The following contains spoilers from The Rookie Season 5, Episode 17, "The Enemy Within," which debuted Tuesday, Feb. 28 on ABC.
Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen's portion of The Rookie's "The Enemy Within" doesn't move the plot along, but it's instrumental in developing their relationship and showcasing their character growth -- especially Tim's. When shows like Chicago Med can rely too heavily on their procedural element and miss a ship fans can root for, Chenford is one of many relationships working in The Rookie's favor. This episode gets Tim and Lucy back to their classic banter with an affirming undertone.
After Chenford's first Valentine's Day together proved that Lucy's secret mission to get Tim the Metro job was the good kind of angst, "The Enemy Within" carves out space for other qualities. The duo's chemistry is one driving factor behind Chenford's success, but so is their comedic timing. The episode harnesses both with a reminder that Tim and Lucy influence each other to be better.
Why Chenford's Future Isn't Up for Debate on The Rookie
Lucy and Tim have discussed children -- grandchildren, even -- since their fittingly unconventional first date. That means it's not unusual that the couple repeatedly references their future children while searching for missing child Jordy Yates. This topic will incite a more extensive discussion when Lucy and Tim decide it's time to open that chapter of their lives. Until then, the frequent mentions of "our kids" are a sweet and confident confirmation that Tim and Lucy see a family in their future, including Kojo and Tamara Colins.
"The Enemy Within" isn't even the first time the couple interacts with a lost child. While Jordy purposefully loses himself to help his father with his outstanding tickets, Tim and Lucy helped a young boy find his father during Season 4, Episode 5, "A.C.H." In that episode Tim told Lucy, "I'm living proof that some people should not be parents." This Season 5 episode therefore highlights how far he's come in his belief in himself and how strong his relationship with Lucy is that he can envision himself as a father.
Chenford Works Because Tim and Lucy Learn From Each Other
The Rookie never shies away from Tim's complicated relationship with fatherhood. Lucy and Tim have seen each other through some of Chenford's most vulnerable moments, including when Tim's self-doubt compares him to his abusive father. This made it impactful that Lucy was the one who told Tim that "You're nothing like him" in Season 4, Episode 9, "Breakdown." Lucy reaffirms that during "The Enemy Within" by assuring Tim, "You're going to make a really great dad one of these days."
It's beneficial for Tim to hear that belief come from the woman he sees a future with and loves. Chenford's next-level partnership on the Little League field during Season 5, Episode 11, "The Naked and the Dead" is another example of Lucy supporting Tim in breaking the cycle his father upheld. These beats may come at the expense of the hardened cop some viewers favored in Tim in The Rookie's debut season, but the reward is much better.
Tim Bradford's character development is a non-linear journey that has seen him gradually soften and learn that doesn't make him weak. Tim opens himself up to love with Lucy and forms a partnership that means so much to him that he gave up a job he loved. Tim and Lucy foster the best versions of themselves together. "The Enemy Within" excels because of its awareness that they make each other better -- through thick and thin.
The Rookie airs on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC and streams on Hulu.