The Rookie Season 8, Episode 7, “Baja” 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.
Undercover operations are a delicate spot for Tim and Lucy, but we’re in a much better place now, and it’s not so much about their previous concerns as it is about missing each other. It’s not so much about Tim’s fears of what past relationships have caused or an absence of trust in any way, but more so about the time it’ll take. It’s Tim openly admitting that four weeks is too much for him, even if he doesn’t say those exact words. “You just moved in. It’ll feel like you’re moving out,” says a lot more.
It’s his silent acknowledgment that the two of them moving in together has been one of the best things that’s happened to him. It’s his silent admission that having Lucy around is essentially equivalent to his safe place. It’s Lucy reaching out to touch his face with the most tender swipe of her fingers to remind him this isn’t a permanent change, but a short-lived one.
The Rookie Season 8, Episode 7, “Baja,” also gives us ample backstory and the reminder that Lucy is the black sheep in her family who chose to step away from medicine and dropped out of grad school. It’s Lucy reminding us that before she was here, she, too, had a different life planned, and so much of this is going to be even more relevant in next week’s episode when Tim’s mom comes to visit.
A large part of the reason this episode is so fun and well-written is due to everything that we get with Lucy and Nyla. It’s another substantial showcase that both these women are not only doing what they want, but they’re happy and satisfied with how their lives turned out. Content. It’s excellent because we usually don’t see them paired up together, and given the context of the episode, it’s worthwhile material to see how it’s coming together and how they can both be there for each other.
Because of this, it does actually amplify so many of the Chenford scenes we get because Tim and Lucy are in a new stage in their relationship, even though they aren’t a new couple. Their desire to get the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for each other in last week’s “Burn 4 Love” was another reminder of just how desperately they want to ensure the other’s happiness, and it’s even palpable in an episode where they barely interact.
It’s palpable in the brief scene where he takes her order at the diner, and their fingers linger for a few seconds longer than they should. It’s palpable in their reunion back home when he has her back in his arms, and you can tell that right now, everything is good for him. He’s better because she’s home. He’s content and complete, and how his expressions showcase this amid the lighthearted conversations and jokes is why we’re here in the first place. Because it’s impossible not to highlight each of their interactions when there’s so much in every single one, no matter how brief or short it seems.
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on Chenford’s scenes in The Rookie Season 8, Episode 7, “Baja?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©(Disney/Mike Taing)