The Rookie star Nathan Fillion and showrunner Alexi Hawley have given a much-anticipated Chenford update ahead of season 8. Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen have emerged as the enduring couple in the show, and were a fan-favorite pairing before Tim broke up with Lucy during The Rookie season 6.
Despite a few teases, a Chenford reunion has not yet happened, with the show successfully keeping the couple apart for the whole of season 7 (despite their Valentine’s Day hookup). And now, Fillion and Hawley have given their views on the future status of the couple, and what The Rookie season 8 will bring for Chenford.
Per Collider, the pair responded to a question about whether Chenford would achieve stability in season 8. Fillion was a little more cryptic with his comments, questioning whether people are ever happy in relationships on the show. Hawley was more committed with his answer, stating that the duo are more stable when they are together. Check out their comments below:
Nathan Fillion: When you have a romance on the show, when are people ever happy?
Alexi Hawley: They’re happy when they’re together. I think that’s pretty simple. That’s a pretty simple thing. I think the short answer is yes. How’s that?
What This Means For Chenford’s The Rookie Future
Hawley is right that the couple tends to be happier when they’re together. However, it’s also true that the show splitting the couple was important to show they could grow apart, along with demonstrating why Chenford needs to get back together in season 8. A reunion seems to be the natural conclusion, but there could be more obstacles along the way.
Fillion’s comments are also interesting, hinting at the fact that many fans are never satisfied, no matter what the status of character relationships might be. This is largely true, and is also a good reason why the show needs to make the choice that best fits narratively instead of simply paying fan service and thinking about what viewers want.
Our Take On Chenford’s Long-Term Prospects
Tim and Lucy getting back together has always seemed like a question of when, not if, and now there is confirmation that fans can expect a reunion in the upcoming season. The Rookie season 7 teased a Chenford reconciliation without ever delivering, but now the couple have been apart for over a year, they may have realized they prefer to be together.
While it may be perhaps the worst-kept secret on network television, The Rookie’s impending Chenford reunion will be highly anticipated by fans, and even more so after Fillion and Hawley’s comments. Chenford is the heartbeat of the show, and their romance is one of the most enduring and engaging elements of ABC’s hit procedural.
