Eric Winter on Tim Bradford's new role and being kept off-balance with Chenford

Season 8 of The Rookie opened with Tim Bradford stepping into Lt. Grey's old role as watch commander, a promotion that has introduced new responsibilities and growing pains. At the same time, Tim and Lucy Chen have moved in together and even shared a Valentine’s Day moment, though the show keeps the possibility of conflict alive.

Eric Winter admits it was hard to see Tim out of the street action he’d known for years, and after conversations with the writers they found a way to get him more involved later in the season. Winter says the character is struggling with broader leadership duties — office politics, paperwork and sleeplessness — and calls that adjustment “a lot of his stress and struggle in the role.” The latest episode sends Lucy and Nyla undercover in Baja, Mexico, living in a van while investigating the brutal murder of two women, and briefly finds Tim in disguise to check on them.

Mexico, Baja

the rookie, tim bradford, eric winter, lucy chen, nyla, lt. grey, watch commander, season 8, baja mexico, undercover