u/Technical-Cellist548

We hear a lot about when feelings started or who fell first, the longing looks etc but what about all their moments that aren’t of a romantic nature? What’s your favourite scene of theirs that isn’t to do with romance or love? Their relationship is more than that.

Please be mindful of people who aren’t fully up to date yet.

One of mine is the fight scene in 5x22. Synchronicity, silent communication, teamwork, protection of each other.

This episode, written by Moira Kirland and Aleks Biskis, delivers a mixture of high stakes action and personal turning points. For Chenford, closure of a chapter that we never thought we’d get.

We start the episode with Tim and Lucy in ‘their’ office reviewing the work Tim has done for the recruitment drive. It’s such a fun but meaningful moment for them because it starts off with Lucy just giving simple feedback. He’s bought Lucy in for her honest opinion. Wanting her input. He values her perspective but it ends with her being played at her own game. She’s being careful when voicing her thoughts. She builds him up first, telling him what she loves and acknowledging the work he’s put in, reaching out to ground him as she delivers her critique.

“So I’m a bad cop?”
“Not at all but that was a bad stop. How do you think those men felt about their interaction with you? You think it was a positive experience?”
“I’m not looking for 5 star Yelp reviews. I’ve got a job to do”
“Well so did they. They were just trying to get to work and then they met…you”

“Roll call was OK right?”

Tim knows there’s something she hasn’t yet voiced so responds with ‘But?’. She tells him that it’s a “little narrowly focused”. She’s basically telling him that his vision is good but it’s too him. It doesn’t reflect the full reality of the LAPD. Tim’s whole mindset is ‘Be strong. Be tough. Protect people’ but Lucy sees the bigger picture. Diversity. Different experiences. Different voices.

“I took this job to help people. I have to have empathy. The alternative, at least for me, is unthinkable”

He isn’t thrilled with what she says initially but ultimately she’s right. It’s his journey as a cop but not necessarily everyone’s. He turns it around and gives her the job of staffing the event. She gave him feedback, he listened, then gives the responsibility to her.

“I have decided to list you as arresting officer on all future reports”
“But you’re senior officer”
“I know. But you deserve to be recognised”

That’s growth. Tim 1.0 would have shut it down but Tim 2.0 is now ‘OK. You see the issue, then help fix it’. That’s leadership. Their dynamic was perfect balance. Lucy pushes him to think bigger and he pushes her to step up.

“We made a play and we failed”
“Wow. Never thought I’d see you give up so easily”
“You got a path to victory Boot, I’m all ears”
“I don’t. But you’re the King of subversive tests and tricks. There’s gotta be some way to win by coming at this sideways”

“It’s a good opportunity Lucy. It’s time for you to move on”

“You want to be a sergeant, you have to get used to supervising from the sidelines. How about we practice today? I’ll let you call the shots”

That’s healthy communication. They are constantly challenging each other, not just supporting. Tim is growing as a leader and Lucy is growing into more responsibility and their relationship is evolving into more than just romance. They are becoming a team in every sense. He threw the challenge down and Lucy accepted. She immediately ropes in Miles and Celina - much to Tim’s inner control freaks horror. She explains her very sound reasons for doing so.

We shift to the recruitment event being held in the station parking lot with booths being manned by both Celina and Miles and Tim and Lucy. After some advice from Tim on how to narrow down candidates, we proceed to some light hearted fun with a string of no hopers. Very ‘Turn In Your Ex’ like. Only this time, they are together and in charge. Only one thing is the same. Tim’s annoyance.

“You two look so cute together. Please tell me you are dating?”
“No Sir. We’re just co-workers”

“Was that so hard?”
“Pure agony”

All of a sudden we get an eyeful of Ridley. Everything changes in this moment. The playfulness has gone. The moment is short but it carries a lot of weight. Seth wants back in. On the surface, it sounds reasonable with the staff shortages Tim mentioned in roll call. It sounds simple but we know it’s not. The absolute cahooners on Ridley to just stroll up like he did. Gotta hand it to him. Not only did he go to the event, he chose Tim and Lucy’s line to stand in. Absolute audacity. This is the same guy who lied repeatedly, put people in danger and broke trust in a massive way. Tim and Lucy’s silent reaction is important. They don’t immediately respond and that silence speaks volumes. Lucy knows exactly what he did so will they even consider giving him another chance? This scene sets up the big question for the episode. It’s not whether he can come back - it’s whether he deserves to because in this job, trust isn’t optional. It’s essential.

“How much do you trust the LAPD background checks?”

“Has he ever lied on a call or on paperwork?”
“Not that I know of”
“There’s a difference between lying on the job and lying about the job”

We move onto Tim and Lucy with Miles in their office discussing Seth’s appearance at the recruitment drive. The team is somewhat divided because it isn’t about him. It’s about what they are willing to forgive. There is a multitude of shared knowing looks. Lucy is struggling with having to allow him the opportunity. Hers is an emotional response. Knowing he’s used their vulnerability to plea his case for reinstatement. Tim sees it more logically. They need boots on the ground now - not in 6 months when they’ve passed the academy. They are hugely understaffed. He cannot deny they need the help. This is WC speaking. Legally, he can’t stop him. If Seth passes the physical, the rest is easy. Miles is fighting Seth’s corner that he deserves a second chance and has changed. Lucy turns away, drops her voice and says it’s not the physical that concerns her, “it’s everything else”. She’s genuinely concerned with Ridley’s ability to tell the truth and isn’t buying what Miles is selling. Lucy knows that being a cop isn’t just about passing a test - it’s about trust, judgement and accountability and he has already failed on all three.

The question is not ‘Is Seth good enough?’ - it’s ‘Can we afford to say No?’. Emotion versus reality. Lucy isn’t convinced on Miles’ word alone. She needs more. Tim gets her silent go ahead because she knows that Tim being WC means he can’t deny Seth a chance just based on Lucy’s opinion and past with him.

*AHEM*

TIM WHISTLES. *fans self* I’m sorry but that was hot as hell. And I’m not ashamed. In the slightest. I would have gone running over with my tail wagging if he beckoned me over to him like that. It probably wasn’t supposed to be that hot but I took it that way. So it is now law. I don’t make the rules….

Bradford explains to Seth in no uncertain terms that the only way he would even be considered for returning to the FTO program is to pass a polygraph test.

“We both know those are….illuminating”

“I’m going to prove to you that I’m rooting for you”
“So I can ask you anything?”
“Well the point was to ask me about you making detective, working undercover, that sort of thing”
“Well yeah but we need to be thorough….don’t you think?”
“What do you wanna ask?!”

This is for Lucy’s comfort most probably because it sure as hell isn’t for Seth’s. Ooooffff. He looks uncomfortable already. He wasn’t expecting this. Now he’s opening himself up to some difficult questions and he is not looking forward to it.

On to the interrogation room where we see Seth hooked up to a lie detector test and Tim and Lucy sitting there opposite him - with Tim looking hot as the sun staring Ridley down. Arms crossed. Biceps bulging. Paying a visit to Forearm Central. Look, at this point I cannot help the intrusive thoughts he gives me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tim is pissed. He has that angry look on his face. Quietly seething that he even has to entertain this 😡

Lucy starts off by asking some simple questions to get a baseline. Tim beside her in protective mode. Being the calming presence he always is. Lucy’s emotions are on full display as she starts questioning him. The kind of questions that have troubled her from the start. Things that have never sat right with her. GF overdosing, his relationship with Tamara, his cancer diagnosis. He answers them all - no doubt with sweaty palms. He is hating this. Barking Bradford keeping him in line when he strays from the correct procedure for answering. Tim asks if he ever thought himself to be sick during his rookie time. He answers No. The look of disgust between them that he could lie about something so awful.

Now we get to the nitty gritty. The wildfire. I’m glad they circled back to this. Closure is needed for Lucy and the audience. She goes for the jugular. Asks him directly whether he received a call from the National Weather Service on the day of the canyon fire. Pure panic on Seth’s face. Does not want to answer this but Tim is not having it. Demands he answers *fans self*. He is not letting the little oik get away with deflecting. Seth is seeing WC Bradford. We are seeing LIBF.

“Get your eyes off Officer Chen Texas”

His GF asked a question and you will answer it goddammit!

Seth finally comes clean about his part in their near death experience. Lucy - still pushing for answers - asked if it was on purpose that he failed to pass on the information. She does not let up on him. All her buried anger towards him bubbling to the surface. He tried to defend himself - because of course he does - but his attempts fail on deaf ears. The Great Wall of Chenford is not budging. Tim looks ready to rip him apart. Lucy confirming he wasn’t scared- he was just protecting himself. As usual. I honestly think Lucy wanted to be wrong about her suspicions that day but sadly all her fears were true.

Seth rejoins Tim and Lucy in their office. For the first time, he actually did everything right. He told the truth, owned up, apologised and is trying to change. Lucy herself admits that. That is huge because she doesn’t say it lightly but then reality hits. Despite everything, it’s still No. Tim is the one to deliver it. What Seth did was unforgivable. The past still counts in this moment. Ridley pushes back - questioning if his sacrifice counts for anything. Again No. Tim is straight to the point - it’s not enough. Lucy’s response is softer and more emotional but final. It’s a catch 22. They gave him a fair shot by even letting it get to this point but by telling the truth eventually, he signed his own rejection letter. Growth doesn’t erase consequences.

Tim giving his respect to Ridley is huge because it’s not something he dishes out easy. Especially to Rookies.

“So that means I’ve lost all the respect I earned”
“You lost that when you lied on a report”

“Soon there’ll be another Rookie sitting in that seat annoying the crap out of me for 12 hours a day”

“Don’t mistake my compliment for kindness”

“I need to put a bell around your neck because I keep losing you”

He knows all too well about making mistakes and owning them.

“I own my mistakes and move on”

He may not be giving Seth his badge back but he gave him something else. Acknowledgement, respect and a small sense of redemption. It’s not a happy ending but it’s a real one.

Now we have everyone’s favourite scene at Nolan’s house. I loved this whole vibe. The found family supporting one of their own as Wesley’s DA journey comes to an end.

🚨🚨🚨Tim and Lucy acting like a normal couple in front of others 🚨🚨🚨. Them being all playful with no personal space as Rodge sings. Smiley, content and glued to each other. In their own little world. Who is THIS Tim? Why it’s the blissfully in love one that’s who! The happiness is pouring out of them.

“Timothy, do you have feelings for Lucy?”
“Noooooo!”

“That girl is the best thing that’s ever happened to you”

Tim’s arm around Lucy during Nolan’s speech. In public. These two spent the entire day together and still barely left each others side at the party.

Lucy looking at Tim with full on heart eyes when Wesley mentions about not being able to get through the last year without each other. She had an emotionally heavy day and Tim was right by her side. As he has been since she joined the LAPD. Even during difficult times for them, he never wavered.

They’ve never been happier - HEART CLUTCH ❤️. These scenes were great. Tim and Lucy just hanging out with their found family, happy together and showing it. This feels earned. They’ve come along way. They arrived together and will leave the same way. Seeing that Tim happily accepts Lucy’s love now and is finally able to express it amongst his friends. He doesn’t just have romantic love in his life, he has love in all forms. Family and friends as well. It’s about time ❤️

Chenford Content - 7/10. Some of the camera angles seem strange to me during the group scene and the positioning of Tim and Lucy - where they seemed off to the side and not included didn’t look right. But loved the closure they both got and how much of a team they are

Episode overall - 6/10. Bit of a filler episode and was odd to not include miles with the found family vibe.

This episode, written by Natalie Callaghan and Fatima Eldigair, featured code names, special ops and teamwork to take a break from the emotionally heavy and focus on the spy genre to save one of their own.

We start this weeks instalment with a fast forward to an FBI debrief and Tim being all sergeantly (not even a word but I don’t care). Arms crossed. Biceps bulging. Long sleeves. Authority oozing out of every gorgeous pore. Tim being in WC mode explaining the reason for the mission to the panel.

Next up, we have Tim and Lucy riding together in their civvies. They both look incredible. Their code name for this mission is ‘Tinker Tailor’. I love that even their code names go together - just re-iterating how much of a partnership these two are.

“Good job today”
“You too. Not a bad way to end our partnership. Saving a family”
“Yeah. Although we’re still not partners…..on the job anyway”

The look they give each other when the names are said. Happy sigh.

The way they are so seamless when they work together. The little glances, the silent communication, chemistry on point as usual. We get some team radio chatter with Lucy commenting on Nolan calling Bailey out “on an open channel”. In all honesty, she does need to be reminded that she has flaws BUT Lucy takes the opportunity to remind ‘Tailor’ there’s a time and a place for such conversations

“You always call me out in front of people when I screw up”

That man went to therapy to become better for her. He doesn’t care what her flaws are and would never publicly say it. Now he has come along way with being more open with his feelings, expressing himself more and everyone is very aware of his love for her but there are some things he still won’t do. Being flirty on an open channel is one of them. He keeps his response professional and authoritative.

”Theres a meth lab cobbled together by a bunch of mouth breathers speeding through our city. We gotta focus”
”Why are you so cranky? First Valentines Day. You should be basking in the glow of new love”
”Thats right! What are you guys doing tonight?”
”We are not talking about Valentines Day plans on an open channel”

He is Watch Commander so needs to keep his team in check (finally they show Tim with some authority over his people 👏)

We move to them conducting surveillance on the underground parking garage of the hospital. Honestly, these two look so good. This scene might feel quiet at first glance but it’s loaded with tension and subtle emotion. Lucy starts off in cop mode- focused and giving clear descriptions of the people they are watching. Calm and controlled. Professional. Then Tim updates the team and takes the baton. His eyes never leave her. This is where the dynamic shifts from just a mission to something deeper. He tells her to ‘stay here’. While it is in part because Lucy is his eyes and ears in case they return, it also does carry that familiar protectiveness we’ve come to know and love. Lucy’s response ‘be careful’ - the concern on her face. They are both incredibly capable, but there is that underlying worry when they’re apart. Her telling him to take care - it’s simple, quick but it says so much. It’s concern that’s real and personal. Tim’s response of ‘yeah’ - thats trust. No long speech, no putting her mind at rest. Just a quiet understanding between two people who know each other inside out and have survived so much together. It’s the kind of moment that proves once again that their relationship has been built over time on these quiet meaningful exchanges in the middle of danger.

”Tim, be careful”
”Always am”

Tim leaves the car with the familiar sexy swagger to head inside. He meets up with Grey - Red October for this mission - and I have to say, I wasn’t expecting this blink and you miss it moment to look as hot as it did but hearing Tim use the code names and then have them silently swaggering through the halls of the hospital. It did things to me. Not gonna lie. Seeing them working side by side completely focused- loved it.

Now we move onto Bradford channelling his inner Captain America and giving us the take down of dreams. I have no words for how hot this was. It’s always nice to be reminded that he is actually an incredibly skilled officer. He walks into the elevator with the suspect ‘Hondo’ who could tell instantly that he was an ex military man. He has a look apparently (doesn’t he just?!) Once Hondo spots his ear piece - it’s game on. He’s cornered with a cop. When Tim says “so we’re doing this?” - making sure Hondo knows exactly the pasting he is letting himself in for. This fight scene was epic IMO.

Bradford held his own for most of the fight. He may be 45ish (allegedly. I’m still not convinced 😂) but he’s still got it. In droves. It’s sexy as hell to watch him taking care of business.

“Where’s your bladed stance huh? Always come in with your head”
“You’re supposed to arrest the guy, not get into a brawl”

“When you got your ass kicked, I stole your money clip”

“Training for the rematch with Nico?”
“We got him in the end”

“You had him”
“I was upside down in a footwell while he was trying to stab me in the face. No I did not have him”

Well, he’s got it when his mind is clear and focused. He’s on the back foot if he’s mentally overloaded.

The ending with Tim shoving Hondo out of the elevator and cuffing him, before him and Grey march his sorry arse out of there. Tim all battered and bruised. YUM.

Next we have another Chenford team up hunting the remaining henchmen. They corner one of the guys in a very busy public park, who starts mouthing off how strong he is and what he’s going to do to them. Yeah right. According to said henchman, he was going to start by breaking Bradfords arms and then work his magic on Lucy’s “pretty little face”. Well that was stupid of him. Tim Bradford and chill do not go together when it comes to his girl. It won’t end well.

“I am responsible for a life that is in jeopardy and I will do whatever I have to to save her”
“Cos if you don’t, I will pull you inside out”

Tim pulls out his taser, Lucy follows suit and they both take him down without breaking a sweat. He was prepared to go toe to toe until you bought the LOHL into it. You threatened the face he’s grown “fond” of - Bradford openly flirting on the job? And not in a subtle way? Swoon!

This takes us to the final scene which caused the fandom to combust. We get a further glimpse of their domestic life and end of day debriefs. Tim looking pensive on the couch nursing some nasty bruises and scrapes and Lucy bringing him something cold to hold against his face. We had Lucy voicing concerns last week and now it’s Tim’s turn. He admits that after all the excitement and action he had experienced that day, he’s realised that his patrol juices are floweth over and he’s bored being stuck behind a desk. Let’s be honest, we all knew this would happen. He’s far too GI Joe to be happy station bound.

“But that’s a desk job”
“Yeah. Out of your chain of command”
“You’ll be bored out of your mind”
“Doesn’t matter”

This scene is not loud or dramatic but it’s says a lot about where they are now. Tim admitting he’s bored. Even after a mad, crazy, action packed day, he still feels unfulfilled and that shows something far deeper. Tim isn’t struggling because the job is hard. He’s struggling because it isn’t him.

Lucy steps in and reminds him of what he’s just done. Fighting. Leading. Being in the action - and making a point of saying how badass that was. Reminding him he took down a super soldier and tasered a second WITH HER. His beloved ‘honey bunny’. Let’s not bypass Lucy’s look of pride at what he achieved that day. He confides in her about his career path and that taking the WC role might not have been the best move for him. This scene really does continue to show Tim is actively learning to communicate better.

Lucy then does what she does best. Gives Tim a new perspective. She challenges his mindset on what’s traditional or expected for WC and encourages him to do it his way. Redefine the role. Make the job his own. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s done things his own way

“Directing the action from a distance works for you. I don’t know if it will ever work for me. I need to find my own way of being a sergeant”

Tim listening is huge. He’s such a strict, by the book guy so to see him even considering changing it up is wonderful. Because Lucy didn’t dismiss his feelings on the role, he feels seen and understood.

Lucy supporting his career growth, Tim being vulnerable with her shows how much of a partnership these two have. He really values her opinion and advice - but more importantly he really values HER. He really needs her perspective in his life. The future is no longer just his - it’s theirs and any decision he makes regarding his career needs her input because it affects her too. This is what was missing the first time.

After everything Tim went through this episode, the fighting, the injuries, the bruises, you can tell his body is still feeling it. Everything hurts, every movement is painful. Lucy kisses him and he flinches. Not because he doesn’t want it but because he’s trying to be tough, trying to be Tim Bradford but somethings off. She teases him - asking if he wants her to stop? Of course he bloody well doesn’t. She is wielding her wifey power, she doesn’t move an inch as she knows full well what his answer will be. She is continuing to prove to him that being emotionally healthier turns her on - at this point is she ever off?!

Tim wants her close. He closes his eyes as she tenderly kisses his boo-boos. He is blissed out. Content. Forget the pain - he’s going to push through and kiss his girl back. This is the kind of moment where love shifts from ‘I care about you’ to ‘I can build a future with you’. This is where ‘I can marry her’ starts to form - even if he hasn’t said it out loud yet.

Chenford content - 9/10. Code name cuteness, career communication and teamwork. These conversations they are having are so important even if they are brief.

Episode overall - 9/10. I really liked this one -more than I thought I would. The whole team working together like the well oiled machine they are.

This episode, written by Chelsea Urech, focuses on character development after last weeks emotionally devastating visit to Mid Wilshere. It features Lucy’s return to work and shows that surviving something is only the beginning.

The opening scene starts off quietly, with Lucy hiding under the sheets. She hears Tim approaching and although she’s looking less than thrilled at the thought of starting her day, she tells him she’s up. Tim - despite having glasses on his bedside table- is in fact not blind, and sassily responds that she looks pretty horizontal to him. (Well I could argue it’s his favourite position to have her in but I’m almost positive he prefers her vertical…against a wall 🔥).

She throws the sheets back and there he is. All 6ft 2 of gorgeousness with no judgement, only concern on his chiselled face. Tim can see straight away the truth. That she is still shaken and struggling with the emotional load. His concern is oozing out of him. He checks in to tell her there’s no shame if she needs more time. That what she experienced was deeply traumatic and her issues go deeper than fear. Trauma and recovery is every individuals journey and there is no timeline. Loved him saying it wouldn’t disappear in a few weeks.

“What’s your plan?”
“For what?”
“Officer Chen. I’m sure you’ve got some Alpha strategy to get her back on the horse so what is it?”
“Your standard input overload. Force her to push through dynamic engagements, hone in her fight or flight response”

What growth from him yet again. The man - who pre therapy - wouldn’t have acknowledged any suffering he’s endured and would pretend he wasn’t affected by anything. Ever. No siree. But look at him now. Understanding that things happen to people that can change them and it’s ok to not be ok.

Lucy admits to struggling to process what happened due to Martin actually being a victim himself. An innocent man for all intents and purposes who shouldn’t have had to die. That morally grey area is what is eating her up inside.

Tim’s response here is so important. He can see how this is tormenting her and that issue is what she is struggling to get past. Most of what happened she has made peace with but the innocence of Martin is where she is stumbling.

Tim moves towards her, sits on the bed and holds his hand out. Subtly nudging it closer until she takes it. He tells her that he hears what’s she saying but its much more simple for him. He never breaks eye contact as he tells her that while he may sound cold blooded - showing that Tim 1.0 is still in there somewhere - but that Martin in that moment in the tunnel was a brutal, murderous maniac hellbent on killing her and that she absolutely had no choice but to save herself. Tim’s gentle reassurance mentioning her bravery, her fight to survive. Giving her the strength she needed then. Tim reaching his hand across to her is almost his way of needing the reassurance of her touch. It’s raw, it’s heavy and it’s real. Sometimes survival doesn’t come with clean emotions or clear answers.

Tim validated how she was feeling and understanding that it’s natural to feel how she does but he is beyond grateful that it was him and not her. That the crazed man almost took his person from him. Letting her know that if she hadn’t have acted in that moment, he would’ve lost her forever. He’s being so vulnerable - telling her his deepest fear of having to say goodbye. Detailing how he would have been the one organising her send off, grieving her loss.

“Grief is grief. It’s a hole that can’t be filled but over time, it will shrink enough so you won’t fall in every time you take a step”

He acknowledges that he knows it’s complicated for her but for him - she’s still alive. With him. And he has no shame in admitting that. He gets to be with the LOHL. She did what she had to. He gets to keep her and it’s as simple as that for him. Tim opening up like that - telling Lucy what she needed to understand. The selfishness he’s displaying is actually very real and human. She didn’t just save her own life, she saved the future they are working towards.

We watch Lucy as Tim’s words sink in. How she realises in that moment where his head is at. How devastated he would have been. How his whole world came close to collapsing. How hard that was for Tim to voice that out loud

“I’m more of a show you guy”

It was exactly what Lucy needed to hear. She was in no fit state to hear it in last weeks episode but now she needs to. She needs to understand that while she can still feel remorseful, she has people that love her and would be beyond devastated if it had gone the other way and that’s ok too.

She gets up to get ready for work - still with a nervousness which is understandable. She tells Tim that he doesn’t have to worry about her. Now Chen. Behave yourself. That’s like asking him not to breathe. He is always going to worry. It’s in his DNA and unfortunately, you fell in love with a man who loves so deeply- at a level that’s almost mythical- that you’re asking for the impossible.

What’s interesting is we have a former poor communicator telling Lucy she has to talk to him. What a time to be alive (scuse the pun). He knows she’ll do her job if she can but she mustn’t lie to him about how she’s feeling. He doesn’t need her to be strong and battle through, he needs her to be honest.

“If your head is not 100% in the game, it will get you killed”

“What the hell were you thinking? Sending me out there with a broken rookie?!”
“He’s not broken”
“He FROZE when the bullets starting flying! You’re telling me the same thing didn’t happen the day I got shot?!”

Tim has been through this before. More than once. He’s guiding her emotionally through this. To push herself before she is ready will put others in danger. He doesn’t want that for her.

Next is a scene between Tim and Grey that I personally loved. First of all, Grey being the dad to everyone at the station and goes to Tim “Chen Chronicle” Bradford to find out how Lucy is doing. What a difference. You could tell when Chenfords dynamic was changing when he stopped being the one asking how’s she doing and started being the one in the know.

“You and Chen are close right?”
“Yeah I’d say so”
“How’s she doing? I mean really doing?”
“She’s good. Really. Think she’ll be better once she gets that tattoo removed. Can you imagine that? Walking around every day branded by the worst thing that ever happened to you?”
“You think because it’s physical it’s worse? Tragedy always leaves scars. Only some of them you can see”

“She’s due for a check in at midnight. I will take her temperature then. If I feel she’s in too deep, we can go get her”
“Call me right after”

“How’s Lucy?”
“Er, she’s still a little shaken. Taking some time to get Chris settled”

“How is she?”
“Celina or Lucy?”
“Both”
“Celinas making progress. Think she should ride with me again today. Lucy’s in the exam now waiting her turn. I’ll be glad when this is all over”

Happy to hear Tim asking about Luna. Tim’s communication issues weren’t just with Lucy so to see him show genuine interest and concern in someone’s else’s problems is so so good. Knowing now that sometimes all people need is to talk. Help each other out. To have people around you who genuinely care and want to be there for you. To take some burden. To not have to fight battles alone. Tim being the sympathetic ear -
LOVE ❤️

Lucy enters the bullpen all apprehensive. On edge. People seem to be ignoring her or being awkward around her. Except Mr Foot In Mouth Smitty. Because of course it’s him. Never was subtle.

“Are you taking bets on my break up Smitty?”

Smitty rambles about what he’s NOT supposed to be mentioning until Tim stops him. Pulls him away before he can put both feet and his ankles in his mouth. Smitty doing the actual stabbing motion. Oh my days. Tim looks so done with his antics already.

Lucy questions whether Tim has asked people to avoid her. He admits he’s ‘encouraged’ people to give her her space. HEART CLUTCH ❤️. He didn’t want her to be overwhelmed on her first shift back so made sure he protected her before she’d even started. Not only fierce protector but a pro-active one as well. Lucy reminds Tim not to yell at Smitty - no harm was done. He calmly says he’s not yelling- he is in fact promoting so he can ride with her. First day back. Tim has covered all bases to ensure that Smitty doesn’t make an arse of himself but Lucy is concerned the optics won’t look good. I do get this but Grey would’ve done the same thing. Tim rode with Aaron on his first day back in the saddle after a trauma.

“I feel strong in mind, body and spirit. I’m ready”
“Thorsens not ready. What’s the first thing an officer returning from injury worries about?”
“Getting hurt again”
“Especially after a near fatal like Thorsens”
“You’re afraid he’s going to turtle up when things get real?”
“I don’t want to wait to find out. In this business, we don’t get the luxury of do-overs”
“You want me to take him out today and get punched in the face?”
“Officially, I want you to supervise his ability to cope with stress both mental and physical”
“You got it. Let’s see how he does against the TRAIN”

No one is a better partner for her in the field than him. It’s how they started. No one better to clock her emotions and tells than him.

He tries to calm her worry by claiming he would do this for any of his officers like it’s routine. But we all know the truth. This isn’t just about duty. It’s about her. It’s about making sure she’s ok without making her feel broken.

Lucy gets this so she agrees - as long as she can choose lunch. Much to his chagrin.

We next see them riding together ❤️❤️. Lucy attaches to a call regarding a dead body and Tim tells her that they can start easier. Bradford - your BF is showing. Lucy’s impression of Tim 1.0 is spot on. He’s always just picked himself up and dusted himself off and never allowed himself to wallow and heal. UNTIL Lucy. The role reversal in this. Tim- who is far too busy keeping an eye on Smitty in his office and yelling at him as he sees him rifling through his things. This shows true love for Lucy for him to allow Smitty anywhere near his office. He’s never trusted him.

“You need to get back to the station”
“What?”
“Immediately”
“Why?”
“Because if we’re both out of commission…”
“Based on seniority….”
“Smittys in charge”

With heart eyes raging, Lucy tells Tim that he can’t hear him, then yells herself when she spots him manhandling her VDay gift to Tim. Oh no. No one even breathes on that without permission. Love the banter. Both exasperated with Mr Irrelevant for the same reason. Tim even threatened physical violence because his girl is now extremely bothered by his actions. No one messes with LIBF.

They arrive on the scene and Lucy is immediately thrown by what she sees. Tim - no surprises here - clocks the flinching and the rubbing of the tattoo that she always goes for in moments of distress. He is watching her very closely. Her hand does not leave her side during this whole interaction. She is very much not OK. She has to get away ASAP.

After some hallway fisticuffs, we next see Chenford back in the shop and yet more Smitty hysterics as Tim is watching his office thinking the feed is just frozen as Stationary Smitty has not moved. Lucy finds this hilarious and informs him that it is probably a photo he’s propped up on the camera to avoid working. I mean kudos to Q for going to that extreme but Tim is pissed that he would rather work to be lazy than pull his weight. Tim cannot fathom him out. Lucy is almost smug because by putting Smitty in charge so he could ride with her - he asked for this. Clock Lucy’s body language in these two shop scenes. Both relaxed and at ease with Tim but coiled like a spring at the crime scene. That should tell her something.

We return to the station and ooofffff. Her relaxed demeanour shifts as soon as she finds herself being accosted by Martin Carpio’s sister Joan. Tim - puts himself as a shield between Joan and Lucy and gently gets her away. Joan blindsided her and Tim wasn’t letting that happen. For two reasons - one is that Lucy still isn’t ready to handle this fully and two - it’s an ongoing investigation so there are legal reasons involved. Lucy stands to the side looking anxious as hell rubbing her tattoo. Lucy is already struggling with the morally grey area of Martins innocence and Joan is just hammering away at her conscience. Tim’s reaction when Joan is asking for answers, saying he didn’t deserve what happened. His focus is entirely on Lucy and how she is reacting. He can see the pain on her face when she’s being reminded of what happened and the action she had to take. Tim does not take his eyes off her during the whole exchange. Fierce protector steps in and orders the woman to leave. It wasn’t a request. He walks towards Lucy and again puts himself as a shield between them.

Tim’s worry is evident but Lucy is annoyed that the families haven’t been told the whole truth. I get that. They deserve to know so they can start to heal properly. Lucy always needs to know the why so she gets where Joan is coming from. Now this is where people are divided. Was Tim right or wrong here? Well, I say both. His WC hat is explaining policy and procedure and legality. It’s the professional aspect he is right on. Tim is doing his job. He is not being BF here. Yet. Where BF Tim appears is when he benches her. He was right to do it because she did need time to gather herself but it should have only been temporary. Or he should have asked if she was OK to continue. His desperate need to protect her is clouding his judgement. He asked her to communicate that morning and she is by telling him that his sister needs to know the truth but that’s where Tim isn’t listening. His desire to protect her because he loves her overtook everything else.

“Don’t do that”
“Do what?”
“Jump on the grenade. I don’t need you protecting me”
“I wasn’t suggesting you did”
“Can we circle back to me yelling at you?”

Under the pretence of the WC hat, he ordered her to stay at the station. He had been doing a pretty decent job of balancing work and personal life - they both had- but this is new. It was a mistake Tim made but Lucy makes one herself later.

Lucy is PISSED. He’s overcorrecting because he couldn’t protect her last episode so he’s doubling down this time. Is it right? No. He’s determined to keep her safe but in doing so - he’s left her unheard.

Tim - still reeling from his frustration at what’s just happened- goes back to his office, kicks Smitty out, cleans up and takes a moment. Breathe Bradford. Breathe.

Now here is where we see Lucy’s mistake. Tim radios for assistance to the motel from earlier and STR being in possible trouble. Lucy - after hesitating to respond to him knowing she’s ignored his request deliberately- then advises she will attach. He reiterates that she was benched. She explains why she defied him - which is very fair - and then asks what she can expect. Tim has to push down his anger, give her clear instructions and sets off himself. Now Lucy did ignore a direct order from her WC but she did so because it’s her BF. Tim was right to be pissed. What Lucy should have done IMO was to go to him directly once she has got her head on straight again and ask to go back out. Explain and communicate. But she didn’t and that was her mistake. She defied her WC because she knows she will get away with it. Tim benched her because of his feelings for her and she knew it.

Now HOLY HELL, we get Tim flying into the motel parking lot with no more f***s to give, shooting THROUGH the windshield. THIS WAS SEXY AS HELL. That was insanely attractive. And he was the first one there. Talk about motivated! Phew 😮‍💨 🔥🥵

He is fired up. That look he gives her….oooo she has shame on her face for disobeying him. I’m not sure whether she expected him to arrive or send alternative back up. TBF she should be sorry - but they both made errors. Tim is not always right and neither is Lucy. Her desperation to not be treated as his GF at work means things like this happen but it’s also why he won’t punish her. So there’s that.

The final Chenford scene is incredible on the growth front. Tim is still pissed she went against him and voices it. Lucy challenges it - not to argue, but to assert competence. Not defiance. She tells him the order was ‘wrong and patronising’. She’s confident and insisting she was capable. She’s honest with him. When she admits she was thrown by Joan, Tim doesn’t tell her she’s wrong - he immediately sees her perspective. When he admits he wasn’t listening and apologises, he isn’t being weak. He’s just decided to put his relationship first.

Lucy acknowledges his protectiveness of her but she reframes it as care and softens the tension. The maturity. The willingness to listen and admit she has a point.

“This isn’t going to work if you’re gonna lie to me”
“OK. Did you undermine me today because you’re afraid I’m going to make detective?”

“All I did today was have your back and if you can’t see that then…you know what? I’m tired. You have studying to do. Let’s just take the night off. I’ll see you tomorrow”

It melts her anger straight away. Lucy is finally being heard and she softens. Tim realised that he failed to listen, let his protectiveness take over and apologised. And so did she. I did such a happy dance at that. I’m glad she acknowledged her own failings. Her reasons were fair, but her execution in proving her point wasn’t. In 6x1, Lucy took ZERO accountability and I’ve always hated how Tim took full responsibility for their fight and never got the apology he deserved either.

Lucy tells Tim what she needs. To unburden herself. To tell Joan Carpio the truth. She deserves that. While Tim knows she shouldn’t - he allows it because it’s Lucy’s choice.

“Rules matter Boot”
“Some things matter more”

She wants to follow the rules and is trying to but needs to be a good human first. Tim agrees to let her do what she needs to.

Lucy meets with Joan. She explains what happened. Telling her how sorry she was. She pours her heart out - saying Martin was robbed of his humanity. How he was showing no mercy. That she was under attack and fighting for her life. How she almost died. Lucy reliving her horrific ordeal just to bring peace to his sister. Joan could see the trauma Lucy was carrying and accepted her side of the story with grace and thanks. In some ways, it was therapeutic for Lucy to get it all off her chest as well. It’s a heavy weight to carry around. Stirling performance from Melissa.

Chenford content - 8/10. Emotional maturity mixed in with mistakes on both parts. Conflict resolution in a healthy way. Both moving forward together.

Episode overall - 7/10. Glad Lucy’s trauma wasn’t just glossed over which the show has a habit of doing. Would have been nice to see how the team came together for her rather than just Tim.

This episode, written by Alexi Hawley, was a ‘zombie’ inspired fight for survival resulting in a harrowing ordeal for Lucy Chen that will live with her for the rest of her life.

We start the episode with Tim informing everyone at roll call that he has ‘nothing’ to report. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Which is unnerving for all experienced cops. Lucy gazes lovingly at her man as he warns his officers to be vigilant and stay safe and remain on high alert. No hiding her feelings that day.

Next we have the scene that should have been. IMO it was so important to the story. Tim’s experience in the field should never be forgotten or diminished. He is on edge, twitchy and worried. He goes to Lucy and Celina in the parking lot with his heart on his sleeve. Openly admitting to being worried - in front of Celina. The growth they continue to show for Bradford is incredible. Tim 1.0 would have taken Lucy off to a corner and spoke his concerns if he’d have done it at all. This version is just being honest regardless of who is around. Lucy- trying to calm his nervous system makes a comment about his ‘spiritual’ side but Tim is not biting. He’s worried goddammit. His main concern is Lucy - always has been and always will be. The bad feeling he can’t shake off plus Lucy being out there all vulnerable? He’s pretty damn concerned. The fact he’s telling her about how he’s feeling in front of another officer should indicate just how much he’s fretting. For him to be stuck at a desk when he feels as strongly as he does must be so hard for him. Fierce protector reporting for duty.

“Ah. The fierce protector”

Tim is so unnerved by how he’s feeling that he actually wants to ride with Lucy and have Celina ride solo. He wants to ditch his meetings to be at her six. He is freaking out. Being soft in front of Juarez. Lucy gives him a soft touch on his arm - she knows why he’s worried and where it’s coming from. (Thanks Mama B). Celina is the fandom in this moment and is clocking this open display of affection and care. Lucy tells Tim he has meetings all day that he cannot miss and they will be fine……

“I need you to take it seriously if I ever sound the alarm about something”

Celina jumping to reach the trunk - short girl problems I can sympathise with but also it shows that maybe - just maybe Celina isn’t suitable to ride with Lucy that day. Her lack of height being a disadvantage on this occasion…

Tim watches them leave - looking not in any way calmer than he was. This conversation with Lucy has done nothing to settle his nerves.

“You should be out kicking down doors with metro”
“I’m good”
“I don’t need you protecting me”
“I know”
“So what you’re saying is you need me protecting you”
“Clearly. You know me so well”
“I’m happy it’s you at my six”
“Back at you”

Tim’s body language is showing such tension. He really wanted to ride with her and he’s been blocked. He had to give her the agency and it bothers him so much. BF Tim was trying to get out but has been put back into his man cave until after shift. It’s not to do with him not trusting her ability - he trained her. He knows how capable she is.

“She just went right on over”
“Of course she did. I trained her”

“I know you’re worried about Lucy”
“Who said I was worried?”
“I’m just saying, she can handle herself”
“I know she can. I trained her”

But his panic and worry is about not being there to have her back. We all know how fiercely he loves and protects his loved ones. The LOHL has just left the station in an unpredictable job with his gut feeling raging. His worry is off the scale.

Lucy and Celina answer a call from dispatch regarding Westview and the missing officers. Tim - unaware of what’s been happening due to meetings - hears Lucy on the radio regarding the lack of response from officers and is going to investigate. This information just adds to Tim’s anxiety. He has been stuck in meetings unable to help, unaware of the seriousness and now the LOHL is going into a situation blind. His worry is heightened in that moment and seeing the deleted scene after the fact explains why he is so on edge. Without it, it’s seemed an overreaction.

The panic is positively flying off him, he listens as Lucy tries to negotiate and then all hell breaks loose. His reaction to her screams is immediate. The first sign of her being in any danger and he hightails it out of there calling all units to attend. The very thing he has been terrified of all day is possibly coming true. And he wasn’t there to protect her.

“You couldn’t have known”
“I should’ve. I’m a cop. I was standing this close to the guy and I never saw him coming”

“Thought you said she needed rescuing”

Tim’s PTSD from not being there when she needed him still haunts him. Now he’s WC and not able to be her six when he wants to be eats at him.

Now we move onto the ordeal that changes everything. Lucy and Celina get separated during the ‘zombie’ stampede and while Celina locks herself in a room for safety, Lucy ends up terrified in what looks like an underground tunnel alone. She’s ambushed from behind by a crazed woman under the influence of toxic chemicals. These toxins have turned all the clean down operatives into murderous zombie like beings with no humanity. She gets overpowered and badly beaten. Just as Lucy manages to save herself, another attacker - this time a male - enters the scene and he is armed with a knife. He lunges for Lucy and is determined to inflict maximum harm on her. No mercy. She is already weak from the previous beating but manages to find enough strength to turn the knife away from her and into him. Fatally wounding him.

“But you can’t fight!”
“I can fight! I’ve gone toe to toe with plenty of suspects and won”
“Not that one”
“He’s huge!”
“And yet I took him - and his buddy”
“You wanna hit me right now don’t you? I can see it in your eyes. Someone a little more your size? Well come on”
“What?!”
“Hit me Not Nolan! That is an order! Do it for real. Come for me like that tweaker came for you. Now”
“Stay down and get used to that position because in case you didn’t know, you are not a 6ft 2 180 pound man. Tim might be a good TO but he can’t teach you how to fight like a girl. We get a higher show of force especially from men so guess what sweetheart, you are always going to be tested and when you are alone against a desperate suspect and you are between them and freedom, your thoughts can NEVER be ‘oh my he’s bigger than me’. Look here Not Nolan, if you are going to survive these streets as a 5ft 6 woman and one of colour no less, you better learn what these boys don’t know to teach”

Tim pulls up to Westview and the slow-mo shot of his terrified face says it all. He’s beside himself. Bullets are flying around him and he does not even flinch. He is on a mission to get to his girl. His priority is her. Always has been.

“My priorities were already clear”

No one dare stop him from finding her. He asks where she is. She is all that matters. He can see Nolan, Harper and Miles are all ok. They do not need him. Other units are arriving. Lucy is what matters. Chaos is going on around him but he does not notice. BF Tim has arrived and he’s screaming that from the rooftops.

We hear Tim calling for Lucy twice and there’s panic in his voice. He finds her sitting in disbelief at what she’s had to do. The scene starts with Tim splitting himself in two. One part is Bradford, WC/Sgt. The other is Tim who loves Lucy and these two identities are fighting each other the whole time. For a moment, he’s not WC, he’s just somebody who is scared something has happened to his girl. When he says ‘Officer Chen’, that’s the moment he forces himself to go back into command mode. This is something he HAS to do because as soon as Lucy said he was dead, everything becomes evidence. Every word uttered is recorded. Every step is being monitored so if he shows any favouritism, or doesn’t follow protocol or any misconduct, it could be a legal nightmare. For them both. It’s distance but it’s intentional. To protect her. He can’t emotionally comfort her but he can make sure that he protects the job she loves so much so she has one to come back to. It’s a very serious thing. One that she has not experienced before. He has. He knows the spiral she is going to go on. Lucy is a mess. One of the things Tim does best for her is his ability to remain calm. Focused. Logical. His military background coming into play here. It’s prepared him for situations such as this. He has to be her rock in the only way he can be. Every instinct he has in him is wanting to hold her but he can’t. When Celina speaks out about getting separated, Tim shuts her down. He is trying to balance his emotions, her emotions and follow protocol. He can’t have any words being put in Lucy’s mouth. Tim has NO choice in this.

“You know you had to take the shot”
“I know”
“Just because he wanted to die doesn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous”
“I know”

While he had to follow procedure down to the minutest of details, there were also small things he did that were loud. He asks her if she’s hurt first, he reassures her that Nolan and Harper are safe and explains every step instead of ordering her. The most telling line is him saying ‘But you’ve never been through this before, you’re in shock’. That wasn’t procedural language. That’s Tim showing her he cares about her in the midst of everything.

Tim is so tender when he helps her up and walks her out. It’s hard to imagine how difficult that would have been for her. How detached he had to be in those moments. The LOHL struggling to even get up on her own. He did everything he could for her.

We move onto Lucy being processed and this was hard to watch. The emotional turmoil they are both going through. Lucy has disassociated completely. This is killing Tim. His fierce protector nature chomping at the bit to be unleashed. He has to be impartial and not do what his very soul is telling him to do. Wrap her in his arms. He just has to watch but his eyes never leave her. She is battered, bruised and hurting while struggling to keep it together. Dead behind the eyes.

“Are you hurt?”
“Any news?”
“He’s still in surgery right now. What if he dies? What if I killed that guy?”
“Then we’ll deal with it”

We next see Lucy in the interrogation room with Nolan. She is so very out of it. I liked the reminder that he himself has been though this. It’s just Lucy’s nature to ask the mans name. He was a person, a human being with a family and people who loved him. He deserves to be recognised and treated as such. In all honesty, if Tim couldn’t be with her in this moment - the next best person is Nolan. Her union rep, her friend, former rookie alongside her and someone who’s been in her shoes himself. He will do what he can to help her. Lucy feeling like she has to tell her parents about what’s happened despite their judgement. Awful. To know that your own flesh and blood are going to have an opinion on a horrific life or death situation and that that opinion won’t be a good one - my heart broke. She knew that despite what she’s just endured, that her parents would still think bad of her and be unsupportive. What a thing to have to have on your mind at a time like this.

Now we move onto the scene that divides opinion and sent some hate Tim’s way. Unnecessary hate IMO and here’s why.

I know people wanted/expected a hug but the scene didn’t call for more than what we got. First of all, it was written to be quiet and delicate. Lucy got home after experiencing something harrowing and traumatic. She’s emotionally exhausted and in physical pain from being beaten. The scene becomes about soft care. Every action Tim takes is gentle support. Lucy is so out of it she isn’t in the right headspace to receive anything else. This is about what Lucy needed from Tim in this moment- not what the fans wanted or expected. Right now, she needs to process and we all know she takes time with that. As she should. This is Lucy’s journey to take - not Tim’s. He makes her tea, rubs her arm, checks if she’s ready for bed, reassures her she’s going to be OK. All caretaking gestures. Not overwhelming her. Just being the steady presence he always is. He’s doing the best for HER. He’s being respectful of her needs and processes. Respectful of the space she needs. Because no amount of hugs or comfort is going to lift the fog she is under. Nothing is going to help except time. She isn’t receptive. She doesn’t want to be touched or comforted. She just needs to feel. Tim knows she will communicate when she’s ready to. Her responses are controlled, she doesn’t open emotionally, she doesn’t lean into him when he kisses her forehead, she doesn’t ask him to stay. He reads her body language as ‘she’s not ready’ so instead of embracing her, he gives her space and something much more intimate. A forehead kiss is care, respect and deep affection. It’s a small gesture but it has huge meaning. It’s grounding, letting her know she’s supported and respected. A hug can feel too much for someone still processing and coping with the adrenaline pumping. And then he leaves her to her thoughts so she could break down without an audience. She gags when Tim has left - even that tiny bit of comfort from him made her feel nauseous because shes holding back tears. (She did the same gesture when Tim walked away during the tense conversation about not telling his mum in Episode 8. She’s holding back from letting go of her emotions) She doesn’t know who she is anymore. Long gone are the days of him not knowing what she needs from him in moments of trauma.

“If you need anything, you let me know”
“You got a Time Machine?”
“I wish I did”

“Let’s go home”

The other reason a hug wasn’t appropriate was because it would then become a ‘Chenford’ moment which would have been clipped and edited and turned into a big thing. This was a storyline for Lucy. It wasn’t about them. It was about her. Her experience. Her trauma. Her path to walk. He will hold her hand when she’s ready to take the first step down it but at that moment, she wasn’t able to move. I hear alot about fans wanting Tim/Lucy to have storylines outside their relationship but as soon as that happens, they want the other one to be involved as well.

Tim ignoring Lucy’s wishes takes her agency away. She communicated what she needed and he listened. Like he always does. He’ll be there when she’s ready - no way in hell he wouldn’t be.

Chenford content - 6/10. To be honest, this wasn’t an episode for happy domestic stuff. This was rough. The openness from Tim, the silent communication and the way he protected her in a different way this time. Professionally. This was never supposed to be about them. But they still found a way to show their dynamic now. What we got was amazing but from a different angle this time.

Episode overall - 6/10. This was tough. Lucy’s storyline was compelling and a great way to tell the story in a different way than before but the scenes that were deleted shouldn’t have been. Far too much ‘zombie’ action and not enough of the emotional heart of the show. Important conversations were removed in favour of running around which added nothing to the tension IMO.

Please note this article mentions a tiny bit about the season 9 premiere at the bottom. No spoilers given - just the feel of what to expect in 9x1.

They start filming Season 9 on 21st July!

Alexi answers questions I think a lot of people had about certain scenes!

This episode, written by Madeleine Coghlan, is the halfway point of the series. It shows Tim and Lucy being emotionally healthy, tackling things together and holding each other and themselves accountable.

We start the episode with Lucy telling Harper she is excited to have her back on patrol- however brief it may be. She tries to not get involved when Harper wants to know who she is being partnered with but when she pulls on Lucy’s UC heartstrings, she folded like a deckchair and spills that she’s being saddled with Texas (who coincidentally thinks Harper makes Tim look like Mr Rogers. I had NO idea who this was so I googled and all I can say is 😂🤭😂🤭😂🤭😂)

We cut to Lucy sitting on Tim’s desk and waiting for his hunkiness to walk through the door. He strides in, looking slightly puzzled at her presence and has the flirty confidence to ask if there’s a problem or she just wanted to see him. I SEE YOU BRADFORD. He’s so secure this time around. Not naturally assuming there’s a problem and that she could genuinely want to see him because it’s him. They - presumably- spent their morning together and carpooled into work and yet he allows the possibility to be that she needs to see his very handsome face again. I mean, fair assumption.

“How’s the break up going?”
“I’m in the planning stages. I’m just reviewing the literature”
“Literature? Lucy, a psychology journal isn’t going to tell you how to break up with Chris”

“How’s it going?”
“Just counting the seconds until Grey returns. What are you doing back?”

Once she makes it known that - alas- she isn’t there to grab an eyeful of his hotness to see her through the day but because of “your mum”

He deflated. Poor bean. Yes you’re hot, yes she is turned on by your very presence these days and one day, she may jump you in your office but today is not that day.

There are more mum issues to address which has ruined his flirty vibes and messed up his mood once again.

It’s here we find out that Lucy has set up a group chat for the three of them which Tim immediately muted because it’s, well, Tim. Joy is bombarding them both with messages and “relationship quizzes”. I can just imagine Tim’s face to some of those questions

1. What’s the wrong thing to say on a first date?

A - Naked Times
B - Nice bread. Good assortment
C - What did you order again?

2. How do you know when you’ve fallen for someone?

A - When you invite them on a double date with your current partner
B - When you would rather cover your t**s in honey and staple them to a beehive than take the next step with your current partner
C - When you remind them you owe them a dance

3. What is a sure fire sign that your friendship is becoming more?

A - When you’re concerned that office gossip will be about you
B - When a flash of their skin causes your brain to malfunction
C - When you keep emergency surgery a secret from them so they don’t worry

4. How can you tell when the sex is good?

A- When your partner wants to skip dinner because you’re standing close by
B - When showers together isn’t just to save water
C - When you are still remembering how you felt a week later

No wonder Tim didn’t want to read anymore 😂

Lucy feels obligated to reply because he isn’t. He makes a joke about his poor communication skills which she is having none of by the way. It’s true she doesn’t have to respond and in theory she would be happy not to but Tim does have to try and make an effort as well. After Joys surprise visit, Lucy seems determined to help Tim rebuild his relationship with his mother. But he’s avoiding - which is so not like him #sarcasm. It’s too much for him at the moment. It’s unfamiliar territory. Lucy - as an empath - is trying to fix this. She wants them to start healing but Tim has to play a part in this too.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been here to help more. Sorry I haven’t been a better big brother”
“You’re not that bad. When you’re around”
“Well….all that changes now. I’m coming to visit every holiday and I’ll call at least twice a week”

“Let’s have dinner tonight”
“So you can blow me off at the last minute? No”

That’s all Lucy is asking for. For him to try. Look at these two communicating! Even when it’s not fun or flirty. You can see he isn’t thrilled at the idea of making contact but she will be so happy if he does.

Next up we see Lucy banging on Tim’s office window to get his attention. She makes him get up and come to her. She’s not too impressed with his way of dealing with his mum situation. She’s annoyed and frustrated. MARRIED BELL IS TRULY RINGING NOW. She shows him the text she has received from Joy asking “why has Tim told me not to contact you anymore?” Oh Bradford. Babe. That was not the way. He beckons her in and she flat out refuses to entertain that idea. She calls him instead 😂. He asks why she won’t just come and see him? BECAUSE SHES PISSED AT YOU BABE. You’ve made this situation ten times worse now. Honestly, I get it. I love him dearly but I’m with Lucy on this. That’s not the contact she meant. He explains what he was trying to do but it falls flat because he’s gone too far the other way. Overcorrecting. He thought he’d done the right thing but he’s done it in a very Tim way - and not the way Lucy would have done it.

In his defence, this is all new to him and it’s evident. He’s messed this up but Lucy is trying to guide him in the right direction

“If you like this girl, you should listen to her”

“You did the right thing, letting the cops find Isabel’s drugs”

“Scary what happens when a guy focuses on only one thing. Cautionary tale really”

The problem is, what he told his mum makes Lucy look bad and that’s not the impression she wants to make. She wants to have a relationship with her. Tim softens immediately - it shows him that this is important to her that they have the right kind of relationship. She doesn’t want to be middle man when Tim’s communication issues inevitably make things worse.

Lucy thought Tim could handle this but she was wrong. He needs her guidance on how to handle this properly but not ruin Lucy’s blossoming relationship with Joy in the process. Tim is not ready to be let loose on the maternal relationship river without his Lucy lifeboat. He will eventually navigate his way there but he’ll hit some dead ends before he does.

Lucy tells him to have an actual conversation. USE YOUR WORDS TIMOTHY. He is his usual stubborn self and tells her that he will do it later. When he’s not so busy. When he’s not so stressed about it. When he hopes his mum gets the message and stops contact of her own accord. Lucy walks away exasperated with him.

This next scene shows so much growth from Tim. He acknowledges the work his team has done and rewards them as well. All without pulling teeth.

Lucy accidentally crosses a boundary at work by bringing up his mum in front of his officers but instead of blowing up or pushing her away, he does neither of those things. He moves closer (in the sexiest way possible 🔥) and turns a public moment into a private conversation at home. The slow walk towards her - SWOON! 🫠

He adores how much she cares. About him. About his mum and their relationship.

Lucy apologising (yay!) for what she said and explains she just needs to put the matter to bed (and him as well if the look he gave her was any indication). That’s intimacy, trust and their partnership on display because Tim 1.0 would have deflected but Tim 2.0 understands it’s been a lot for her but they will sort this together.

Tim is realising a lot this season how much Lucy loves him. How unconditional that love is. There are no strings attached to it. Mistakes and mess ups aren’t going to change that. The words she said to him earlier stayed with him. He realises there is work to do on his end too. His response to Lucy’s outburst - which he knows is caused by her frustration - is to say it’s OK and they’ll talk about it at home. Home. Their refuge. Their shared safe space.

“I need this place to feel like a refuge and not a UPS storage facility”

Lucy loves Tim - battle wounds and trauma scars and all. Tim loves Lucy - neurotic ways and meddlesome tendencies and all. He knows her heart is always in the right place.

“Did you get the food packages I sent you?”
“I did. You shouldn’t have done that”
“I wanted to”

“You wanna set me up? Forget it. Even if this wasn’t your dumbest idea yet, there’s no way you’d be able to pick someone right for me”
“Uhhh I bet I can”

“What are you doing?”
“Keeping you company”
“You don’t have to do that”
“I know”

“I had to do something. You were miserable riding that desk”

Lucy asking about his mum shows she knows him deeply, knows what’s unresolved and what is hurting underneath it all and Tim recognises that straight away. Instead of pulling away and putting his guard back up, he instead invites her into the conversation and into that complicated and somewhat difficult part of his life.

The final scene is EVERYTHING. Tim finally calls his mum on the phone and has a proper conversation. He is making solid changes and trying his best to be a better communicator because his issues weren’t just with Lucy.

She is sitting all crossed legged on the couch waiting for him to come back. It took longer than she thought it would so thinks it was tough for him. The instant touching and caressing as soon as he sits down. The magnetic pull in full swing. The touching is grounding for Tim. She doesn’t yet know how well it went.

Love how understanding Joy was about boundaries. Her excitement about getting to reacquaint herself with her son and then with the LOHL as well - she got a bit carried away.

All Tim had to do was talk to her. Explain things. He had built it up in his mind to be a hard thing but it ended up going better than expected. As someone who has been told I “catastrophise” everything - I totally get him in that moment.

Lucy is confused what took so long if it went well. Here he explains that they started talking about lots of other things. Part of opening up his heart means he has to talk to his mum and sister. He needs to let go of the burden of all the pain he has consistently held onto and needs to make sure he isn’t holding anything back anymore. He also needs to stop avoiding things, no matter how small they may seem. The more he does this - the easier it will be to communicate with Lucy. And it is. The last scene is exactly what we needed to see Chenford doing. The casual intimacy whilst having conversation that shows they are making it work this time around. The fact he is even telling her about the chat with his mum is huge.

Normal couples do this. Get home from work and dissect their day, decompress on the couch, discuss what needs discussing. This is what was missing the first time. Opening up about the mundane.

Lucy then drops herself in it by commenting on something she shouldn’t have known about. She admits to being in a separate group chat consisting of women with the last name Bradford. Well well. Another endgame nugget for us. This is fantastic because it shows that she isn’t just Tim’s GF - she’s family. She has the space to communicate freely with them.

“I talked to Isabel and from what she said, it’s clear you’re a kinesthetic learner which just means you have to be listening while you’re being active in order to absorb things”

Lucy saying she now has access to vintage Tim photos - you know that makes her happy. She’s been itching to get her hands on them for years

“Lucy Chen”
“Ah. Bradfords next victim. I remember when your TO was the one in long sleeves”
“Got any pictures?”

“I can just imagine the relentless teasing. Did they give you a nickname? Please say yes”
“No”

“Did Tim have any nicknames when he was a kid?”

“He decided to give himself highlights just before prom. He ended up looking like Slim Shady. I think I have a photo of it somewhere”
“Oh my god yes!”

Tim pretends to be annoyed at this but his face is showing nothing but love. That woman has been on at him all day to deal with his mum and the whole time she’s been happily chatting away in secret.

So she does what she knows works - she starts to seduce…she drops her voice, runs her hand up his leg and arm…she wasn’t kidding when she said being emotionally healthier is a turn on. Sheesh. Her engine is permanently revving for him. I mean - fair. And as usual, he forgets his own name and melts. Leave him be. He’s exactly where he wants to be 🔥

Episode rating

Chenford content - 7/10. Really good to see the growth of them and sky high marriage vibes this episode. Knowing how to push each others buttons. But to cut their last scene short was criminal!

Episode overall - 5/10. I really didn’t like this one much. The Dropout guys were pointless and the supposed comedy was not my cup of tea at all. They ruined it for me.

Similar to the S8 premier having Wade and Luna’s conflict seemingly coming out of nowhere, the finale had Tim cutting ties with Wesley out of nowhere too.

Where do we think this is going? I understand both sides. Wesley was doing his job. He went to Tim as his friend but ended up losing him as one instead.

Tim blew up at him almost instantly which was very S1 of him. It was an emotional reaction. Tim’s incredibly loyal - almost to a fault - and in that moment, he felt Wesley wasn’t being to him. We know Wesley’s reasons and I can understand him wanting to get intel but Tim didn’t know that.

Will we see things becoming complicated between them? Will it affect the Bropez friendship? Will Wesley reach out once Tim is back to re-establish friendship?

I’m interested to see how this is going to play out - scenes between Tim and Wesley have been a long time coming so I’m excited for this to develop.