Opposites or Soulmates? Melissa O’Neil Drops Chenford Bombshells Ahead of The Rookie Season 7

The Rookie is officially back, and with it comes new episodes, new characters, and a return to the Mid-Wilshire Division. Somehow, despite a chaotic Season 6 that led to the escape of several criminals, one of the most controversial things to happen in the previous season remains the breakup of Chenford — also known as, Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil). With the new season of The Rookie taking off, it seems that although Bradford and Chen aren’t dating, their rapport is still alive and well. Meanwhile, Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) spends the season making it through her rookie training, and as of Season 7, she is the most senior rookie of the bunch and ready to graduate and move on. Not only has she flourished under John Nolan’s (Nathan FIllion) mentorship, but she is now also Lucy’s new roommate since Tamara (Dylan Conrique) moved out.

Melissa O’Neil and Lisseth Chavez Look Back on Their Characters’ Growth

“She’s able to maintain a sense of joy when she’s at work and when she’s out in her life, even though she’s had so many things chop her down.”

COLLIDER: The Rookie Season 7. We are jumping in, but before I look into the future, I’m going to look into the past. For each of you, when you look back at your character and their growth, what is the thing that you’re most proud of?

MELISSA O’NEIL: Wow. I feel like the thing that I’m most proud of when it comes to Lucy is we’ve seen her go through so many different setbacks, both personally, in interpersonal relationships and professionally, and somehow, she’s retained this heart. There’s a levity to her experience. She’s able to maintain her inner smile. She’s able to maintain a sense of joy when she’s at work and when she’s out in her life, even though she’s had so many things chop her down. That’s not something that’s accidental or that I’ve sprinkled in. That is absolutely something that’s come from Alexi [Hawley], as a character decision about who she is. If I were a friend to Lucy and I was looking at her, that’s something that I would be so proud of because we might not see it on camera, but it takes work to heal yourself and to continue to be open to the world and be open to love and be open to joy. So yeah, I think that’s what I would be most proud of.

LISSETH CHAVEZ: I would have to say Celina’s spirit. I feel like there’s something about her that I like, that she has this very bubbly personality, but I feel like she’s a Powerpuff Girl. [Laughs] She’s very sweet and awesome, but then when it comes down to having to protect the city or take over, she can kick some butt. She can turn that on. So I do love that she can be both.

There are layers.

CHAVEZ: There’s lots of layers, yeah.

Lisseth Chavez on Celina’s Future as Detective at the Mid-Wilshire Precinct

Celina is kind of at the end of her rookie journey. She’s coming up on it. She’s done a little bit more of the work than the new rookies who are coming in. But I’m curious if you have an idea or a dream for where this character could go after she’s done being a rookie.

CHAVEZ: You know, she is a great detective. She is very intuitive. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure if she was a little psychic, you know? But she is naturally. I, as Lisseth, feel like I would like I do the undercover a little bit. I feel like it’d be fun to sort of dive into that world.

You’ve got the perfect roommate.

CHAVEZ: Exactly! There you go.

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