Tim and Lucy made some major progress toward their future reconciliation during the wildfire, but since then, they’ve just gone back to the flirty yet generally platonic way that they’ve been this season. There are certainly some issues that Tim and Lucy need to work through in order to get back together, but it was feeling like The Rookie was starting to drag out their reunion for plot reasons. This week’s episode, “Speed,” continues that trend – that is, until that last scene between them, which gives me the most hope that I’ve had for this pairing since the midseason finale.
Tim Helps Lucy Prepare for Being a Sergeant in ‘The Rookie’s Latest Episode
The midseason finale, where Lucy and Tim were trapped under a fire blanket together, was a major turning point, as Tim told Lucy that he still loved her, and she didn’t deny that she still loved him. Instead of getting back together, though, Lucy told Tim later at the hospital that she had made a major decision about her career. She now wants to take the Sergeant’s exam instead of moving forward on the Detective track. This took a backseat while Lucy had to focus on being a T.O., but now that Seth has been fired for all of his lies, she is back to her new goal.
Lucy Finally Tells Tim Where She Stands in ‘The Rookie’s Latest Episode
This is when Lucy and Tim finally have a long-overdue conversation about their relationship. Lucy first does the reflexive thing of dismissing him as just her coworker, but she then corrects herself and is finally honest with Tim about where she stands. She tells him that she isn’t interested in dating anyone else (he says that he isn’t either) but that she also hasn’t forgiven him yet for dumping her in the way he did. Lucy then tells him that it’s not a matter of if, but when, for her forgiving him (and, although it’s not explicitly said, for them getting back together as well). It’s really nice to see them communicate so openly about their relationship in a more practical way. The love confession in the midseason finale was more intense, whereas this actually acknowledges Lucy’s lingering feelings of hurt while still giving hope for their future relationship.
‘The Rookie’s Latest Chenford Conversation Is Still Just the Beginning
While I loved Tim and Lucy’s conversation during the wildfire, I was disappointed that it didn’t change much between them afterward. The biggest shift in their dynamic has been that, since learning that Lucy is still in love with him, Tim is holding back less with her and making more little comments that reaffirm where he stands. There is still this barrier keeping them from getting back together, and in some ways, it has felt a bit tired. This conversation is a reminder, though, that their issues have not been fixed yet. Tim really hurt Lucy last season, and she has no reason to believe that he won’t leave her again after they get back together and she gets comfortable again. She hasn’t seen the progress that Tim has made on his own, and he hasn’t expressed this to her.
