Chenford First Date on The Rookie Takes an Unconventional Yet Fitting Turn
Chenford’s first date finally takes place in The Rookie Season 5, Episode 10, “The List,” but it comes with a few fitting and unconventional twists. The couple’s profession provides some predictable setbacks, some of which will likely be explored more as their relationship develops. Still, the pair’s genuine feelings pull Chenford’s date together by the end of the episode. Tim and Lucy don’t need a classic romantic dinner. Their second attempt at a first date proves how well of a match they are, even if it doesn’t go as initially planned.
The Rookie’s storytelling expresses an awareness of how worthwhile Chenford’s risky next step is for not only the characters but the show. The ABC police procedural doesn’t miss the mark in moving Tim and Lucy’s dynamic forward; it succeeds. Every turn in their storyline during “The List” is a conscious choice that calls back to Tim and Lucy’s shared history and teases what may be next for the fan-favorite couple. Everything from the episode’s script and direction to Eric Winter and Melissa O’Neil’s performances celebrates Chenford.
Chenford’s First Date on The Rookie Is Fittingly Interrupted by Work
Even before The Rookie delivers Chenford’s first date, “The List” gifts something even better: Tim and Lucy nervously getting ready for the date. The inside look at Tim and Lucy both excitedly trying to find the perfect outfit says so much, even though the scenes have little dialogue. Winter and O’Neil’s performances reveal how much this occasion means to Tim and Lucy; every detail counts. That considerate perspective makes The Rookie’s inclusion of Lucy’s iconic green dress from Season 3, Episode 14, “Threshold” and her memorable shimmery dress from Season 4, Episode 18, “Backstabbers” more than a fun Easter egg.
That opening is also a smart narrative tool. It pulls viewers in and encourages them to get as wrapped up in the nerves of a seasons-in-the-making first date alongside Tim and Lucy. Consequently, the awkward nature of their dinner date is immersive, even though the viewers are as aware of how well Tim and Lucy know each other as the characters themselves. Furthermore, the conventionally romantic dinner sets up their second, more unconventional first date as an adorable bookend. Most importantly, this first date gives Tim and Lucy an attempt to break the ice more and agree to take things slow, maintaining the slow-burn romance that The Rookie’s fans have become accustomed to over the years.
The Rookie Makes Chenford’s Second First Date Perfectly Unconventional
The life-or-death situations of “The List” manage to amplify the timing for Chenford’s “redo” first date. After Tim and Aaron Thorsen almost get pushed off a building and Lucy wonders if Tim questions the dynamics of their relationship considering she’s in his chain of command, this unconventional dinner date is earned. It feels like a reward for the fans and Lucy and Tim after a high-pressure episode. Not to mention, their commitment to seeing the date through showcases how all in Tim and Lucy are with each other. Tim wouldn’t only flash his badge and not pursue a man attempting to break into a car for just anyone.
Tim’s undivided focus on Lucy and vice versa doesn’t prevent The Rookie from further unpacking the chain of command or seeing work interrupting future dates for Chenford. Those narrative threads will likely reappear on the show, but as far as “The List” is concerned, this dinner date and its various details are paramount. For instance, the set itself couldn’t be more perfect. From how the small table pulls Tim and Lucy tighter together in the frame to how the lighting supports a warmer, more intimate tone, this date spot is even more romantic than, as Tim calls the setting of their first date, “the most romantic restaurant in town.”
“The List” pulls everything together by calling back to Lucy’s wish to take things slow — a first date, maybe a second date and their first real kiss. Tim’s attention to detail pays off as their second first date might as well be a second date entirely, making way for their first real kiss. Knowing that Lucy initiates their two other kisses, it’s meaningful that Tim initiates their first real one. It’s also equally fun and special that Lucy says their first date attempt is a “better story for the grandkids” and Tim doesn’t stop her in her tracks. Tim and Lucy are elated to finally be together and their future is more than a possibility; it’s happening.
