It looks like The Rookie is going to be staging a very awkward family moment in the next episode!
One of the best parts of The Rookie season 8 has been the ongoing relationship of Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy (Melissa O’Neil). After several ups and downs, the two cops are finally in a relationship and living together.
In the Monday, February 23 episode, “Grand Theft Aircraft,” the pair gets a surprise visit in the form of Tim’s mom, played by Emmy award-winner Sela Ward. However, the preview shows there’s a tiny wrinkle: The woman has no idea who Lucy is, meaning Tim hasn’t told his mom about their relationship.
Speaking to TV Insider, Winter hinted that the arrival of his mom will answer a lot of questions about how Tim turned out the way he did.
“[Their dynamic] is so different than what I had always anticipated when I thought it out in my head as me wanting my mom to come on the show, and it makes her very fun. Tim’s in shock, nervous, happy, and I think we’re going to see a nice dynamic that keeps it interesting."
Winter added that this will involve “Tim being able to get a lot of stuff off his chest. It also helps Lucy understand a bit of Tim’s baggage and relationship with his parents and the struggles.”
This is a good move for the series, as we don’t know that much about Tim’s past or his family life. Seeing his mom come by will answer some of those questions while also allowing Tim and Lucy to grow closer. And it helps thanks to the wonderful actress cast in the role.
Sela Ward is a fantastic choice for the role. The veteran actress has been a TV favorite for decades, with Emmy award wins for Sisters and Once and Again. She’s no stranger to cop dramas either, having starred in CSI: NY and the first season of FBI. This will be the actress’ first role in a few years as she’s been taking time away from acting for her family and charity work.
O’Neil teased a “beautiful conversation” between Lucy and Tim’s mom that will include “a lot of insight there into who her partner is and how all of this has come about and potentially why he is the way that he is. And yet we don’t villainize the mother in the process, which I think is important. Families aren’t perfect. And I think in this way it makes them stronger, but that’s all to be seen. Sometimes that’s just the way things go, where sometimes there’s a storyline that just gets a little extra sprinkle of special. And it does feel that way with the beautiful actress that they’ve chosen for Bradford’s mom.”
Ward is always a delight in any role and it’s great seeing her back on TV. She’s perfect as the mother to a cop and her past roles prove she can be believable putting Tim in his place while also encouraging him. Having her around will only make The Rookie even better this year.
The Rookie airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.