It's that time of year when all our favorite broadcast shows come to an end, The Rookie among them. Thankfully, the series has already been greenlit for an eighth season ahead of its finale, airing Tuesday, May 13 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. The official synopsis for Episode 18 reads: "John and Harper work together to catch Oscar; Angela investigates a bank robbery; Lucy and Tim learn to adapt to her new schedule, and Miles’ first date takes an unexpected turn."

Viewers have been rooting for Chenford to get back together since their breakup in The Rookie season 6, and while they've hooked up on several occasions, Tim and Lucy have yet to officially reconcile. When catching up with showrunner Alexi Hawley, I asked the question we've all been wondering — can fans expect progress for the ship in "The Good, The Bad, And The Oscar"? Hawley's response was optimistic, teasing that Chenford is headed in a good direction during season 7's final installment. Check out his full response below:

Alexi Hawley: Yes, I think they can. At the end of the day, obviously, there is another practical obstacle, which is the shift differences, the fact that they're not really awake at the same time, but we've been driving towards this all season, obviously, and sort of repairing their relationship and having them go through the obstacles and the work that needs to get done to hopefully get back together. So yeah, I think we're heading in a good direction.

What Happened With Chenford On The Rookie Season 7 Episode 17?

Lucy ed The Sergeant's Exam (And Is No Longer Tim's Subordinate)

Tim and Lucy first meet in the pilot episode when she's assigned as his rookie, establishing their difference in rank. Once they begin a romantic relationship, Tim asks to be moved out of Lucy's chain of command and is temporarily put on desk duty. However, she orchestrates a five-player trade to get her boyfriend a spot on Metro and is sabotaged during the detective's exam as a result. After breaking up, they find themselves back on the same team with Tim as her sergeant.

Chenford has faced a handful of obstacles throughout The Rookie season 7, with Lucy struggling to trust Tim after he ended their relationship. Although she's forgiven him, their superior-subordinate dynamic has kept them from reconciling. In The Rookie season 7, episode 17, Grey posts the results of the sergeant exam, revealing that Lucy has placed first. She's given her stripes right away, but the series throws in one final twist. While there is an opening in the Mid-Wilshire Division, Lucy is assigned to the night shift.

As the synopsis states, Chenford's opposing schedules will make it difficult to find time for a much-needed conversation. Regardless, Lucy's new role is a monumental step forward in her career, and it eliminates the exes' most recent roadblock. Given Hawley's comments about the season 7 finale, it's possible that Tim and Lucy are ready to give their relationship another shot.

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The Rookie season 7 airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and is available to stream next-day on Hulu.