.
Instead, Alexi Hawley, the showrunner, had to scramble for a conclusion after Castle was canceled in a horrible way. The outcome? Fillion acknowledged that the hasty farewell wasn’t the lovely conclusion that fans had hoped for. According to The New York Post, he hinted at
It wasn’t the lovely farewell I believe you could have hoped for.I understand that it’s a business, the entertainment industry. When a program is canceled, I don’t take it personally because I can’t handle it when all of my shows are canceled! I have a lengthy number of cancelled TV series on my resume.
Fillion loved the ride and the friendships he made on Castle. But he preferred to end on a high note rather than have it linger on and fizzle out.
