Do Tim and Lucy End Up Together in The Rookie? Theories

Lucy and Tim’s relationship has been in flux ever since the two broke up in season 6 of ‘The Rookie.’ However, in the final episode of season 7, things start looking extremely promising for the duo as Lucy finally achieves her dream of becoming a sergeant, putting her in the same rank as Tim. Naturally, the question abounds whether the two can finally reconcile their differences and take advantage of the fact that they can date each other without facing any scrutiny from the establishment. The season 7 finale moves the needle significantly on that aspect, even though the complications of their bond are abundantly visible. While everyone eagerly awaits something positive for the two, the ABC show leaves a lot of things still hanging in the balance. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Lucy’s Night Shift Duties Put a Dent in Her Relationship With Tim

For large parts of season 7, we have witnessed Lucy trying her best to pass the Sergeant exam, which would put her on equal footing with Tim. While she states that her motivations are purely career-oriented, becoming a Sergeant would make her eligible to pursue a relationship with Tim without complicating matters professionally. As such, it is sure to have an effect on her mind. However, after passing the exam in episode 17, Lucy’s responsibilities only get more troublesome as she is made the squad leader of a night shift team full of slackers. It takes a toll on her daily routine and turns her into a nocturnal animal. Initially, the post was meant to be her way of steadily climbing up the ranks, but it adversely affects her social life and her bond with Tim.

In the final parts of episode 18, Lucy returns home to find Tim in the kitchen, making her breakfast. She lays down on the couch while he starts speaking honestly about their relationship and where they move from here on out. Eventually, he gathers the courage to ask her to move in with him. However, when he walks around the couch, he realizes that Lucy is fast asleep, drained from her nightly excursions. It comes at a frustrating moment because Tim finally finds the resolve to ask Lucy an important question, one that signals them getting back together as a couple. However, because of her demanding job, the conversation does not have the intended effect, leaving everything in the air for now. Thus, a resolution to their romance will likely happen in season 8 of ‘The Rookie.’

Lucy and Tim Have Matured Since Their Breakup

One of the big overarching narratives in season 7 is Lucy and Tim working through their personal issues while trying to understand what caused their breakup. The separation between the duo was an emotional moment for the pair and led to numerous false dawns, including in season 7 itself. They even end up hooking up with each other during an episode. However, it still does not resolve the underlying issues in their relationship and their lives as individuals. Tim has to confront his self-flagellating attitude, which prompts him to part ways with her, inadvertently affecting her even more. At the same time, Lucy needs to work on herself after the breakup, almost as a way to focus on her goals as an individual and forget the pain of the broken relationship.

In an interview with Deadline, creator Alexi Hawley explained that the season 7 writers intentionally kept the two apart and forced them to reconcile with themselves before making the next step. While it was inevitable that some lapses would happen, the duo primarily focused their efforts on their job while also figuring out how they could be better as people. It also gave Lucy the space to be more ambitious and pass the Sergeant exam. Hawley believes that the rough part of the couple’s journey is mostly over in season 7, and things could take a turn for the good in season 8. He said, “I do feel like ultimately, the Season 7 journey of their repairing their relationship is almost at an end, and so I don’t want to just introduce obstacles to introduce obstacles… I think, we’re heading for a good place in Season 8.”