The Rookie's Eric Winter addresses the painful breakup between Lucy and Tim, detailing how it impacts season 7. It's been a bit of a whirlwind for Tim Bradford (Winter) heading into season 7, bouncing back from losing his job and then returning as a training officer. There's also the fact that he broke up with Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil), but the fan-favorite couple seems to be in a good place as the new episodes begin.

In an interview with Parade, Winter talked about the dynamic between Lucy and Tim. The actor makes clear that Tim still loves Lucy, though he feels he's not good enough for her. In the quote below, Winter also addresses the fact that he regrets how some aspects of the break-up unfolded:

Tim clearly cares about her. He broke up with her because he cares about her. It was a true statement of, ‘It’s not you, it’s me, I’m not good enough for you, and I don’t think you deserve the drama I could cause in your life with my past and all that.’ So, he, again, did what he thought was the best move, but probably regrets aspects of the way it went down and wishes he could have had the confidence or the smarts to be able to at least talk to her about it first, where he’s at, how he feels. But that’s just not Tim’s way. He had to learn the hard way, I guess, with his decision.

What Winter's Comments Mean For Lucy & Tim

It's A Rebuilding Process

Although there is a lack of trust between the pair because of Tim's actions, The Rookie season 7 premiere keeps things light for them. They make a bet about who will fare better, essentially, in training their new rookie. But there are little hints of what has transpired for the fan-favorite twosome known as Chenford. Lucy, for example, briefly looks caught off-guard when Tim makes his way into the room during that same premiere episode.

Series creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley addressed the unique Chenford dynamic in an interview with Screen Rant, talking about how Lucy and Tim might have to fight their way back to one another despite the inherent complications, including the fact that he is her supervisor. But those complications and obstacles are part of what makes any TV couple worth rooting for.

Our Take On The New Chenford Dynamic

They'll Still Be Sharing A Lot Of Scenes

Based on the previews for the episodes, it's clear that Lucy and Tim will still have plenty of scenes and that they are a long way from being over the breakup. Part of the fun, though, is seeing what it will take for them to get back together for good. That could be a story for The Rookie season 8 to tackle if it's renewed.

The Rookie season 7 airs Tuesdays at 10 PM ET on ABC

Source: Parade