The Rookie breaks the mold of its docu-series episodes with Season 5, Episode 17, "Double Trouble," coming at the perfect time in Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford's relationship. Using Jake and Sava, aka "Dim" and "Juicy," the procedural drama takes a more character-driven approach to its true crime episodes. "Double Trouble" uses what — and who — spearheaded Chenford to confront their feelings at the start of Season 5 to perform a close reading of Lucy and Tim's dynamic. In turn, The Rookie moves the plot forward and develops the characters while revitalizing its docu-series episodes' storytelling structure.
Since Season 3, The Rookie has featured a docu-series episode every season. Season 3, Episode 7, "True Crime," is an exciting diversion from the show's usual storytelling form, but its focus on a child star finds its strongest link to the characters in how John Nolan used to watch the actor's show with his son. Season 4, Episode 16, "Real Crime," challenges that mold by focusing on Aaron Thorsen. However, its story becomes redundant in falsely making Aaron the suspect of a second murder so soon after his introduction. After those two outings, "Double Trouble" demonstrates an organic and necessary evolution of the episode format.
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Jake and Sava's History Is Not Chenford's Present or Future
Before its recent hiatus, The Rookie doubled down on why Chenford's future isn't up for debate, but "Double Trouble" challenges that by comparing Tim and Lucy to Jake and Sava's complicated relationship that ends with multiple crimes, including Jake's murder. So, it's structurally clever to separate Lucy and Tim for the interviews until the end of the episode. It's a device meant to highlight their differences and flaws to drum up drama between the pair, especially about Lucy's secret plan to get Tim the Metro job. The interviewer's attempts ultimately fail because Chenford is on the same page — about everything.
Tim's comments about his new job aren't laced with anger or disappointment toward Lucy because the couple already cleared the air during their first Valentine's Day. The interviewer also tries to "dial in" on any potential infidelity that could create parallels between Chenford and Jake and Sava, but Lucy shuts it down by saying that she and Tim "pretend at intimacy" while undercover. The Rookie fans know all too well that Chenford's step to make their relationship official comes well after the characters pose as Jake and Sava. While that pretending becomes one of the few elephants in the room Chenford must work through, "Double Trouble" purposefully fails to find anything salacious there.
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Chenford Is in a Beautiful Place in The Rookie's 'Double Trouble'
Despite their superficial similarities, Tim and Lucy will never be Jake and Sava because of their fundamental differences. The docu-series allows Tim and Lucy to pointedly discuss that in a way that creates a meta-conversation with The Rookie and its viewers. Tim saying, "You're invested in a certain answer because it makes for a better documentary," is another way of saying that searching for drama where there isn't any makes for better TV. However, that "better" is defined by manufactured drama, and "Double Trouble" reinforces that Chenford will come out the other side of it stronger because they're "in a really beautiful place."
The Rookie repeatedly proves that Chenford's partnership will level up on its own. Expected and organic ebbs and flows have and will continue to occur in their relationship. Tim and Lucy prove they can handle whatever comes their way from their unconventional yet fitting first date. Even when "Double Trouble" tries to challenge them, nothing matches the synergy Tim and Lucy share when they reunite for their final interview. There's a perfect harmony to their perspectives on their relationship that greatly favors its longevity.
Not to mention, Tim expresses that "big softie" side of him that only Lucy and a few others know when he gets protective instead of defensive of their relationship. Likewise, The Rookie subtly evolves Chenford's body language when Lucy's tap of Tim's arm in "Real Crime" becomes a comforting gesture in "Double Trouble." This series knows these characters are solid in their relationship from the micro to the macro details. Even then, this episode sets up their next big step — that four-letter word. While Tim nods, Lucy agrees that love is a "good word" to describe their relationship, but the couple still hasn't said it to one another yet. So, "Double Trouble" may not find Jake and Sava levels of drama between Chenford, but it finds something better in Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford's shared honesty, respect and love.
The Rookie airs on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC and streams on Hulu.
