Young and the Restless 2-week spoilers for February 16 -27, 2026 expose that Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) is raging and Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) finds herself targeted on multiple fronts.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Mariah’s Home & Making Waves

On Monday, February 16th, Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes), Christine Williams (Lauralee Bell), and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) are discussing the fact that Mariah made bail. However, there is an ankle monitor on her, and Mariah can’t leave Genoa City. Other than that, she can free-range wander, which I don’t know how cool that is considering her crime.

Christine Williams plans an NGRI defense—not guilty by reason of insanity. That’s the legal terminology for the claim. Mariah, however, wants to plead guilty because she was aware of what she was doing. She said she planned it and knew it was wrong—kind of the things that someone with mental health issues doesn’t necessarily understand or is aware of.

Mariah Copeland’s Mental Health Crisis and Legal Defense on Y&R

Mariah also confesses to Sharon and Christine about the old man she nearly murdered. Furthermore, Mariah comes clean about hallucinating Ian Ward (Ray Wise). Sharon tells Mariah this is PTSD. They’re going to get her the help that she needs, not like what she had at the Boston clinic.

Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks) goes to check on Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway), Dominic Chancellor (Ethan Ray Clark), and Devon Hamilton Winters (Bryton James). She tells them that Mariah looked ashamed in court. Tessa says that Ian was a horrible influence on Mariah and is to blame, much like when Ian framed Sharon for Heather Stevens (Vail Bloom) murder to get to Mariah.

Abby is outraged and wants to know why the Boston clinic even let Mariah go. Devon is hoping that Mariah can get better, but Abby thinks Mariah is a lost cause. Abby is also wondering if Mariah is a threat to Aria Porter-Copeland (Millie Ingle). Abby’s attitude is that she will never forgive Mariah, especially if Dominic suffers after-effects from the kidnapping.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Tessa Porter’s Reality Check and Daniel Romalotti’s Growing Feelings

Tessa heads to the coffee shop to talk to Mariah. Of course, Mariah thinks Tessa hates her. Tessa says she hates what Mariah did, but she doesn’t hate her. However, Tessa also gives Mariah a reality check, saying, “You haven’t needed me. You haven’t turned to me, and you kept cutting me out.”

Mariah mentions that her mom told her Tessa filed for divorce. Mariah says Tessa deserves better than her and wants to know if Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei) was watching out for her like she asked. Tessa says vaguely that he’s been a good friend. Then she says Mariah doesn’t have to push her away again because she’s leaving. Tessa walks out on her wife.

Across town, Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) and Daniel are talking about Mariah’s arrest. Daniel worries Tessa may reconcile with Mariah because she wants to help her, and Danny is worried that Daniel will fall apart if that happens. Daniel just wants Danny to drop it.

When Christine arrives and says that Mariah got bail, Daniel takes off to find Tessa. Danny tells Christine that Daniel has fallen for Tessa. Meanwhile, Daniel takes Tessa in his arms as she cries. Daniel promises to be there for her while she deals with this Mariah ordeal.

Y&R Nick Newman’s Dangerous Addiction and Victor Newman’s Secret Plot

On Tuesday, February 17th, Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) makes a dangerous move. It looks like he takes Matt Clark’s (Roger Howarth) fentanyl because he’s out of prescription medication and is in pain. Sharon nearly catches Nick when he’s toying with the baggie of pills, but she does see that Nick is up to something. Sharon demands to know what Nick is hiding from her, but he will likely lie to her.

Meanwhile, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) hits back at Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn). So far, Cane still doesn’t know that Victor was bluffing about the kidnapping. Cane didn’t believe Phyllis, and Victor may tell Cane he tricked him and he fell for it. Victor also knows that Phyllis took everything out from under Cane.

On Wednesday, February 18th, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) explains her plan to Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic). We could see Victoria trying to weaponize Phyllis and Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) kids against them. She promised to hit them where it hurts. Nikki is also looking for revenge and targeting an enemy—it could be Phyllis, Cane, Billy, or all of them.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: The Newman Family Revenge Against Billy Abbott and Phyllis Summers

Billy’s plans are derailed by Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) on Wednesday. I wonder if Jack is going to reach out to Jill Abbott (Jess Walton) and tell her that Billy is out of control, conspiring with Phyllis, and stole Chancellor. Billy rants at Jack, accusing him of not caring about his brother and saying he’s just upset that Billy beat the Great Victor Newman when Jack wasn’t the one who did it.

On Thursday, February 19th, Billy gets a dose of reality from Victoria. If she’s going a legal route rather than a criminal one, it may involve custody court. Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin) wants a deal. She’ll tell Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) a secret if he tells her the whole truth about him and Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver). What secret is Claire sitting on that would intrigue Holden on Young and Restless?

She’s kind of an open book, and people know what she did. He is crazy if he tells her the truth about him and Audra, but we do know the truth comes out. Cane wants revenge and approaches Daniel about working with him to take down Phyllis. Daniel hates what his mom did. He’s not a fan of Cane’s, but he may agree to it.

Lily Winters Goes Missing as Y&R February Sweeps Conclude

On Friday, February 20th, Devon and Nate are worried and suspicious about Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) sudden radio silence. I wonder if Victor told her to stay off the grid until she heard from him, or if things have taken a turn and Lily is a real captive.

Nikki is worried Victor will do something drastic to get Newman Enterprises back. There’s literally no telling what he might do or what lines he might cross. The week of February 23rd through the 27th is the last week of February sweeps, which ends on Wednesday. Mariah struggles with the consequences of her actions.

She will have a day in court soon. We may not see an actual court hearing; we might just hear the ruling, similar to her arraignment. It kills Mariah to see how much she’s hurt Tessa and what she put Abby and Devon through. However, Mariah would probably be happy right now if she were in Mexico with Dominic.

The Downfall of Billy Abbott and Phyllis Summers

Concerns about Lily intensify, and Nikki fears the worst. She thinks Victor is going to do something unforgivable, and I bet Nikki is right. Cane is bent on revenge and wants to destroy Phyllis in particular, but probably Billy on the side. Victor does too. That’s at least two enemies coming after Phyllis—possibly three with Nikki.

Billy stands to lose everything, and Claire keeps going after Audra. Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) considers her next move, and Christine fights to get Mariah the help she needs to keep her out of prison. Phyllis may pay dearly for her newfound success, and Billy is also set for a comeuppance. Get ready for more Matt Clark chaos coming after February sweeps wraps up and we head into March.

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Season 7 of Unexpected is making waves as producers document a young couple’s road to parenthood.

Starting Monday, February 16, viewers of TLC’s hit reality show will get a front-row seat into the relationship of Bella Vaughn, 15, and Hunter, 13, as they prepare to welcome their first child together.

The pre-teens are trying their best to grow up quickly, even as their extended family weighs in on the unique situation.

“I don’t want him to be held back in the 8th grade,” Bella’s mom, Falen, shares in the season 7 trailer.

Bella replies, “I don’t want him to be a tenth grader dating an eighth grader. We’ve got a toddler.”

Keep reading to learn more about Bella and Hunter., and make sure to watch Unexpected on TLC Monday at 9 p.m. ET.

Are Bella Vaughn and Hunter Still Together?

Although viewers of Unexpected will have to tune in to see where Bella Vaughn and Hunter stand after becoming parents, there are plenty of signs on social media that the pair are still together.

“I did not ruin Hunter’s life. When I found out that I was pregnant, I gave him the option. I said, ‘If you can’t do this or you don’t want to be here, that is fine. I understand we’re both very young, but I can do this on my own or with you. It’s your decision. Whatever you choose, I’m fine with,’” Bella shared via TikTok on January 19. “He chose to stay with me. He chose to take care of our baby.”

On February 7, Bella also shared a photo of her “Boyfrannn” Hunter on TikTok.

What Do Bella Vaughn’s Parents Think About Their Daughter Becoming a Teen Mom?

Before season 7 of Unexpected kicked off, Bella Vaughn’s parents, Kris Vaughn and Falen Vaughn, responded to critics who questioned their daughter’s choices.

“I just wanted to come on here and make a quick video,” Kris shared via TikTok on January 25 while responding to haters. “Due to all the trolls and the women quickly being known as what I have to say on TV as the unscrewables, they are going to make season 7 hot. It’s going to be a hot season.”

He added, “All they’re doing is making us the stars of the show and I got to tell y’all, my royalty check is going to be so fat.”

How Old Was Hunter When He Got Bella Vaughn Pregnant?

On January 19, Bella Vaughn addressed more rumors involving her pregnancy journey.

In a TikTok video, the reality star clarified that Hunter was 12 years old when they conceived their son, Wes, but he turned 13 just a few days later.

“I understand it doesn’t make it any better. I understand he was sexually ready faster than I was, and that’s OK, but I was ready when we had sex,” she said. “You can all stop saying that it was illegal and that I raped him because I didn’t. It was both intentional. On both sides, people have already said that. We’ve already talked to the cops about it. It was consensual.”

What Has Bella Vaughn and Hunter Said About Sex?

In a sneak peek from the season 7 premiere of Unexpected, Bella Vaughn shared personal details about her sex life in a candid conversation with her mom.

“All [Hunter] wants to do is have sex,” she shared in a preview clip. “I’m not gonna get pregnant again; I’m already pregnant.”

In another point in the clip, Bella revealed she got pregnant after Hunter’s condom broke.

“I found out I was pregnant because I missed my period. My periods were 28 days on the dot,” she said. “When I missed that period that morning, I was like, ‘Mom, I need to take a test.’ Surely enough, it was positive.”

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What Is TLC’s ‘Unexpected’ About? 

Unexpected first premiered on TLC back in 2017. Ever since then, the reality show has tried to capture a raw look at teenage pregnancies and the effects it has on teen parents and their families.

Viewers are able to catch up on past seasons by streaming old episodes on HBO Max.

It’s rare for any show to run more than a few seasons without a noticeable dip, especially network procedurals built around a familiar week-to-week formula. Even when a series puts a fresh spin on the standard investigative setup, the “case of the week” structure can start to feel repetitive once viewers learn the rhythm of how each episode is going to play out. Bones managed to avoid a lot of those pitfalls because creator Hart Hanson put real emphasis on character, not just plot. The show has an eclectic supporting bench, but it ultimately lived and died on the chemistry between Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz. Sure, crime dramas naturally hook people with the cases themselves, but Bones had a central dynamic that made the procedural engine feel secondary, and that only worked because those two performances made it believable.

Loosely based on the real life and books of Kathy Reichs, Bones centers on the brilliant forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan (Deschanel), who works to investigate evidence at crime scenes at the industrious Jeffersonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Brennan has a close relationship with artist Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin), entomologist Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne), intern Zack Addy (Eric Millegan), psychologist Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley), and pathologist Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor).

However, it’s her personal and professional connection with FBI Agent Seeley Booth (Boreanaz) that gave Bones its distinct charm. While Hanson originally had a much different approach in mind, Booth and Brennan’s roles were changed after a critical moment when filming the pilot episode. It came down to the two actors being completely in sync on what direction the show should head, and it ended up inspiring a series that continues to garner new viewers based on its rewatchability.

Booth Was Never Meant To Be a Permanent Fixture on ‘Bones’

Bones was unique among procedural crime shows because, at its heart, it was a character drama. Booth and Brennan are complete opposites: while Brennan is socially adverse and highly neurotic, Booth is gregarious, often relying upon his “gut” to make decisions. Initially, their partnership is rocky, as their approaches to solving crimes are radically different; Brennan often feels that Booth doesn’t treat the scientific procedures that she conducts with respect, and he often feels that she uses advanced terminology in order to make him “feel dumb” and undermine his authority. However, Booth and Brennan eventually discover that their skills are complementary and they enjoy spending time together. Eventually, a romance blossoms between the two, but Booth is originally set to be a minor character in the series. According to Hanson, the show would have involved a group of different FBI agents who came in to help Brennan complete her cases.

Despite the importance he ultimately played in the show’s narrative, Booth was originally intended to be little more than an audience surrogate. As someone not well-versed in the scientific jargon that Brennan often spoke about, he would’ve served as a character who asked the same questions that the audience did without breaking the format of the narrative structure. However, Hanson took note of the chemistry between Deschanel and Boreanaz when filming the show’s pilot episode. He stated that he felt the audience would “want to watch these two interact,” because they were “a very rational person and very emotional person.” He compared their dynamic to that of Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in the classic mystery series, Moonlighting.

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The relationship between Brennan and Booth turned Bones from a standard procedural into must-see television. Generally, “case of the week” shows don’t require viewers to pay close attention to the character details, as they tend to revert to the status quo at the end of each episode. However, Bones gave the viewer a reason to watch the show sequentially, as Booth and Brennan began to mature as they understood each other more closely. Early episodes may have felt closer to a more traditional mystery series, but the standout Season 1 episode, “The Man In The Fallout Shelter,” indicated that Bones was putting its characters first and foremost.

It was in this installment that Booth opened up to Brennan about his regrets about fatherhood and how he began to become a workaholic to avoid depression about his admitted failure to stand by his son. Likewise, Brennan was able to discuss the similarly complex relationship that she had with her own father, Max (Ryan O’Neal), who had left her family due to a series of crimes that he had committed. Both Booth and Brennan are essentially lonely children in need of acceptance; while their family lives were never ideal, they can at least find solace in relating and empathizing with one another.

Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz Developed a Real Friendship While Making ‘Bones’

Although their chemistry may have been apparent to Hanson as early as the pilot episode, Deschanel and Boreanaz worked to develop their own onscreen dynamic. The two would regularly meet with an acting coach to develop the snappy “back and forth” dialogue between their characters to make it feel more realistic. Over the course of their experience, Deschanel and Boreanaz developed a real friendship that mirrored their onscreen personas. The time and investment they put in was certainly advantageous; later moments in the series that explored the intimacies of their relationship felt more sincere thanks to the stars’ genuine respect for each other. While having a pleasant working environment is something that every production strives for, it was essential for Bones, a show that cranked out 22 episodes a year for over a decade. It is unlikely that the show would have had the same longevity if the actors didn’t feel comfortable playing off one another and acting friendly on screen together.

Given how dark the subject material was, the comic banter between Boreanaz and Deschanel was critical to the tone of Bones. The series often dealt with graphic content and featured more than a few ruthless serial killers who pushed the Jeffersonian staff to their limit; murder, suicide, sexual assault, and torture became commonplace on a series that managed to incorporate a surprising amount of graphic content, despite its TV-14 rating. Viewers may have only been able to stomach so much disturbing material if that was the only thing that Bones had to offer, but Booth and Brennan often traded comic jabs at each other’s expense.

It’s impressive that Boreanaz and Deschanel could add these humorous elements without ever sacrificing the show’s integrity; the comic relief felt authentic to the characters and didn’t detract from the gravity of their responsibilities. In many ways, Booth and Brennan use their comedic banter as a way of blowing off steam when the weight of what’s going around them makes it too difficult to go through traditional therapy. It’s also noted that given how unique their profession is, Booth and Brennan are among the few people who can actually relate to each other’s experiences.

Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz’s Chemistry Is Crucial to ‘Bones’

Image via Fox

Some of Bones’ most emotionally impactful scenes feel more realistic due to Deschanel and Boreanaz’s real-life connection. In the controversial Season 10 episode, “The Conspiracy and the Corpse,” fan-favorite character Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley) is beaten to death by a rogue Navy SEAL in one of the most shocking, brutal moments in the series. Although Daley left the show to pursue other creative opportunities, there were certainly better ways to have said goodbye to his beloved character than brutally killing him off in a way that not only feels jarringly abrupt but also inauthentic. It became more than obvious that the decision was made purely to appease an actor’s schedule and did not creatively fit into the narrative that Hanson had in mind.

The one saving grace of this tragic moment in the series is Deschanel and Boreanaz’s effortless chemistry. Because the actors share such a close bond in real life, their characters’ reactions to Sweet’s death feels authentic – even if Sweet’s death itself does not. The way the two actors were able to react and respond to each other’s grief and shock heightens the scene. It’s because of Deschanel and Boreanaz that even in Bones’ most unpopular moments, viewers kept coming back. To the credit of both Deschanel and Boreanaz, Bones never felt like it was ignoring the consequences of this moment, as it would become an important part of both characters’ development within the final two seasons. Booth begins to cope with some serious mental health issues as he copes with the loss of Sweets, a former rival who he had grown to trust as one of his best friends.

‘Bones’ Maintained a Consistent Level of Quality Throughout Its Run

Image via FOX

While even the best shows can be accused of “jumping the shark” at a certain point, Bones never suffered a serious decline in quality thanks to the strong performances of Deschanel and Boreanaz. Even when the show developed storylines that weren’t realized to their full potential, both actors ensured that Booth and Brennan always acted within character. This was also the result of Boreanaz’s creative involvement; he stepped behind the camera to direct several episodes, including the acclaimed series finale that brought Bones to a satisfying conclusion. While pulling off a great season finale is challenging for any show, it’s particularly hard for a procedural that had to justify the years of investment that fans had in the material. Thankfully, Bones‘ final installment was one that wrapped up a particularly compelling conspiracy storyline in a satisfying way, yet also managed to look back at the eclectic cast of characters and assess how radically they had evolved since the series began in 2005.

The chemistry between Deschanel and Boreanaz is what gave Bones its longevity. It was a level of success that proved difficult to replicate, as the botched spinoff series, The Finder, was unable to develop the same connection with its cast. The series remains highly rewatchable as “comfort television” for many fans because the characters feel like family over time. Rumors persist that a reboot or continuation of Bones is in the works, with Boreanaz recently stating that it was a character and universe that he would be interested in returning to.

While there have been some disastrous television revivals in recent years, it’s easy to imagine that Boreanaz and Deschanel would have enough integrity to ensure the wait was worth it for Bones fans. That being said, it would be much more challenging for viewers to accept any way of continuing Bones in which these two were not directly involved on a creative level to ensure that Booth and Brennan were still the same people that they always were.

Bones is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

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Release Date

2005 – 2017

Network

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FOX

Showrunner

Hart Hanson

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Directors

Ian Toynton, Dwight H. Little, Chad Lowe, Jeannot Szwarc, Allan Kroeker, Kate Woods, Steven DePaul, Tim Southam, Jeff Woolnough, Milan Cheylov, Randall Zisk, Alex Chapple, François Velle, Jesús Salvador Treviño, Tony Wharmby, Craig Ross Jr., Kevin Hooks, Michael Lange, Sanford Bookstaver, Allison Liddi-Brown, David Grossman, Emile B. Levisetti, Greg Yaitanes, Brad Turner

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Writers

Hart Hanson, Michael Peterson, Dean Lopata, Jonathan Collier, Keith Foglesong, Janet Lin, Elizabeth Benjamin, Pat Charles, Josh Berman, Scott Williams, Hilary Weisman Graham, Noah Hawley, Lyla Oliver, Karyn Usher, Dave Thomas, Janet Tamaro, Sanford Golden, Steve Blackman, Joe Hortua, Karen Wyscarver, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Emily Silver, Yael Zinkow, Greg Ball

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  Emily Deschanel

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  Temperance ‘Bones’ Brennan

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Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 8, Episode 7.It’s always a positive thing when procedurals can reference past events to establish more character development. The Rookie is adept at incorporating previous storylines so that its characters can heal and grow. This week’s episode offers us even more insight into Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) when she’s forced to remember details of her kidnapping from Season 2. When Lucy gets involved with a case that reminds her how not all young women survive what she went through, viewers are allowed even deeper into her healing journey. These types of storylines help the show feel more authentic, and it makes this Season 8 episode all the more powerful.

‘The Rookie’s Lucy and Nyla Take On a Dangerous Mission

The beginning of the episode opens with the Mid-Wilshire gang coming across a woman covered in blood in a dark alley. She has been stabbed multiple times, and even though Nolan tries to administer medical aid, she dies. Minutes later, they discover another female victim who is already dead. Lucy and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) determine that these two women were friends and were living in their van. They were likely drug mules for a cartel running product between Mexico and California. Lucy admits that she also tried out the ‘van life’ for nine months after graduate school, and because of her past trauma, she fights to go undercover to get justice for them. Lucy clearly feels similarities between herself and these women, who aren’t alive to fight for themselves. Her passion for the case gets an undercover operation approved for her and Nyla. They pose as lovers and head to the same beach where the two women had spent time.

The operation is supposed to take four weeks, and while it’s hard for Nyla to leave her family and for Lucy to leave Tim Bradford (Eric Winter), the women know this is an important mission. We don’t often get scenes with Nyla and Lucy together, so this partnership is a compelling one. We learn that Lucy quit graduate school after having a panic attack and realized that she needed to make her own decisions in her life, and Nyla has always just wanted to be a cop. For the investigation, the women meet a helpful man named Chase, who lives at the camp.

Image via ABC

They also meet a man named Rafael Navarro, who offers them $1,500 to take a small package across the border to Los Angeles. The endeavor is successful, and Navarro tries to up the ante by asking them to carry even more drugs into the U.S. We’re meant to think that Navarro is the killer, but it’s just a red herring. Instead, we learn that Chase was actually in Los Angeles during the time of the murders, and was caught on CCTV driving away with blood on his face. He ends up confessing, and Lucy is completely overcome with emotion after finding justice for the victims. The undercover operation was successful, and it’s always fun to see these cops step outside their comfort zone and try on new personas.

‘The Rookie’ Season 8, Episode 7 Is Centered Around Miles’ Bad Decisions

Image via ABC

The secondary storyline in Episode 7 focuses on Miles Penn (Deric Augustine). Although it makes sense that Miles still has a lot to learn as a rookie, the guy just keeps messing up, and it’s getting kind of hard to watch. John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Miles are tasked with a surveillance assignment to find a dangerous criminal nicknamed “Hamster.” The two cops go on a stake-out, and Nolan gives Miles the advice that he should never go policing off-duty and should focus on his tasks while his partner is with him. Before they can successfully apprehend Hamster, he is on the run. Miles makes a mistake during the chase, and Hamster is once again in the wind.

Because Nolan is disappointed in him, Miles makes the incredibly stupid decision to show he’s a good cop and decides to go on another stake-out off-duty (which is exactly what Nolan told him not to do). Showcasing even more bad decision-making, Miles also decides to take Seth Ridley (Patrick Keleher) with him to watch out for Hamster. This just raises the stakes since Seth is now a civilian. I’m never all that thrilled to see Seth come back, and this inclusion of his character seemed implausible. In a later scene, we learn that Miles and Seth have been conducting this stake-out for a full two weeks! Finally, Hamster arrives, right when Seth has gone to get food. The criminal pulls a gun on Miles, but luckily, Seth comes back in time to see what’s happening from afar. Hamster forces Miles into a car, while Seth calls Nolan for help.

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As they drive away, Seth ends up throwing himself in front of the car to stop them. I know we’re supposed to think Seth has changed, but this still doesn’t make me love him. Backup arrives, Seth is unharmed, and Miles is rescued, but he’s in serious trouble. Bradford even goes so far as to fire Miles. Nolan still has Miles’ back, though, and has convinced Bradford to give Miles two weeks’ leave and a six-month extension of his training program. In the end, Miles is incredibly lucky that he just has to be a rookie for a bit longer instead of having to wash out of the program entirely.

Several Couples Actually Get To Be Happy in ‘The Rookie’ Season 8, Episode 7

Image via ABC

There has been so much strife in the romance territory of The Rookie lately. It was nice to see scenes with Nyla’s husband, James (Arjay Smith), being supportive of her undercover mission. We also close out the episode with Chenford reunited, and it’s a good sign that their time apart hasn’t caused any problems. And then there’s Nolan and Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan), who were almost headed to Splitsville. This episode features Bailey leaving for her DC work assignment for a trial run of five days, and she even orders gifts for Nolan while she’s gone. This episode was pretty dark otherwise, so it was a good thing to have no couple fights occurring.

The only frustrating aspect was that Episode 7 relied pretty heavily on montages to show the passage of time and to illustrate action happening in several different storylines. The problem is that they didn’t always fit together, and some interspliced scenes of Nolan and Bailey were meant to represent how much he misses her, but didn’t make sense in the context of the time frame. Hopefully, future episodes of The Rookie will steer clear of utilizing these montages too much. Otherwise, the show would be smart to include more undercover operations in the future, especially ones where Lucy can keep addressing her trauma in a realistic way.

New episodes of The Rookie air on Monday nights on ABC, with episodes available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 8, Episode 7.Season 8 of The Rookie kicked off with a major shakeup for the Mid-Wilshire division when it was announced that Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) would be taking over Lt. Grey’s (Richard T. Jones) old position as watch commander, ringing in a new era for Bradford’s career. However, with a new position comes growing pains, and it hasn’t been the smoothest ride for Bradford leading the precinct and handling the new responsibilities. On top of that, he’s finally gotten together with Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil), his long-time on-and-off love interest whose romance has been at the top of fans’ minds since the show started. Since moving in together, the Chenford ship has mostly been sailing smoothly, with the pair celebrating Valentine’s Day together last week, though knowing The Rookie writers, there’s always a possibility of conflict on the horizon.

The latest episode of The Rookie sees Lucy and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) take on a long undercover mission, living in a van down in Baja, Mexico, and investigating the brutal murder of two women. The mission separates both Lucy and Nyla from their loved ones and even sees Tim donning a costume for a hot minute to check in on the two officers. We spoke with Eric Winter about potentially seeing Tim go undercover again and also discussed his character’s new struggles as a watch commander this season. Winter talked extensively about how these new changes have affected his character’s growth and his layers and went into why he liked being kept on his toes as far as Tim’s romantic life was concerned. With more action-packed episodes to come, Winter teases that someone from Tim’s past will come to cause some trouble for him in the back half of Season 8.

Eric Winter Talks Tim’s Latest Stress Now That He’s Watch Commander

“…that’s been a lot of his stress and struggle in the role.”

Image via ABC

COLLIDER: There’s been a lot of action-packed scenes this season. There’s been a lot of chases, shootouts, and exciting cases. Was it disappointing not to see Tim out there now that he’s the watch commander?

ERIC WINTER: Yeah, not gonna lie, it was a little tough for me to not see Tim in the action as much as he had been throughout all the years. I remember having a conversation even with Alexi [Hawley] and the writers just saying, “I want to understand a little bit about Tim’s new path. Am I going to be somebody that’s like Grey and I’m just behind the desk, assuming this managerial type of role more, and I’m not in it?” They came up with a nice solution and a way for Tim to get more involved in the streets later in the season, which I thought was good. But I definitely, as an actor, and I think even as a character, struggled a little bit with trying to figure that out and navigate it, because it was just so opposite for the character.

It’s interesting to see him in more of a desk role and see him take on more of the managerial side of things. And Lucy, at one point, says that he’s been super stressed and he hasn’t been sleeping very well. How do you think he’s adjusting?

WINTER: Yeah, I mean, he’s figuring it out, because he was in charge of a person, when he was a T.O. it was one person, and everything he said, that’s just how it went. He ran the ship. But now he’s in charge of a whole department, and he has to deal with so much, like office politics and the higher-ups and paperwork and things that I don’t think are natural to Tim. As much as a leader as he can be, I think this is a different way of leading, and he has to lead in a broader sense and, I think, have a bit more compassion for people in scenarios, while also trying to still be firm and get things done his way. Then he has to deal with all the nonsense of phone calls and paperwork that he doesn’t want to deal with. So, that’s been a lot of his stress and struggle in the role.

Winter Teases an Old Ghost From Tim’s Past Coming Back To Haunt Him

“He clearly loves his family, but he’s uncomfortable with things that they might share about him…”

Image via ABC

I love it whenever family gets involved in this show. I think it’s one of the highlights when we see any of these characters and their families coming in. What was it like reuniting with Peyton [List] for the last episode and getting to see her? And would you like to explore more of Tim’s past?

WINTER: Totally. Everything you said, for sure, I love working with Peyton when she comes in anytime. It brings Tim’s family into the fold, and I think we’re winning because we learned so much about him. He clearly loves his family, but he’s uncomfortable with things that they might share about him or he experiences with them, and you see a softer side, a more vulnerable side, for sure. I think, in general, Tim’s past is so unique and so fascinating that I love every time we explore something that either has gotten him into trouble, or he’s navigating through still or baggage that he carries. To me, that’s the best part: he’s so imperfect, and that’s what makes him great to play and watch.

There’s already been a lot of big stuff happening, but is there something specific for Tim that you’re excited for people to see in the back half?

WINTER: I’m super excited for people to see Tim get back out in the field a lot more that’s going to happen later in the season definitely at a bigger extent. And also a good old thing again from Tim’s past might come to cause some problems, so that’ll be fun to see.

Winter Talks Exploring New Sides to Tim in ‘The Rookie’ Season 8

“I feel like Tim, every single season, there’s just layer after layer that we’re peeling back.”

In this week’s episode, we see Lucy go undercover in Mexico, and she’s there with Nyla. I’m really curious, I know there have been moments where Tim goes undercover, but how do you think he would fare in long-term undercover work? And is that ever something you want to explore?

WINTER: I’d love it. I think Tim would do great. I think he was fantastic when he was playing Dim and he was undercover as Jake, I think that was a fun opportunity, and I welcome it for sure. So I do think it’s something he would be fantastic at. I think he’s doing better with Lucy doing it this time around than the last couple times, and accepting of it. He has to try to figure it out as the head of the department, but it’s still never easy, obviously, seeing your partner getting into situations like she gets into.

I loved in last week’s episode we got that cute moment between Tim and Lucy with the Valentine’s Day gifts and got to see a lighter side of him. Even when he’s undercover as a drive-thru worker this week, it’s a nice comedic moment. How is it getting to explore these more light-hearted sides of Tim this season, after we’ve seen him be so gruff in all the previous seasons?

WINTER: Yeah, I love it, because it’s another layer. I feel like Tim, every single season, there’s just layer after layer that we’re peeling back. He’s such a complex character, so I like that we get to see those levels, because then they often shift for the smallest reasons, and you see him get back to this tough, firm, sometimes a bit of a jerk to others. And I like dancing that back and forth, especially as an actor, playing both.

Eric Winter Highlights What Makes Tim Bradford Such a Dynamic Character on ‘The Rookie’

“It’s not that easy to do; it makes it challenging and fun.”

Image via ABC

Tim’s journey has been extensive throughout the last eight seasons. What has been the most rewarding part playing this character and seeing his evolution? What is it when you think back on this show that you’re going to say, “This is what I’m most proud of from this job”?

WINTER: I would honestly say the balancing of his growth and heart as a character while maintaining his mission to make people better in the department, even in his own rigid, firm style, like he stays true to himself. I think for me to look back as an actor, and getting so many fans on board with Tim’s journey from being completely unlikable, but then realizing why he’s that way, and it’s actually for the best intended reasons, to the point that people love him and care so much about him and feel for him. I think those are probably my biggest takeaways as an actor, knowing that I was able to navigate that journey and turn him into somebody that people just empathize with and resonate with. They can relate to him in such a big way in life and profession.

I think something that’s really attractive about his character is that there is a gruffness, but underneath it, there’s always good intention, which is often not the case with people like that. And I think it’s nice to see that come through.

WINTER: You can turn [his] flaws into one of his superpowers, in a way. Like his flaws as a character, making that what people love so much about him is a treat. It’s not that easy to do; it makes it challenging and fun.

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Eric Winter Reveals His Feelings About Chenford Now That They’re Finally Together

“I’m not saying it has to be complex to the place of falling completely apart again…”

Image via ABC

What do you think Tim’s more stressed about: being watch commander or not screwing things up with Lucy?

WINTER: Oh, wow. I think the combination is just making his life stressful, for sure. I think he’s stressed when he goes to work, and he’s stressed when… I think it’s a release when he comes home, and he’s doing his best to enjoy it all the time, in a sense. So, I think it’s a good escape from the stress at work. However, yeah, he doesn’t want to screw up again. So there’s a little bit of that with his growth as a person.

After all of these seasons of Chenford’s will-they-won’t-they, they’re finally together. What is it like for you and Melissa when you’re reading the scripts and you’re like, “Oh my God, they’re finally at peace,” and they’re now navigating this new section of their relationship? Is it a relief not to have to answer to people like me and be like, “Oh, well, we don’t know how it’ll play out”? Is it nice to not have to worry about that part anymore?

WINTER: I mean, look, I always think it’s fun worrying about what’s actually going to happen. I always feel they have ups and downs in the relationship, and everybody’s up with kids or married and seems happy, and they’re dealing with family life situations. Obviously, the younger cast on the show, the newer cast, is not necessarily in relationships, but I think with [Lucy and Tim], they’ve been a couple that people can relate to in everyday life, that are navigating complex relationships.

And I think it was fun as an actor to always wonder what is going to happen to them. Now it feels a little more safe and solid for sure, so it takes away from some of the questions. But I always still kind of feel, hey, is the rug gonna get pulled out? What is in store? And I still like keeping that open as a guess in my mind, versus feeling safe. It makes it interesting, it really keeps the relationship complex. And I’m not saying it has to be complex to the place of falling completely apart again, but trying to explore other problems or potential dynamics that we aren’t already showing on the show of people in relationships.

New episodes of The Rookie air every Monday 10/9c on ABC in the U.S.

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Release Date

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October 16, 2018

Showrunner

Alexi Hawley

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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

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Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert, Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff

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With nearly as many episodes as there are days in a year, Supernatural has built an enormous catalog across its 15 seasons. Some episodes are genuinely scary, self-contained horror stories, but the series has always been bigger than its scary monsters. What kept fans coming back for more was the relationship between Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester, a bond strong enough to carry the show even when an episode didn’t fully stick the landing — and there were, most fairly, a few. Ackles has gone on record about his favorite hours, but Padalecki’s top pick is a more surprising choice, and it’s also one of the most debated episodes of the entire series.

The ‘Supernatural’ Series Finale Is Jared Padalecki’s Favorite

Ahead of the series finale, “Carry On” (which aired on November 19, 2020), Padalecki spoke with Entertainment Weekly in an effort to tease the show’s remaining episodes and reflect on Sam and Dean’s nearly two-decades on television. When asked about his favorite moment from filming the 15-season series, the actor’s response was somewhat surprising and gave fans hope for the remainder of the series.

“The series finale is my favorite episode of all time,” the actor said, but that wasn’t enough. Soon after, he doubled down on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. “I love all of my children equally, but this one is my favorite,” he teased. Now, some folks may prefer the first episode, which sets the Winchester brothers on their dark path.

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It’s not exactly a secret that “Carry On” is one of the most debated episodes of Supernatural. Some fans love it, considering it the best ending that the Winchesters could have gotten under the circumstances. Others maintain that the show should’ve ended years earlier, possibly when series creator Eric Kripke departed after Season 5. But whichever camp you fall into, the series finale was something special for those involved in the making of Supernatural, and it left a powerful mark on the show’s star.

Interestingly, years before he had gotten the script for “Carry On,” Padalecki had another episode in mind as his most beloved, this one a fan-favorite all-around. No, this one wasn’t some monster-of-the-week special that put Sam and Dean up against a ghoul, ghost, or Djinn, but rather Season 6’s “The French Mistake,” which the star held onto for the next four years until Season 15 came around (via EW). But considering that “The French Mistake” is something of a love letter to Supernatural‘s production, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Padalecki would cling to “Carry On” by the time they’d completed filming.

“Carry On” Is the Perfect ‘Supernatural’ Finale, According to Padalecki

Although showrunners like Andrew Dabb and Robert Singer famously wanted “Carry On” to serve as a satisfying conclusion for all Supernatural fans, it didn’t exactly live up to fans’ expectations. In many ways, Season 15’s final bow — which was originally meant to have a different ending before the COVID-19 pandemic — felt more in step with the show’s earlier years. It even re-inserted Sam’s desire for a normal life apart from hunting into the narrative, something we didn’t know the character still wanted after all these years. While Dean’s ending was maybe a bit anticlimactic (something The Winchesters thankfully fixed later on), Sam got to live a full life and die in peace. Sure, he had to wear a terrible wig, but it was an ending that Padalecki adamantly approved of.

“I think I cried every time I read the script,” the actor told Entertainment Weekly after the fact, arguing that the finale’s dual “wonderfully tragic” and “wonderfully optimistic” tones were just what the show needed. However, you feel about the series finale, it’s clear that Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles were happy with how things turned out. It’s not often that a series finale is so impactful that one of the show’s leading stars believes it to be the show’s finest hour, but Supernatural is a rare exception. “I feel really proud to have been a part of this,” Padalecki reflected. Yes, they’re still open to returning for more, but if another season of the beloved low-fantasy horror series never happens, “Carry On” offered Sam and Dean Winchester the closure they’d long desired.

Supernatural is available to stream on HBO Max.

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Release Date

2005 – 2020

Network

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The WB, The CW

Showrunner

Eric Kripke

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Directors

Philip Sgriccia, John F. Showalter, Kim Manners, Thomas J. Wright, Charles Beeson, Guy Norman Bee, Richard Speight Jr., Mike Rohl, John Badham, Steve Boyum, Amyn Kaderali, Jensen Ackles, Tim Andrew, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeannot Szwarc, P.J. Pesce, Nina Lopez-Corrado, James L. Conway, amanda tapping, J. Miller Tobin, Stefan Pleszczynski, John MacCarthy, Jerry Wanek, Ben Edlund

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Writers

Meredith Glynn, Davy Perez, Raelle Tucker, Cathryn Humphris, Brett Matthews, Nancy Won, John Bring, Ben Acker, Daniel Knauf, David Ehrman, James Krieg, Trey Callaway

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