There is no one that loves the Chenford romance in ABC’s The Rookie more than me. The opposites-attract pairing of Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) has left me intrigued every time they’re onscreen. The Rookie writers have thrown in plenty of compelling obstacles for this couple (including an ill-fated breakup that I’m still frustrated by), and there’s no show that has cultivated a better slow burn than the one between these two lovebirds. However, the focus has been so much on whether Lucy and Tim will get back together, that I find myself missing one of my other favorite couples on the series.
Wesley and Angela Are One of the More Interesting Pairs on ‘The Rookie’Alyssa Diaz as Angela and Shawn Ashmore as Wesley standing next to each other in The Rookie Season 7 finale.
Chenford might be a bit spicier than some of the other couples on The Rookie, but when it comes to solid partnerships, there’s no one better than Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore) and Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz). Both characters were introduced in Season 1 of the show. Angela is a tough-as-nails cop at the Mid-Wilshire precinct, who starts off as a training officer and gets promoted to detective. When we meet Wesley, he is working as a defense attorney. The two butt heads initially, especially as they are pretty much on opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to the law. Despite this, there is a spark, and the two end up dating. By Season 2, the pair are a full-fledged couple. At first, Wesley and Angela just discover more ways they’re dissimilar, including the fact that Wesley and his family are loaded. But they consistently find their way back to each other, even after Wesley is stabbed in Season 2, and experiences Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and addiction problems in subsequent episodes.
As with the stabbing and mental health struggles, it’s not like Wesley and Angela have had an easy go of it in their relationship so far. They get married in Season 3, only to have a pregnant Angela kidnapped by a drug cartel. Wesley partners up with a gangster named Elijah Stone (Brandon Jay McLaren) for help, which leads to a lot of problems and Wesley eventually losing his job. Even though Angela is rescued (and gives birth to their first child, Jack), Wesley ends up being hired as Assistant District Attorney in Season 5. After this storyline, The Rookie writers seem to have forgotten how interesting Angela and Wesley are together.
‘The Rookie’ Has Pushed Wesley and Angela to the Side in Season 7
Wesley and Angela have definitely been neglected when it comes to The Rookie storytelling. Although the two have had some interesting plotlines as separate characters, they don’t really get to come together as a couple very often. We also don’t get very many scenes of them together as a family unit. They welcome a second child, a daughter named Emmy, in Season 5, but that plotline gets lost in a broader story about the officers being attacked by bad guys. There is also one storyline about Angela searching desperately for a high-quality babysitter in Season 6, and feuding with Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) because of it, but this is sort of a cheesy B-plot isn’t much.
In The Rookie’s latest season (which finished airing in May), the focus has been so much more on Chenford and the other characters that make up the police department. As much as I love seeing Angela with her other partner (fellow badass detective, Nyla), it has been disappointing to see countless storylines about Lucy and Tim and John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan), and not so much as one in-depth plot with Wesley and Angela. My favorite thing about the couple is that they have a really fun dynamic, with plenty of banter and teasing that only comes to couples who have been together for a significant amount of time. Even though they bicker (in a good-natured way), it’s always super clear how much Wesley and Angela love each other. That’s why it would be great to see the strength of that relationship developed even further in future episodes.
The Couple Could Face Some Compelling Challenges in Season 8 of ‘The Rookie’Wesley and Angela kiss in The Rookie Season 7.
There is a possibility that The Rookie could focus more on Wesley and Angela in the upcoming season (which will air sometime in 2026). Showrunner Alexi Hawley has suggested that Wesley could run for district attorney, saying, “It would certainly make sense for Wesley, who was a defense attorney and believes very strongly in righting the wrongs of an unjust justice system. He’s an assistant DA, they have not a ton of power, so becoming the DA would give him an ability to shake things up.” This new position could create a lot of intriguing plotlines for Wesley, including potentially causing conflicts in his relationship with Angela. There would be more public scrutiny in this type of election and pressure to be a perfect family if he actually wins, which would not be easy for a couple that is typically pretty easygoing. Running for DA could also require Wesley to be away from home a lot, which could create more stress for Angela.
This couple is always the most interesting when they’re facing some strife, so perhaps The Rookie writers could kick things into higher gear by adding in some danger regarding their children (everyone else on the show finds themselves in peril, so it would make sense for the children to at some point). Or maybe there are some high-profile cases that Angela needs Wesley’s help to solve (or vice versa). Both of these characters are super smart and have figured out ways to work within the system to ultimately catch the bad guys every time. The only thing better than them nabbing tons of criminals would be if they have to work together to do it. Plus, Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan) is now a free woman again, and as Wesley’s ex, it would make sense for him and Angela to work together to put her behind bars for good.
Wesley and Angela have such a strong foundation since they’ve been together since the start of the series. It would be a shame if they’re continued to be pushed into the background because Chenford has created a little bit more of a buzz with fans. Wesley and Angela could prove that sometimes the steady couple ends up being the far more compelling pairing to keep our eyes on. Hopefully, The Rookie writers will hear our plea, and will give Wesley and Angela the screen time they deserve next season.
