With its first season just underway, The Rookie: Feds is already proving to be another in a long line of great procedural shows. Weekly episodes can't come soon enough for many fans, and cop show fanatics are often on the hunt for more shows to watch to tide them over.
Whether it's long-running epics like Criminal Minds or weekend binge shows like Mindhunter, The Rookie: Feds is in good company. Though there are an almost unlimited amount of procedural shows available, only the very best check all the same boxes as ABC's newest hit.
The Closer (2005-2012)
Stream On HBO Max
A strong female lead that's a fish-out-of-water is the thread that links Feds with The Closer, but their connection goes even deeper. The series follows a seasoned Atlanta police detective who joins the LAPD to help close some of their biggest high-profile cases.
Kyra Sedgwick is an inspiration, and Brenda Leigh is one of the best detective characters in TV history. The cases are all intense, and there is a fair amount of character-driven drama that would further connect the series with fans of Feds. Like its successor, The Closer is humorous and dramatic in equal measure.
Mindhunter (2017-2019)
Stream On Netflix
If Feds is a fun and somewhat lighthearted look at the FBI, Mindhunter is a twisted descent into some of the darkest crimes in American history. The series follows a criminal profiler who attempts to apply a scientific method to police work by interviewing notorious killers to find patterns.
Noted for its accurate depiction of serial killers, the show is a sinister rumination on the nature of crime and the effect it has on the mental state of those who study it. Certainly more adult than Feds, the show is nevertheless an interesting watch for anyone who likes the FBI aspects of the newer show.
Castle (2009-2016)
Stream On Hulu
Starring Nathan Fillion of The Rookie, the hit series Castle allowed the actor to flex his comedic chops in a typically dramatic setting. The series follows a successful novelist who teams up with an NYPD detective to solve a series of copycat murders based on his books.
Fillion is a lovable buffoon, and he was just the right ingredient to spice up the tired police procedural genre. Like Feds, the best episodes of Castle were a perfect blend of the drama of a murder case mixed with the wonderful comedic relationship between its two leads. The over-the-top nature of the crimes might seem verbose, but the clever plot device of a copycat killer helps to explain that away.
Elementary (2012-2019)
Stream On Hulu
The tales of Arthur Conan Doyle are beloved pieces of classic literature, and his character Sherlock Holmes has graced the screens both large and small on innumerable occasions. Elementary offered an updated spin on the stories and set the adventure of Holmes in the hustle and bustle of modern-day New York City.
In Feds, the main character is a fish-out-of-water trying to make her way in the FBI, and in Elementary, the main character is equally new to the concept of criminal investigation. Even though it had wealth of other adaptations to contend with, Elementary still managed to freshen up the old tales. A little different from the usual procedural, the show not only refreshed its source material but its genre as well.
Bones (2005-2017)
Stream On Hulu
Generally considered one of the best procedural shows of all time, Bones blended complicated science with the traditional cop show formula. A grizzled agent teams up with a forensic anthropologist to solve crimes involving unusual skeletal evidence.
Despite having a limiting concept, the series was never want for interesting storylines over its lengthy run. Fans of Feds will enjoy the series' sense of humor, and it was one of the few shows that truly balanced its dark plots with a tongue-in-cheek comedy styling.
NCIS (2003-Present)
Stream On Paramount Plus And Netflix
Running well into its second decade on the air, NCIS has been the standard-bearer for the long-form procedural for years. The show follows the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they attempt to solve some of the nation's most high-profile murder cases.
Though it isn't about the FBI directly, the show's federal nature makes it familiar to fans of Feds. Also, the series takes time to invest in its character development so that even the most gripping cases are well-balanced with interpersonal drama as well. Though NCIS has seen a myriad of changes over the years, it still manages to deliver the same procedural action fans have come to expect.
The Blacklist (2013-Present)
Stream On Netflix And Peacock
With a recognizable cast of actors, the long-running series The Blacklist elevated itself above being a simple procedural into a full-fledged drama. After years on the run, a former FBI agent agrees to help the Bureau catch a list of notorious criminals.
James Spader puts on a clinic in the series, and he is the emotional anchor that holds the show in place. Like Feds, the show has a strong character narrative and the criminal investigation is really just the icing on the cake. Though it doesn't have the same pseudo-comedic tone as Feds, The Blacklist is a great addition to the collection of shows about the FBI.
Criminal Minds (2005-2020)
Stream On Hulu And Paramount Plus
If ever a show nailed down the FBI procedural format, it was the beloved long-running series Criminal Minds. The show follows the FBI's prestigious criminal profiling division as they use their unique psychological methods to track down murderers and other criminals.
Over its years on the air, Criminal Minds delivered a wide variety of different cases and some that were downright terrifying. Partially drawing from real life, the show certainly doesn't have the comedic bent of The Rookie: Feds, but it is equally enjoyable for fans of the latter show because of its amazing procedural drama.
FBI (2018-Present)
Stream On Paramount Plus
Feds and the FBI are perfect companion shows to one another, though they approach the subject matter from different tones. The FBI's NYC field office is the show's focus, and it chronicles the day-to-day lives of the agents who work on some of the state's biggest crimes.
Though they are on opposite coasts, the field office politics of both shows are mirror images. FBI offers a fascinating glimpse into the machinations of a typical field office, but it still manages to have gripping character drama to go along with its cases. Producer Dick Wolf is to thank for the series, and it lives up to his usual high standards of procedural production.
The Rookie (2018-Present)
Stream On Hulu
Considering the Feds is a spin-off of The Rookie, it only makes sense that fans of the former would love the latter. The series follows a man who, after a tragic event in his life, enlists with the LAPD and lives through the trials and tribulations of being the oldest rookie on the force.
Tonally, the series are identical, and The Rookie has an equally likable lead to carry the viewer through the series. The cases are all interesting enough, but it is the struggles of John Nolan that keeps the viewer tuning in each week. Earning a spinoff only a handful of seasons into a run is impressive, and The Rookie has certainly earned its spot as a full-fledge franchise.