The Rookie fans love Chenford and Wopez, but Season 6 can benefit from shining a brighter spotlight on Tim Bradford and Angela Lopez’s friendship.
The Rookie Season 5 understandably spent a significant amount of time exploring the early days of Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen’s romance. After all, Chenford had been seasons in the making. But while detailing why it’s best for Tim and Lucy to take things slow, The Rookie lost sight of Tim’s other great dynamic: the friendship he has with Angela Lopez. Angela and Tim’s friendship has existed from Season 1, and now that it has established and fortified Chenford as a couple, The Rookie Season 6 would benefit from diving back into Angela and Tim’s friendship.
Not only would doing so make room for a deeper understanding of the characters, it would open the ABC series up to stories beyond romantic drama and workplace happenings. Season 5, Episode 22, “Under Siege,” was a somber and emotional Rookie finale. Even as Angela and Wesley Evers welcomed their second child, it remained to be seen whether or not Aaron Thorsen survived. But when the ground settles underneath the characters’ feet again, it would be a delight to see the show reinvest in Angela and Tim’s friendship, allowing it to flourish as much as their relationships.
Angela and Tim’s Friendship Is Important to The Rookie
While Lucy is often present for Tim’s most vulnerable scenes on The Rookie, the same is true for Angela — and vice versa. In Season 1, Episode 8, “Time of Death,” Angela supported Tim on his stakeout to watch his ex-wife Isabel when she became an informant. Angela told him, “You’d be right here if the situations were reversed,” and Tim didn’t refute it. Season 2, Episode 11, “Day of Death” reiterated that Tim leaned on Angela. After Lucy’s abduction, in one of his most significant moments of fear and self-doubt, Tim reached out to Angela, even saying the words “I need you.”
“Day of Death” emphasized this scene because of how meaningful it was for Tim Bradford to reach out to anyone, and Angela recognized that by showing up for him (and Lucy) without question. She also assured him that what happened to Lucy wasn’t his fault. It was an endearing aside in which both characters let their walls down, which became a trend in the strengthening friendship. In Season 3, Episode 10, “Man of Honor,” Tim returned the favor of offering advice when Angela needed it most — trying to find a wedding dress she loved that also flattered her baby bump. Tim told her, “Wear what you feel confident in,” and the relief of knowing she could do that was written all over Angela’s face.
It was no surprise that Angela asked Tim to be her Man of Honor because he was “the only person who’s made” her feel like she “can get through this wedding without losing” her mind. What followed were multiple Rookie episodes of Tim completing random tasks to give Angela and Wesley Evers the day Angela deserves — and more importantly, the day she wants. Angela and Tim are always in each other’s corner and have each other’s back. Tim even said, “There’s no one I’d rather have on my six than La Adelita,” in Season 5, Episode 14, “Death Sentence.” The Rookie has gradually showcased that trust over the last five seasons — and Season 6 is an opportunity to double down on it.
Angela and Tim Have a Great Platonic Relationship
One of the best aspects of Angela and Tim’s friendship on The Rookie is that it’s strictly platonic. Angela and Tim each have separate swoon-worthy romances that the other supports. Angela was even the first person to pointedly ask Tim if he had feelings for Lucy in Season 5, Episode 1, “Double Down.” The Rookie universe is good at establishing platonic dynamics between its male and female characters and not just creating great ships. That fact makes Lucy and Brendon Acres’ connection across both shows an intriguing point of untapped potential, like Angela and Tim’s friendship as of Season 5.
After Angela pushing Tim to be honest about his feelings for Lucy in the season premiere and Season 5, Episode 2, “Labor Day,” The Rookie moved their friendship to the back burner. Angela joined in to help Lucy get a new job for Tim in Season 5, Episode 13, “Daddy Cop,” but that was about it. Just because their friendship isn’t at the forefront of a season or an episode doesn’t mean it’s nonexistent. but it deserves a brighter spotlight in Season 6. Angela and Tim have been able to get through to deeper parts of each other in always endearing and sometimes funny ways., so The Rookie as a whole would improve by showcasing Angela and Tim having each other’s six more often.
