Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Rookie season 7, episode 17.The results are in! The Rookie season 7, episode 17 finally reveals if Lucy will be moving up in the ranks as Mid-Wilshire's newest sergeant. Not only did she the exam with flying colors, but the officer secured the top spot. Grey didn't waste any time handing Lucy her stripes, immediately asg her to the division. However, in typical The Rookie fashion, there's an unexpected twist: Melissa O'Neil's character is taking over the night shift.

"Mutiny And The Bounty" also features the reappearance of Flula Borg's Skip Tracer Randy, who hopes to win Chastity's affections with his newly acquired wealth. Chastity is kidnapped and held for ransom, but manages to rescue herself by the time the LAPD shows up at the scene. Additionally, the installment sees Wesley and Del Monte up against the Eastern Front, while Nyla discovers that her mom is being taken advantage of.

I caught up with showrunner Alexi Hawley about Randy's return, Nyla's relationship with her mother, what Lucy's new role means for Chenford, and what to expect from The Rookie season 7 finale.

Hawley Hopes To Bring Back Pete Davidson For The Rookie Season 8

"He loves doing the show, but we have not been able to find an opening in his schedule that fits in our schedule yet."

ScreenRant: Skip Tracer Randy returned this episode. After everything that happened, is it safe to say that he and Chasity just aren't meant to be?

Alexi Hawley: I think that's safe to say. I think for whatever dysfunctional reason, Chastity is in love with Pete. I liked her flexibility with the sugar daddy of it all, but I do think that ultimately Randy is a little wiser after this episode. Yeah, I think that's probably dead.

I have to imagine that Pete Davidson is difficult to pin down scheduling-wise, but have you had any conversations about him returning?

Alexi Hawley: We are always in with his reps. We love him on the show. He loves doing the show, but we have not been able to find an opening in his schedule that fits in our schedule yet. But I have high hopes for season 8.

But you did get Wolfgang Puck this episode.

Alexi Hawley: We did! And Kiké Hernández, which is great.

How did those collaborations come about?

Alexi Hawley: Eric Winter is friends with Kiké, so that was why he was the one who jumped into my head, but I love the idea that Randy is just throwing money around like a maniac and giving money to people's charities to get them to do stuff. And then Wolfgang Puck—how do you not go for that guy? So they're super fun cameos.

The Eastern Front Will Come Back Into Play In The Rookie Season 7 Finale

"I think that, ultimately, we have set up that Del Monte said, 'We're coming after you.'"

The storyline with Nyla’s mom leads to the revelation that she was raised to be too trusting, so she decided to become the opposite. Have you always had that in the back of your mind when you created the character?

Alexi Hawley: That's a good question. No, I don't think I dug as deep as that back then. You're always looking for some unexpected way to add drama and conflict and stuff like that. We've had problematic moms on the show before, obviously, Nolan's grifter mom is a good example.

But I just really love the idea that her issue with her mom is that she was too nice and too sweet, and therefore, a little gullible. And Harper has grown up in a world where really bad things happen and people are bad. I just thought it was a nice flip of the normal setup for a mom-daughter issue.

And I loved that Angela and Nyla's moms became besties.

Alexi Hawley: I would watch that show every week. I love that dynamic. Those two actresses are brilliant and really understood the assignment. Those scenes are a joy.

Wesley and Del Monte ran into some trouble this episode with the Eastern Front. Is that going to play a role in the finale?

Alexi Hawley: Yes, I would say it will in an unexpected way to sort of tease that. I think that, ultimately, we have set up that Del Monte said, "We're coming after you." And so yeah, I think that there's some unexpected payback that comes our way.

Lucy's New Schedule Creates Another Obstacle For Chenford

"It was a little bit of a 'be careful what you wish for,' which felt appropriate."

I was sad to find out that Rodge was going on tour. How much time will he be spending apart from Celina?

Alexi Hawley: I don't know. It's early days. The writers' room for season 8 just started yesterday. I don't think it'll be that long. But I also like the idea that these are two 20-somethings, and we don't always need to rush into full-on relationships or exclusivity or whatever, but I think they're adorable together. We're just playing around with it a little bit.

The results of the sergeant's exam are in. Lucy came in first, but she's starting on the night shift. What does it mean now that she's on opposite schedules to Tim and the rest of the main characters?

Alexi Hawley: It was a little bit of a "be careful what you wish for," which felt appropriate. We can never not twist something. I love that scene so much and her vulnerability and the way Tim took care of her and all that. To me, that's the heart of their relationship. And then the fact that she was top of the class and all that kind of stuff was, I think, really earned and really sweet. And then of course, you have to twist that. So now she's on the night shift.

For any of us who've done a lot of overnights, that's really tough on your body, and it's a tough adjustment to make, and potentially maybe it's not the most functional crew that she's working with. All of that to add drama and one last obstacle to the conversation that needs to happen between her and Tim now that some of the more practical obstacles are out of the way.

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About The Rookie Season 7 On ABC

Created And Executive Produced By Alexi Hawley

John Nolan, once the oldest rookie in the LAPD, has used his life experience, determination and sense of humor to keep up with rookies 20 years his junior. Now recovering from a gunshot wound and feeling the effects of his age, John and the team welcome two new rookies and continue the hunt for two dangerous escaped prisoners who have very personal vendettas.

Check out our other interviews for The Rookie season 7:

• Alexi Hawley
• Deric Augustine
• Jenna Dewan
• Lisseth Chavez
• Melissa O’Neil
• Patrick Keleher
• Shawn Ashmore

The Rookie season 7 airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and is available to stream next-day on Hulu.