The Rookie’s Creator Opened Up About Playing The ‘Long Game’ With Chenford, And I Just Hope Their Twist Sticks After The Season 8 Premiere

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Be warned: this article contains spoilers from the first episode of Season 8 of The Rookie, titled “Czech Mate.” You can watch it now with a Hulu subscription.

Season 8 of The Rookie is here, bringing new challenges for John Nolan and his team. While Nolan’s storyline takes him to Europe, the biggest moment of the premiere was the long-awaited reunion of Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen. After overcoming obstacles – including some honest conversations aided by truth serum and a career boost for Lucy – the couple known as ‘Chenford’ seems to have a promising future, as show creator Alexi Hawley explains.

Tim and Lucy finally resolved the conflict that started at the end of Season 7, when Lucy fell asleep before Tim could share his feelings about moving in together. It took some planning by Angela and Celina to get them talking, as Melissa O’Neil had suggested, but Lucy eventually agreed to move in with Tim after he promised to improve their communication. The episode ended with them happily together in bed.

Miles moving in with Celina is simply a matter of him needing a place to live. When asked about a potential romantic connection between them, showrunner Alexi Hawley hinted at a longer-term plan for Lucy and Tim, as he explained to TV Guide:

I wasn’t expecting this development, but looking back, I didn’t initially foresee the connection between Tim and Lucy either. Their chemistry just naturally emerged, but I knew a relationship was impossible while Lucy was a rookie, and Tim would never exploit that situation. It was something we planned out over a long period.

Viewers who were eager to see Tim and Lucy become a couple were probably hoping for it sooner, but the showrunner, Alexi Hawley, explained that a major relationship development couldn’t happen while Lucy was still new to the job. The show hasn’t always been consistent with its timing, either. Tim’s promotion to sergeant created another hurdle, but Lucy finally getting her own promotion in the later episodes of Season 7 should have, in theory, solved some of the practical problems standing in their way.

However, things have become a bit more complex. Wade has agreed to collaborate with the LAPD and FBI task force working out of the Mid-Wilshire Station. While Richard T. Jones won’t be leaving The Rookie entirely, some of his character Wade’s duties will now be handled by Tim.

I’m happy to see Lucy and Tim both scheduled for the day shift, and it looks like that’s going to happen. However, the way the scene with Wade taking on more responsibility was filmed worries me that it will create another power struggle and disrupt the positive dynamic between Lucy and Tim. Hawley also shared his thoughts on how Wade’s decision will impact Tim’s role at Mid-Wilshire.

Tim is accustomed to high-energy, hands-on roles like patrol officer and trainer. This season explores how he adjusts when he takes a job that requires a completely different set of skills. We’ll see him challenged and adapting to this new role while still staying true to himself. It’s interesting to watch how this change affects him, both professionally and in his relationship with Lucy, and it sets the stage for the entire season.

While it’s not a perfect solution, it’s a step in the right direction! Tim and Lucy are finally understanding each other, and he’s committed to being a better communicator. I’m cautiously optimistic that this positive change will last, even with Wade’s attention being pulled in other directions. We’ll have to wait and see what the creators of Rookie have in store for 2026. In the meantime, you can watch the trailer for the second episode of Season 8.

It looks like Tim and Lucy will both be working the day shift in the next episode of The Rookie! Tune in to ABC on Tuesday, January 13th at 10 p.m. Eastern, right after High Potential at 9 p.m. Eastern. If you’ve missed any episodes, you can stream them on Hulu.

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2026-01-07 14:08