Lucy Chen's 10 Best Quotes In The Rookie, Ranked

MovieStillsDB Published Jul 25, 2026, 6:15 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Sign in to your ScreenRant account As one of the original rookies on ABC's The Rookie, Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) has been someone viewers have watched grow through the years, and her ability to express how she's feeling has always been a standout part of her personality. Throughout her time on The Rookie, Lucy has gone from a confident but green rookie officer to a sergeant, with a ton of growth and turmoil along the way. With the show beginning during her time working with Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) as her training officer, Lucy's journey has brought her into a whole new phase of life. As The Rookie season 9 approaches, revisiting Lucy's best moments throughout the series is always worthwhile. From dealing with being buried alive when she was still a rookie officer to navigating her intense relationship with her former TO, viewers have had the chance to watch as Lucy's learned to advocate for herself and bring her personality into her work. Some of her best moments have brought Lucy into dangerous situations, allowing her to use her strengths to her advantage and develop new skills along the way. Lucy's best quotes on The Rookie dive into her strength and sense of adaptability. 10 "I taught myself French so I could follow the coverage." Season 4, Episode 2 Throughout The Rookie's run, viewers have come to learn that Lucy is a jack of all trades, someone who enjoys learning a little about everything. When Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) joined the series as a rookie who'd had a wrongful conviction overturned and went on to become an officer, Lucy was talking about his trial to Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and, when she knew details of the case, revealed that she'd learned French to follow along. Lucy taking up another language just to keep up with a trial she was interested in proves she's always ready to pick up a skill. 9 "I am trying to be a good cop and follow all of the rules. But in order for me to be a good cop, I need to be a good human first, no matter what comes after that." Season 8, Episode 11 ABC After the harrowing events of The Rookie season 8 episode 10, "His Name Was Martin", Lucy had to take time away from the LAPD while the internal investigation on the case. While she was waiting to return to work and processing what had happened, she was feeling helpless and didn't know how exactly to move forward. Talking to Tim, she shared that she wanted to talk to the deceased's sister, hoping that providing her information on what had happened would offer some closure. Lucy's instinct to be a good person ahead of being a good cop prove her nature. 8 "That's some greeting card level villainy. Not that psychopaths are known for being original thinkers." Season 2, Episode 11 ABC Lucy's most difficult test of strength came during The Rookie season 2, when she was kidnapped by a serial killer and buried alive while the rest of the LAPD searched through the desert in order to try to find her. Lucy was drugged and kidnapped by a man named Caleb (Michael Cassidy), who took her far from the city in order to bury her in a video camera rigged barrel, streaming her death for Rosalind Dyer (Annie Wersching). While Lucy was being tortured, she kept her wits about her, even making dark jokes to Caleb as she attempted to escape. 7 "You know what? We're all gonna make it because we're gonna have each other's backs no matter what." Season 1, Episode 3 Lucy began the series alongside her fellow rookies Nolan and Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.), and the trio's friendship was a huge part of the show's first few seasons. While Lucy and Nolan were originally a romance, their breakup left them a solid friendship, and they were both close with Jackson as the three of them continued learning at Mid-Wilshire. Lucy's attitude toward her friends throughout the show always sees her supportive, but the connection she felt with the trio was stronger than a standard friendship, even seeing her ready to support her fellow rookie officers in their FTO year. 6 "You're nothing like him." Season 4, Episode 9 As one of the most important relationships throughout the show's run, Tim and Lucy's connection started in a strictly professional manner, but grew into something more. Even before they were truly romantically involved, it was clear that Tim and Lucy had a genuine affection and respect for one another. Nothing solidified this more than Lucy getting the chance to be a support for Tim in a vulnerable moment. After finally speaking his mind to his abusive father, Lucy reassured Tim that he was "nothing like" his dad, making it clear that she'd always be there for him in his corner. 5 "I did not need saving." Season 2, Episode 19 ABC (via MoviesStillsDb) Although Lucy wound up with Tim in her personal and professional life, her romantic relationships prior offered some insight into her personality, as well. During The Rookie season 2, after dealing with her own trauma and finding herself in a new relationship, Tim and Lucy were working a crime scene where she made a few obvious mistakes. Tim took the chance to point out Lucy's mistakes and her new boyfriend, a firefighter, tried to step in. While it was likely the assumption Lucy would appreciate the reprieve, she made it clear that she didn't need someone else to save her. 4 "There isn’t a guy in the force who can do what these guys do — and there sure as hell isn’t anyone tougher.” Season 3, Episode 6 Lucy's love for undercover work has become a staple of her character on The Rookie, even though it complicates her relationship with Tim from time to time. After her first undercover operation, which she worked alongside Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox), Lucy sat down with her colleagues and her roommate at the time, Tamara Colins (Dylan Conrique), to help her out with an assignment. Talking about her experience as a woman in the field, Lucy shouted out her fellow female officers. Standing up for female empowerment in her field is a major part of what makes Lucy a deeply authentic character. 3 "I know that you don't see how brave and powerful you are, OK? But I do. I really, really do." Season 8, Episode 3 After a tough case during an early episode of The Rookie season 8, Lucy revisits her trauma in a fascinating way. While the season 2 kidnapping has been brought up on the show a few times, The Rookie has chosen more forward momentum for Lucy than letting her dwell on the past. In that forward momentum, Lucy hasn't frequently brought up her kidnapping, aside from a few moments. During season 8, in order to relate to a victim, Lucy shared her story and made it clear that because she'd survived, she knew that the victim would also be okay. 2 "Look, this kind of obstacle's new to you, but it's status quo for me. You're a novelty item right now, but in 13 months, you'll be a P2, and the cops will treat you like one of the guys, but I'll have to prove myself to every cop I work with." Season 1, Episode 1 With Lucy and Nolan's relationship being a huge part of The Rookie's earliest episodes, the show made it clear that their connection was going to be an obstacle for the couple if it continued. Lucy and Nolan both wanted to keep things quiet as they began their training, and Lucy made it clear that she understood that being a woman in a male-dominated field wasn't going to be easy. In sharing that she'll have to prove herself for the rest of her career, The Rookie made it known that Lucy's storyline wouldn't be an easy one from the start. 1 "Empathy can be painful, but the alternative, at least for me, is unthinkable. I do this job to help people. You know, I have to feel for them." Season 5, Episode 18 Image via ABC One of the most insightful quotes when it comes to Lucy's character happened during the show's fifth season, when Lucy explained her philosophy on showing empathy. During The Rookie season 5 episode 18, one of the show's infamous documentary episodes, Lucy is talking about the differences between her thought processes and Tim's. After discovering Tim's doppleganger, who was dating Lucy's doppleganger, dead, Lucy explains that while Tim is able to compartmentalize tragedies more easily, she is the type of person who has empathy no matter what. Lucy's sense of compassion is what makes her a great part of The Rookie. Release Date October 16, 2018 Network ABC Showrunner Alexi Hawley Directors Tori Garrett, Chi-Yoon Chung, Michael Goi, Sylvain White, Lisa Demaine, Lanre Olabisi, Bill Johnson, David McWhirter, Liz Friedlander, Daniel Willis, Toa Fraser, Anne Renton, Jon Huertas, Cherie Nowlan, TK Shom, Rob Seidenglanz, Valerie Weiss, Barbara Brown, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, SJ Main Muñoz, Nelson McCormick, Marcus Stokes, Adam Davidson, Anna Mastro Writers Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert, Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff Creator(s) Alexi Hawley