Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen have been The Rookie‘s “it couple” since before they were even a couple, and while season 6’s significant development in their romance is heartbreaking, it’ll ultimately make their relationship stronger in the long run. The ABC procedural drama series’ writers have clarified that they didn’t plan for Tim and Lucy (affectionately dubbed “Chenford” by fans) to be the show’s central romance when it premiered in 2018. However, the chemistry between Eric Winter and Melissa O’Neil was palpable and undeniable, so a slow burn commenced between their two characters until they got together in season 5.
When the series premiere of The Rookie aired, Lucy was a rookie cop alongside Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan and Titus Makin Jr’s Jackson West. Tim was Lucy’s training officer, and the two got off to a rough start, as Lucy was a starry-eyed, naive rookie, and Tim was a hardened, no-nonsense veteran. Over time, Tim and Lucy became friends, but there were signs that their relationship could become something more. Eventually, after multiple other love interests, shared undercover kisses, and near-death experiences, Tim and Lucy started dating in The Rookie season 5. But it all came crashing down in season 6.
Tim Broke Up With Lucy In The Rookie Season 6, Episode 6
Tim Is Pushing Lucy Away
Lucy was frustrated that Tim wouldn’t let her in, and she became even angrier when Ray threatened her in episode 6, resulting in her demanding that Tim tell her what was going on. As viewers were aware, Tim didn’t want to kill Ray, but Ray was also a problem because of the false report Tim previously filed about him dying overseas. Despite settling the Ray problem and Tim finally opening up to Lucy, the tension between the couple hadn’t been resolved by the end of The Rookie episode, and that’s when Tim dropped a bombshell on Lucy.
Tim was forced to lie about the report to protect himself and the people he loves. However, Tim’s lies became too much for him to bear, and he felt as if he had lost himself. Lucy tried to comfort Tim, but he began to spiral and claimed that he couldn’t return to the way things were (maybe never). Tim broke up with Lucy, claiming she deserved much better than him. She rebutted with “You don’t get to lie to me, and then use that as an excuse to leave me,” but Tim’s mind was made up in The Rookie.
The Rookie Has Been Foreshadowing Chenford’s Breakup Since Season 5
Tim & Lucy’s Breakup Has Been A Long Time Coming
While Tim and Lucy’s split is devastating, The Rookie has been foreshadowing a breakup between the fan-favorite couple for a long time. The first few season 5 episodes showcasing the early days of Chenford’s relationship were exciting, but it soon became clear that miscommunication would be a major issue for Tim and Lucy. Lucy didn’t inform Tim about her schemes to secure him a spot on Metro, and she wasn’t upfront about how her actions would diminish her chances on the detectives’ exam. Sadly, their problems only worsened during the season 6 premiere.
Lucy accused Tim of trying to sabotage her while studying for the exam, and Tim couldn’t believe she would think he would do that to her. The couple eventually made up and even exchanged “I love you’s” during The Rookie‘s 100th episode. The next hour featured Lucy passing the test, but ranking low, meaning she probably wouldn’t get promoted to detective. All of these developments (plus the Ray situation) spelled trouble for Chenford in The Rookie season 6, and it was only a matter of time before they broke up.
Tim & Lucy Need Time Apart To Work On Their Own Issues
The Breakup Can Be Good For Chenford In The Rookie Season 6
