We’re back! The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers” returns to show us the best version of this series in an episode where Chenford makes us fall in love more and more (although the strategy of the show doesn’t) and Nyla and James give us the best surprise they could give us. Time for a review!
Here we go!
In The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers” Chenford steps up…in The Rookie style, this means it’s a step, but it feels too slow. Let’s start at the beginning.
Sometimes, Tim is frustrating. He demands that Lucy, which she always does. But he isn´t able to recognize her work and give her credit for it. It’s not about Lucy needing him all the time, it’s just about being fair to what she does and what a good cop she is.
It’s about giving her what she deserves and what she earned, no more, no less. And it’s frustrating how easy it is for Tim to do just that with others and how hard it is for him to do it with Lucy. Why?
Tim may selfishly and subconsciously not want to do it because it would mean that, one day, Lucy will move on and they would no longer work together. It’s selfish and unfair but it’s also human… and it would explain a lot of Tim’s actions.
However, if Tim can get on our nerves, he can make us fall in love too, and The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers” proves why. He´s able to realize the mistake he´s making and that Lucy deserves to hear from his mouth what he really thinks of her. She’s…amazing and she’s going to go far. He will not be an impediment to her, and he will give her the credit she deserves.
And it’s one of the best things Tim ever did. Because maybe he, driven by the prospect that Lucy would end up not being in his life, didn´t give her the credit she deserves. But, now, he´s recognizing his mistake and is overcoming that fear, leaving her free so that, when the time comes, she can decide. Hoping that she chooses him but without taking away the option.
Chenford dance…what to say about these two who create unique magic together. Little by little, Tim begins to relax around Lucy when they see each other outside of work. He dares to ask her for the pending dance, to hug her, to get closer, to enjoy her company… they´re one step away from the kiss, one step away from something else… the problem is that The Rookie is prolonging it… a lot.
We love Chenford and the chemistry they exude, the magic they create together, but we’re sick of them being used as bait for the fans. We understand that the shows play with their most popular ship, with their quintessential endgame, for a while to keep the tension both in the series and the viewer, but they’ve played too much with Chenford without giving us anything.
If The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers” can build their entire promotion around Chenford, The Rookie may as well give us something concrete about them and stop messing with the fans. Because fans are not excited at all for this particular game.
Let’s be clear. Are we happy for the Chenford material in The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers?” Yes. Do we think The Rookie was fair in basing the entire promotion of the episode on them when we only had one scene? No. And, as fans, we’re tired of it. The Rookie must either advance Chenford or push them aside, but it must do so now. We said what we said.
Nyla and James take a giant step forward in The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers.” They are married! At first, everything was unexpected, chaotic, and complicated but, in the end, everything was as perfect as it is. But let’s take it one step at a time, shall we?
Nyla’s first proposal was spontaneous and assertive and categorical. It was just a “we’re getting married.” That is, very far from the romance that is presupposed at a time like this. My romantic heart can’t take this. No, my romantic heart wants flowers and hearts, a knee on the ground, a ring, a big celebration, and all the romance and sugar you can imagine. So this, for me, was…anticlimactic.
James feels a bit the same. Not just for the way it went but for the reason Nyla did it. It’s not the right reason. A couple gets married because they love each other, they choose to grow old together and build a future together.
A couple gets married because they choose to be together despite the bad times, especially during the bad times. But a couple doesn’t get married because a baby is on the way or because of the comments that may arise in the community.
Nyla and James can’t get married for all the wrong reasons. James is clear that he loves her and that marrying her, a future together, is what he wants. This is why it hurts him that Nyla is only contemplating marrying him for the wrong reasons that have nothing to do with love.
And the wrong reasons often lead to quick regrets. If they get married now, Nyla will end up regretting it because she didn’t choose him. She just chose the thing she thought was the best option but she didn’t choose him. And neither of them deserve that, they don’t deserve that.
That’s why he can’t marry Nyla, not under those circumstances. Of course, Nyla was clumsy in saying it all. But she doesn’t want to marry him because she’s pregnant. She wants to marry him because she chooses him, every day, her whole life.
She chooses a happy life with him because she loves him immensely…in the same way he loves her. This declaration of love is so simple, so pure, James’s question, the ring …everything does meet my expectations and fills my romantic heart.
Nyla, perhaps, was subconsciously trying to avoid the big declaration and the huge celebration. She was trying to pretend it was no big deal because she already had the big moment and it all went wrong.
In an attempt to distance herself from that, due to the fear of history repeating itself, she tried to take it as far away from that as possible. So that no aspect of her engagement to James resembled her old engagement. It’s irrational, but that’s fear for you, and Nyla felt safer putting that barrier between the two engagements.
The wedding in The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers” is perfect. Simple, spontaneous, small, precious, and perfect. As they are. Nyla and James were a surprise in The Rookie and everything was as natural between them as breathing. It’s poetic that their wedding feels like this too. When you love someone you don’t need more than that person by your side, holding your hand. Forever.
WE’RE HAPPY!
Other Stuff In The Rookie 4×18 “Backstabbers”
- Grey’s speech made me cry.
- I can’t believe that Nyla and James are married and how happy that makes me.
- Nyla, if a man proposed to me like you did the first time, I would kill him.
- However, if he did it like you did the second time, I would melt.
- James and co. are amazing!
- The case of the week was much more interesting than the previous episode.
- I love Nyla’s daughter.
- Bailey and Nolan are super cute together. Where is the proposal that Nolan planned to make?
- Reliving Nyla’s statement at the wedding celebration was epic!
- Angela is the best at organizing events.
- CHENFORD DANCE!
- Larry Macer for the win!
- Tim acknowledging Lucy’s “superpower” gave me feels.
The Rookie airs Sundays at 10/9 on ABC and will return with a two-part event in two weeks.
