The Rookie Season 7, Episode 16, “The Return” Spoilers Ahead
Welcome to Chenford Chats, a column dedicated solely to highlighting Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen’s interactions during the latest episode of The Rookie.
“This time next week, we’ll know.” I hope that means the audience as well, because the viewers are also the ones who’ve been here all season, going through one whiplash shift after another, while the series decides what it wants to do with Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen’s relationship going forward.
In “The Return,” Lucy’s done more than just take the sergeant’s test, but in a sense, she and Tim have also been playing parents to Tamara. (Unofficially, but still, let me have this.) And despite conversations of physical favors, which we know that they both still want (otherwise, why would Lucy use April Fool’s Day as an excuse to hook up), there’s still an elephant in the room we have to address. In “Speed,” Lucy tells Tim that she still hasn’t forgiven him, and we have yet to see them come to the point where she has. So much of the growth for Chenford has been happening behind the scenes with moments thrown in, but I hope that if they do get back together next week, we get some sort of reassurance that it’s not just their rank that’s hindering their relationship.
In many ways, it was Tim’s ability not to trust her. It was his decision to keep her in the dark because he didn’t want to burden her, and when it comes to steady relationships, it’s crucial to understand that partnerships are supposed to involve full transparency. Tim’s inability to be honest with Lucy is a large reason why they fell apart in the first place, and it’s also why Lucy had every right to be angry and upset with him. Yes, he’s done the work with therapy, but how much of that has she actually seen?
Still, The Rookie Season 7, Episode 16, “The Return,” at the very least, shows viewers that there’s still tremendous trust between them to continue working together on and off the field. We know that Tim is always going to be the person who Lucy feels most comfortable around, so the fact that she’s able to ask him if he can host dinner is a small but big deal. There’s also the admirable moment where she reminds him that she didn’t take the sergeant’s test because of him, but rather, it’s something Lucy has needed to do for a long time, because proving herself as a detective is significant for her character journey. It’s also yet another reminder of Tim’s past relationship and the fact that everything Lucy does is different than what he’s experienced in the past.
We’re certainly closer to a Chenford reunion than we were in the last two weeks, and one of the key factors is that we’re actually seeing conversations. When these two are good, their conversations are what make their scenes stand out. It’s when they keep each other in the dark that everything starts to worsen. More than anything, before everything happens, I hope to see one final sign that Tim realizes what a colossal mistake he’s made. I want the steadfast assurance that he isn’t going to keep her in the dark again because that’s something Lucy deserves to hear. Cement it, man.
Related Content (Post Release): Chenford Chats in The Rookie’s “The Good, The Bad, and The Oscar”
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on Chenford’s scenes in The Rookie Season 7, Episode 16, “The Return?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ABC