The Rookie's "A Hole in the World" successfully trades undercover missions and unconventional first dates for sweet, understated Chenford greatness.
The Rookie Season 5 has focused on many of Chenford's firsts, like their first date. However, the procedural drama still holds out on a few others for Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen -- like those three big words. Season 5, Episode 19, "A Hole in the World," signals that The Rookie plans to build anticipation and strengthen the couple before tackling their next big step. After all, the episode shifts the fan-favorite couple to a more peripheral focus as Celina's backstory brings a compelling case to the present, creating space for other ensemble members.
Though The Rookie sometimes struggles to focus on its ensemble's personal lives, recent episodes underscore why Wesley Evers and Angela Lopez are underrated or why it's better to subvert a love triangle for John Nolan and Bailey Nune. Through those efforts, The Rookie upholds the importance of the beats between the grander relationship steps or life-or-death situations, and this episode carves out that space for Lucy and Tim. After using their relationship to elevate the show's true crime episodes, "A Hole in the World" features that "beautiful place" they defined for themselves -- through sentimental mornings together.
Season 5, Episode 14, "Death Sentence," teases a comfortable and casual side of Chenford's relationship with a similar scene, but it's short-lived compared to the one in "A Hole in the World." This scene exemplifies the ones that stick with fans; they can make or break a couple. The understated affection (the soft voices, pet names and sweet kisses) is often as critical in establishing the success rate of a relationship on TV as how Tim and Lucy overcome obstacles together. The prolonged chemistry is essential, and Eric Winter and Melissa O'Neil prove they're more than capable of maintaining Chenford's fire, no matter the setting.
Not to mention, the dialogue in this scene is fundamental to where Chenford's story is going in the rest of Season 5. Despite reintroducing a familiar conflict (work hours impacting how often they see each other), its threat holds less weight because of how Season 5 sees Tim and Lucy face it before. Tim takes a different job to rectify the improper power dynamic within their relationship and to avoid either of them accepting a position where they will see each other less. While it's unlikely that either of them will change jobs again if Lucy passes her detective test, it means The Rookie's history instills confidence that strained schedules won't weaken Chenford. If anything, it will only give Tim and Lucy space to grow together and individually.
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