When plans were being made to produce The Rookie, the show's star, Nathan Fillion, signed on before a script was even written. While that could have blown up in his face, that risk definitely paid off, as many characters from the ABC show have been embraced by the show's loyal viewers.
While Fillion's character isn't as lovable as he once was, he has matured, and several of the show's other characters have become very popular with viewers.
Fortunately for Melissa O'Neil, her The Rookie character, Lucy Chen, is one of the show's most popular characters by far. As a result, when O'Neil has given promising teases about Chen's future, many fans who are deeply invested have become very excited. Sadly, however, O'Neil recently gave an update about what viewers can expect during The Rookie season 8 that will deeply disappoint many of those previously excited fans.
Melissa O'Neil gave a severely disappointing update on her past The Rookie season 8 kiss comment
While The Rookie viewers tend to be invested in many of its characters and storylines, there is no doubt that one plotline has gotten the show's viewers the most engaged: Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford's romance. After watching the two characters exhibit immense chemistry for years, fans were overjoyed when they became a couple. As exciting as that was at the time, Bradford later broke up with Chen. Even though Bradford broke Chen's heart, most fans assumed they would reunite.
Fortunately for fans, The Rookie's showrunner has hinted that Chen and Bradford will head in the direction of getting back together during season 8.
As a result, when Chen's actor spoke on a red carpet about The Rookie season 8 having epic kisses, most fans assumed that her character and Bradford would share a steamy moment.
"There are a few moments where the kisses feel more epic, and I did say kisses, the kisses feel more epic than the kisses in Superman. "
Sadly, however, O'Neil later went on to throw cold water on the conjecture that she'd hinted that Chen and Bradford would have an epic kiss.
While talking to Hello! Magazine for a December 2025 article, O'Neil stated that her kiss quote had made fans draw incorrect conclusions. Instead of teasing a Chenford moment, it turns out that O'Neil's epic comments were about a kiss that John Nolan will take part in.
"I said in an interview once – and this quote has been following me around, and publications are repurposing it – that the kisses are more epic than Superman in the season premiere, and I want people to understand that I'm talking about a Nolan kiss! It's very important that this gets cleared up because I'm talking about a Nolan kiss [not a Chenford kiss]!"
While that clarification from O'Neil is disappointing for The Rookie fans, viewers shouldn't jump to conclusions again.
After previously assuming Bradford and Chen would have an epic kiss, fans shouldn't now jump to the conclusion that they won't. Chenford could still share a steamy kiss during The Rookie season 8, even if the kisses O'Neil previously teased involved Nolan.