Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 8, Episode 7.Season 8 of <em>The Rookie</em> kicked off with a major shakeup for the Mid-Wilshire division when it was announced that Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) would be taking over Lt. Grey’s (Richard T. Jones) old position as watch commander, ringing in a new era for Bradford’s career. However, with a new position comes growing pains, and it hasn’t been the smoothest ride for Bradford leading the precinct and handling the new responsibilities. On top of that, he’s finally gotten together with Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil), his long-time on-and-off love interest whose romance has been at the top of fans’ minds since the show started. Since moving in together, the Chenford ship has mostly been sailing smoothly, with the pair celebrating Valentine’s Day together last week, though knowing The Rookie writers, there’s always a possibility of conflict on the horizon.
The latest episode of The Rookie sees Lucy and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) take on a long undercover mission, living in a van down in Baja, Mexico, and investigating the brutal murder of two women. The mission separates both Lucy and Nyla from their loved ones and even sees Tim donning a costume for a hot minute to check in on the two officers. We spoke with Eric Winter about potentially seeing Tim go undercover again and also discussed his character’s new struggles as a watch commander this season. Winter talked extensively about how these new changes have affected his character’s growth and his layers and went into why he liked being kept on his toes as far as Tim’s romantic life was concerned. With more action-packed episodes to come, Winter teases that someone from Tim’s past will come to cause some trouble for him in the back half of Season 8.
Eric Winter Talks Tim’s Latest Stress Now That He’s Watch Commander
“…that’s been a lot of his stress and struggle in the role.”
COLLIDER: There’s been a lot of action-packed scenes this season. There’s been a lot of chases, shootouts, and exciting cases. Was it disappointing not to see Tim out there now that he’s the watch commander?
ERIC WINTER: Yeah, not gonna lie, it was a little tough for me to not see Tim in the action as much as he had been throughout all the years. I remember having a conversation even with Alexi [Hawley] and the writers just saying, “I want to understand a little bit about Tim’s new path. Am I going to be somebody that’s like Grey and I’m just behind the desk, assuming this managerial type of role more, and I’m not in it?” They came up with a nice solution and a way for Tim to get more involved in the streets later in the season, which I thought was good. But I definitely, as an actor, and I think even as a character, struggled a little bit with trying to figure that out and navigate it, because it was just so opposite for the character.
It’s interesting to see him in more of a desk role and see him take on more of the managerial side of things. And Lucy, at one point, says that he’s been super stressed and he hasn’t been sleeping very well. How do you think he’s adjusting?
WINTER: Yeah, I mean, he’s figuring it out because he was in charge of one person when he was a T.O.; everything he said was just how it went. He ran the ship. But now he’s in charge of a whole department, and he has to deal with so much like office politics and higher-ups and paperwork — things that I don’t think are natural to Tim. As much as a leader as he can be, I think this is a different way of leading, and he has to lead in a broader sense while also trying to still be firm and get things done his way. Then he has to deal with all the nonsense of phone calls and paperwork that he doesn’t want to deal with. So that’s been a lot of his stress and struggle in the role.
Winter Teases an Old Ghost From Tim’s Past Coming Back To Haunt Him
“He clearly loves his family, but he’s uncomfortable with things that they might share about him…”
I love it whenever family gets involved in this show. I think it’s one of the highlights when we see any of these characters and their families coming in. What was it like reuniting with Peyton [List] for the last episode and getting to see her? And would you like to explore more of Tim’s past?
WINTER: Totally. Everything you said, for sure, I love working with Peyton when she comes in anytime. It brings Tim’s family into the fold, and I think we’re winning because we learned so much about him. He clearly loves his family but is uncomfortable with things that they might share about him or experiences with them. You see a softer side — a more vulnerable side — for sure. I think, in general, Tim’s past is so unique and so fascinating that I love every time we explore something that either has gotten him into trouble or he’s navigating through still or baggage that he carries. To me, that’s the best part: he’s so imperfect, and that’s what makes him great to play and watch.
There’s already been a lot of big stuff happening, but is there something specific for Tim that you’re excited for people to see in the back half?
WINTER: I’m super excited for people to see Tim get back out in the field a lot more that’s going to happen later in the season definitely at a bigger extent. And also a good old thing again from Tim’s past might come to cause some problems, so that’ll be fun to see.
Winter Talks Exploring New Sides to Tim in ‘The Rookie’ Season 8
“I feel like Tim every single season there’s just layer after layer that we’re peeling back.”
In this week’s episode, we see Lucy go undercover in Mexico, and she’s there with Nyla. I’m really curious — I know there have been moments where Tim goes undercover — but how do you think he would fare in long-term undercover work? And is that ever something you want to explore?
WINTER: I’d love it. I think Tim would do great. I think he was fantastic when he was playing Dim and he was undercover as Jake — I think that was a fun opportunity — and I welcome it for sure. So I do think it’s something he would be fantastic at. I think he’s doing better with Lucy doing it this time around than the last couple times, and accepting of it. He has to try to figure it out as head of the department but it’s still never easy seeing your partner getting into situations like she gets into.
I loved in last week’s episode we got that cute moment between Tim and Lucy with the Valentine’s Day gifts and got to see a lighter side of him. Even when he’s undercover as a drive-thru worker this week, it’s a nice comedic moment. How is it getting to explore these more light-hearted sides of Tim this season after we’ve seen him be so gruff in all previous seasons?
WINTER: Yeah, I love it because it’s another layer. I feel like Tim every single season there’s just layer after layer that we’re peeling back. He’s such a complex character so I like that we get to see those levels, because then they often shift for the smallest reasons — you see him get back to this tough firm sometimes jerk side towards others. And I like dancing that back-and-forth especially as an actor playing both.
Eric Winter Highlights What Makes Tim Bradford Such a Dynamic Character on ‘The Rookie’
“It’s not that easy to do — it makes it challenging and fun.”
Tim’s journey has been extensive throughout the last eight seasons. What has been the most rewarding part playing this character and seeing his evolution? What is it when you think back on this show that you’re going to say “This is what I’m most proud of from this job?”
WINTER: I would honestly say balancing his growth and heart as a character while maintaining his mission to make people better within the department even in his own rigid firm style — he stays true to himself. For me looking back as an actor getting so many fans on board with Tim’s journey from being completely unlikable but then realizing why he’s that way — it’s actually for well-intended reasons — people love him care so much about him feel for him. Those are probably my biggest takeaways knowing that I was able to navigate that journey turn him into somebody people empathize with resonate with. They can relate to him significantly both personally professionally.
I think something that’s really attractive about his character is there is gruffness but underneath always good intention which is often not case with people like that.
And it’s nice seeing that come through.
WINTER: You can turn [his] flaws into one of his superpowers in a way like his flaws making what people love about him is treat.
It’s not easy makes challenging fun.
‘The Rookie’ Spin-Off Just Became a Must-Watch With Its Latest Casting Update
The original Nathan Fillion-led procedural is now in its eighth season.
Eric Winter Reveals His Feelings About Chenford Now That They’re Finally Together
“I’m not saying it has to be complex to falling completely apart again…”
What do you think Tim’s more stressed about : being watch commander or not screwing things up with Lucy ?
WINTER : Oh , wow . I think combination is just making life stressful , for sure . I think stressed when goes work , stressed when …I think it’s release when comes home , doing best enjoy all time , sense . So , good escape from stress at work . However , yeah ,he doesn’t want screw up againSo there’s little bit that growth person.
After all these seasons Chenford’s will-they-won’t-they , they’re finally together . What is like you Melissa reading scripts you’re like , “Oh my God , they’re finally peace,” now navigating new section relationship? Is relief not have answer people like me be like , “Oh well , we don’t know how it’ll play out”? Is nice worry part anymore?
WINTER : mean , look , always fun worrying what’s actually going happen . always feel ups downs relationship , everybody up kids married seems happy dealing family life situations . Obviously younger cast show newer cast necessarily relationships but think [Lucy and Tim],they’ve been couple people can relate everyday life navigating complex relationships
And think fun actor always wonder what going happen them . Now feels little more safe solid sure takes away some questions.But always still kind feel hey , rug gonna pulled out?What store? And still like keeping open guess mind versus feeling safe makes interesting really keeps relationship complex.
And I’m not saying has be complex place falling completely apart again but trying explore other problems potential dynamics aren’t already showing show people relationships.
New episodes ofThe Rookie air every Monday at10 PM ET/PT on ABC U.S.
- Release Date
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October16 ,2018
- Showrunner
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AlexiHawley
- Directors
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ToriGarrett Chi-YoonChung MichaelGoi SylvainWhite LisaDemaine LanreOlabisi BillJohnson DavidMcWhirter LizFriedlander DanielWillis ToaFraser AnneRenton JonHuertas CherieNowlan TKShom RobSeidenglanz ValerieWeiss BarbaraBrown CharissaSanjarernsuithikul SJMainMuñoz NelsonMcCormick MarcusStokes AdamDavidson AnnaMastro
- Writers
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CoreyMiller BillRinier ZoeCheng MaryTrahan AllySeibert LizAlper NickHurwitz RachealSeymour MadeleineCoghlan DavidRadcliff
