Melissa O’Neil explains why Chenford’s steaming Valentine’s Day -Episode is a ‘sideways step’ for their relationship

Note: This story contains spoilers from “The Rookie” season 7, section 6.

“Rookie’s” Fan favorite couple, Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford (alias, Chenford as viewers have passionately called them), took a big step as they joined their better judgment after a charity gala. But was it a step forward? A step back? According to the star Melissa O’Neil, nor.

“I see this as neither a step forward nor a step back. It’s like a sideways step. It’s a parallel move. It does not promote their relationship. It doesn’t promote her career in any way, ”O’Neil told TheWrap during a call to discuss the highly expected Valentine’s Day episode,“ The Gala. “

The Sixth Episode of Season 7 Collaborated Chen and Bradford for a new police initiative that invited the EXEMS to turn their offense of earlier dear-a potentially spicy task for the exes who broke up and broke fans’ hearts last season – But that was after their shifts when things really started to warm up. All after the gala, the duo unexpectedly headed up to a hotel room together after a staggering with a drunken participant who left Bradford bleeding. It didn’t take long for their old intimacy to come back, and the two spent the night together – only for Lucy to try to sneak out the next morning and later preach that she doesn’t regret it, but it can’t happen again.

When he spoke with TheWrap, O’Neil unpacked Lucy’s Big Episode 6 connection, including why she had to make peace with the latest developments in the duo’s long romantic journey what she thinks Lucy would say before the door closed Her, and if she thinks Lucy’s Cavalier line about “Old -fashioned Valentine’s Day ex sex” – and her insistence that it can never happen again.

TheWrap: I think there will be a lot of excitement around this episode because it’s a real dose of sexy Chenford but I see mess! Do you see this as a step forward or backwards for a real reconciliation between Lucy and Tim?

O’NEIL: I see this as neither step forward nor a step back. It’s like a sideways step. It’s a parallel move. It does not promote their relationship. It does not promote her career in any way. I think that as far as their relationship goes, there is much that has not been said between them. So much so that I think there were questions about it as an actor who looked at the manuscript.

But what I like about it is humanity in this story. I think it speaks to the strength of this feeling, that force you know? Because she kind of randomly, flippant calls it “ex sex”, but it’s a forming vitality. This is a very powerful thing. This is literally why people are here and when you are with the person with whom your body really wants to do it is sometimes it is irrevocable. You can’t help yourself. So as much as Lucy is someone who is very career-focused and in principle and really wants to make sure she does everything the right way I loved little-sensors when I made peace with that-I loved kind of it his proximity to her. .. I think maybe that what was so sexy at that moment is that they both say no, and then they can’t help themselves. They are like, gone. “Come on, don’t do this. I can’t help it. “

So yes, I think I think it’s a full spectrum moment and I’m excited about the fans to receive it in that type of imperfection. Because I think people will feel that way too. I think many people will be like, “Hold for a moment. This is not … this doesn’t … Oh, God, it was so big though. “So I appreciate it for it.

What did you have to make peace with?

As a protective person of this character with whom I have spent seven years, I think there was a real part of me that was like: “Wait for a moment. He said … didn’t say Bradford he would … We haven’t done anything … did it happen already? Do you know, it happened off the screen? “

I had all these questions, so I think it was an important thing for me as an actor to remember first and foremost that I am just a color that the authors use to make their art with. We work a lot and they are very open to dialogue and help me understand what the vision is. But I felt I had to let go a little because I was like, “I have a strong opinion about this. Okay, okay, let’s just do it and let’s see how it’s going. “And when I reflect on it, I actually see the beauty of it and I love humanity in it. I think it’s really sweet to end Lucy this way and make her imperfect relatable.

Until last season, these two had built a plot of communication, but in this case Lucy tried to sneak out and eventually left with very unspoken. We see her returning as if she had something to say that – what do you think Lucy would say to Tim before the door stopped her?

OK, so I don’t know what they used in the clip and I would say we played it in a few different ways. I thought about that moment and that exchange when he woke up before she traveled. It bothered me like a lot. So much so that I reached out to the instructor and I was like, “What did we do in the cut? Will it be ok? Do we need to revive it? “

Because I don’t think she loved that he just followed it! If I remember correctly, I don’t think she was stabbed about the fact that he is like “yes, boom.” They both have the support of that … ”There is so much I want to say to you. Will you talk first? Oh you won’t talk first. Yes, I’m good too. Yes, no problem. “

I don’t think she liked it.

In guys, another elevator scene shared and I couldn’t help but notice the contrast between the scene we had at the end of Season 6, where she is really withdrawn in the frame. How did you use blocking to communicate the change in your dynamics?

I can’t remember it, but I would say the blocking of the previous scene that you are talking about I would very strongly would. I was like “I want to be able to see him without him being able to look at me. I want to be all the way back here and I want to see him with what he goes through even though I look at the back of his head. “

So I can’t remember the blockage of the (new) scene. But I remember the quarrel and I think I like it, because now we get to see this whole layer of Chenford Banger. The banter has always been really fun between them, but there has never been this as the subtitle of history and also evil, but the flirt, you know, so I was excited about it.

And also when we shoot it, I had a lot of questions and I think Lucy has many questions too. I think she’s a little more bold, but she tests the water and sees, like, “How are you? What if I make this joke? Do you like it? “You know I feel like she’s kind of heads out there a little more. It’s nice to see it. Like okay, yes, they have things to talk about. Yes, she is probably hurt and we do not feel all the way loose, but she is heated a little. If the pain is not acute, you know, not as acute as it was. And now she is capable of, kind of, you know, give him a little, throw him small pieces.

Right! Because she holds him this little talk about how it can not happen again, but then they are very flirty, so I don’t buy kind. Where do you fall on it?

No, I feel the same way. I feel like it’s so fun. I remember feeling the same as if there was so much when we shoot it. I was like, “What’s going on? How does she actually feel? “And when I reflect back on it now, it is that it is part of man’s moments, it is desired crooked, as it is like:” I never talk to him again. Oh my God, he’s so amazing. “Flip-Flopping back and forth and not be sure and feel like” I have to focus, I can’t help it, but who, look at him. ” I think I love it. I think it’s very relatable.

I feel like Lucy this year I relate to. (Laughs) I think it also gives an opportunity for the fans to really join that journey. Because even when you reflect in this moment, you know, you are like, “What was it about? I mean, it was nice, but also like, I don’t get it. “It’s also Lucy’s journey.

“Rookie” Weeds Tuesdays at. 22 EN/PT ON ABC and flows the next day at Hulu.

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