“The Rookie” Season 8 finale giveth, and it just as quickly taketh away: It’s time to unpack that #Chenford twist.
In Monday’s episode, Tim finally gets to the point and pops the question to Lucy. Though it wasn’t an easy road: First, the man inherited a hideous family ring and had to delicately break the news to his mother than her future daughter-in-law would not be taking the heirloom. They go out and buy a different vintage ring, but this time, the man straight up loses it!
Angela was babysitting the piece of jewelry, but ultimately refuses to hold onto it for any longer. Since he’s now in charge of the little accessory, Tim decides it’s a good idea to slip the loose ring — no box in sight! — into his uniform’s breast pocket. (What goes on in a man’s head continues to perplex and astound me.) Of course, given that the pocket is cinched together by a single flimsy button, the delicate trinket slips out at some point during duty.
Luckily, Angela finds the lost ring, returns it to Tim, and all is right in the world (for now). Tim proposes to Lucy on a remote beach in a romantic, scenic moment that reminds us all why we ‘ship them so much.
The moment of bliss is cut short, however, when two goons disguised as regular beachgoers approach the happy couple and stab them in the neck with syringes filled with a tranquilizing drug. Lucy and Tim collapse and are promptly kidnapped on behalf of Heath Everett — the notorious criminal with a grudge against Tim. (At least they’re together? In sickness and in kidnapping?)
Keep scrolling to get all the scoop from “The Rookie” showrunner Alexi Hawley from that finale twist to what’s coming up in Season 9!
#Chenford heads into ‘uncharted waters’
TVLINE | Lucy and Tim are engaged! What made this the right time for these two to finally commit to each other?
A lot of my calculus has always been, I don’t want to move too fast, because I think that the fun of the romance is in the journey. It is in her falling asleep when he asked her to move in the first time. And they’re so much fun to watch, and if we just jumped into an engagement too quick, then we should have just done that at the beginning of the season, right? But I really like the journey they went on this season, learning to not just live together, it is another stage of the relationship — and it’s not just a simple engagement.
TVLINE | Yeah, the happiness certainly didn’t last long! These two get attacked on the beach right after the proposal. What happens next?
They’re gonna be in a dungeon somewhere, whether literally or figuratively, I don’t know yet. But yes, it was a shining moment of joy and happiness, and then of course, I had to screw that up. We’re going to take them into uncharted waters and see where that goes.
TVLINE | What inspired you to deliver that kind of brutal twist to our beloved #Chenford?
I played the long game with it, but we did go back and forth about whether he should be taken or she should be taken, but ultimately it felt like this is a journey they’re both on together, and so it’s much more frustrating and satisfying to have them both in jeopardy together.
Will #Chenford get a Season 9 wedding?
TVLINE | Lucy and Tim have overcome so much in their relationship, but this feels very intense. What can you tease about the future of their relationship? Are there still wedding bells off in the distance?
I’m going to say this, and then people are going to freak out: As long as everybody survives, there’s a wedding. We’re all very invested in them, both individually and together. The writers are equally invested in them. So I don’t know, exactly. We haven’t started [writing Season 9] yet. I haven’t really plotted out where Season 9 goes. Seeing them held wherever they’re held, however they’re held, together, will be dramatic and interesting.
TVLINE | So what are the chances that we’re gonna get a Season 9 wedding between these two? And will it be a grand affair?
I don’t know yet. We’ve done a lot of weddings on the show. We’ve done Lopez, you know, who went missing from her wedding way back when, and then the Nolan/Bailey wedding was all in on doing the full wedding, and it was a celebration and all that kind of stuff. So, I’m not sure — a fresh way in is what I’m always looking for. I’m as invested in their relationship as anyone, and so whatever it would be would be satisfying.
Should Tim have thought twice before putting that ring in his pocket?
TVLINE | I’m glad you mentioned the Lopez kidnapping moment because I’m wondering: What is “The Rookie” saying about weddings and marriage?! You’ve got a track record for tragedy.
I’ve been married a long time, so I’m very invested in marriage, but I just think it’s an inherently dramatic act and so infusing unexpected surprises in it is always fun. I mean, didn’t “Euphoria” just do some dynamic wedding thing this last week? So we’re not original. We just find interesting ways in.
TVLINE | Before I let you go, I need to ask you: Why in the world would Tim, who by all accounts is a pretty reasonable guy, think putting a loose engagement ring in his pocket was a good idea? Forget the kidnapping: Are you able to defend this grave mistake?!
I’m a little able to defend it. The box that the ring is in is fairly cumbersome, as he said, and to carry it in your pocket, it would be very noticeable, and he’s trying to keep that hidden from her. In case you haven’t noticed, Tim’s uniform’s a little tight, so you’d definitely see it. Ultimately, he feels like if it’s close, then he knows where it is at all times, and it’s obviously the most important thing he’s ever bought. Plus, it was fun to do. We got a whole rom-com going in this show.
Grade “The Rookie” Season 8 finale in the poll below, then head to the comments with your thoughts on the #Chenford twist!