Showrunner Alexi Hawley talks about the future of Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford as a couple on The Rookie. Coined “Chenford,” the on-again, off-again duo began their relationship in Season 5 but split up during the show’s sixth season.
The show’s seventh outing has dabbled in the two cops reigniting the spark of passion, though so far, there’s been no sense that they will enter back into an official relationship. Hawley spoke with Screen Rant about the future of Chenford and emphasized that both characters needed to find their feet before, potentially, finding their way back to each other.
“Honestly, what was really important to us as we launched the season was not to cheap out on the fallout from the breakup–that the damage that was done was real,” Hawley said. “[We wanted to show] the emotional impact it had on Lucy, and the realization from Tim that he hurt the person he loved most to punish himself, [which was a sign that] he had work to do, basically.”
The showrunner added, “It was important to us to see him commit to actually trying to be a better man, and it was important for us to have her realize she needed to make sure that she was putting her career and her emotional health first. That’s why I think you’ve seen the ups and downs this season, which just felt very real to me.”
“Even the hookups feel very human,” Hawley continued. “People sometimes do things because they want to [while] knowing that they might not be the smartest thing to do. But, as we’ve gone through the season now, we’ve seen them heading closer and closer together and their relationship getting healthier without them losing focus on the things that need to happen before, in theory, they get back together.”
Eric Winters, who plays Tim Bradford, shared this sentiment earlier in the year. In speaking to Hello Magazine, he stated, “I think we’re going to see Tim and Lucy continue learning how to navigate their feelings while on the job.” The focus on personal development for both LAPD officers has been a focus of this season, with Tim resuming his Training Officer role—albeit with a calmer demeanor—and Lucy looking to take her sergeant test.
Will Chenford Get Back Together?
Lucy Chen actress Melissa O’Neil has weighed in on Chenford and noted that – for her – Chen and Bradford work best when they help each other. O’Neil sees their relationship as one that provides instead of being “an echo chamber”. In speaking to Collider, the actress noted, “There are qualities that Lucy has that Tim doesn’t, and he has a ton of qualities that he possesses that she does not.”
It remains unclear at this time if the Chenford romance is in the cards. While the two have teased returning to couple status, nothing has been confirmed. Hawley has made it clear that this season will see the characters grow and develop to be better police officers who thrive by separating their lives and careers. In Howley’s words, “We’ve seen them heading closer and closer together and their relationship getting healthier without them losing focus on the things that need to happen before, in theory, they get back together.”
The Rookie Season 7 is currently streaming onABC, with new episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays.
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