The Rookie Season 8, Episode 10, “His Name Was Martin” 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.
The majority of The Rookie’s “His Name Was Martin” is so unserious in what it’s trying to accomplish that it might just be among the most frustrating episodes of the show’s run, but the last fifteen-ish minutes strike hard as Lucy enters the fight. And when she kills one of the attackers in self-defense, everything transpires so quickly that by the time the credits roll, we’re all just left waiting for next week.
There’s no way to sugarcoat how upsetting the aftermath of this episode will likely be, but Melissa O’Neil’s performance is outright extraordinary as she fully breaks, settling into a state of shock that’s going to haunt Lucy for quite some time. I almost didn’t write this article because Tim and Lucy don’t exactly chat in the way we’re used to, but it felt wrong not to credit O’Neil’s performance and all she does in those final few moments.
It’s certainly vital that the first thing on Tim’s mind when he enters the scene is wondering where Lucy is and bolting to her, but it’s also important to note that he knows exactly what he needs to say to be both her boyfriend and sergeant in this situation. Tim is going to be beside her as she gets through this, but it’s also hugely understandable that in those final few moments, Lucy would want to be alone to fully break without anyone beside her.
The shock here isn’t something that’s going to go away overnight, and as we saw in the trailer for next week’s episode, it’ll linger. Its haunting effect might change Lucy too drastically going forward, but she isn’t alone. While the conversation in last week’s “Fun and Games” was brief, it was a reminder to us that both Tim and Lucy are better communicators today than they were before, so this is something they’re going to get through. At some point, whether next week or the week after, Lucy will open up to Tim about all that she’s feeling. He’ll guide her through it. Hold her if she needs him. He’ll remind her of everything she’s capable of. He’ll be her strength in the way she’s been for him.
The forehead kiss in The Rookie Season 8, Episode 10, “His Name Was Martin,” might not feel like it was enough, but it was everything coming from Tim. With the gesture, he’s reminding Lucy not only of her strength, but of the fact that he’s beside her. He believes in her. He respects her agency. He’s right upstairs if she needs him. More than anything, and again, the strength in this episode lies entirely in Melissa O’Neil’s hands and every facial expression she shows us.
The hollowness she projects in Lucy’s eyes is so heartbreaking, I had to look away for a moment. The Lucy Chen we know and love isn’t here at the moment—too broken to come out of the waves she’s fallen through, but she’s going to get through it. And if nothing else, it’s going to be brilliant just to see what else O’Neil will give us when these few moments were so exceptional.
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on Chenford’s scenes in The Rookie Season 8, Episode 10, “His Name Was Martin?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©ABC/Hulu