#6x01 Strike Back

[bronx-bomber87]

Good evening fandom! Welcome to my inaugural mini review post. Holy hell I can’t believe we’re finally here. These probably won’t be as detailed as normal like I mentioned. Mini review is the goal. It’ll be initial thoughts and feelings. Which will be fun cause all the other seasons other than S5 I had ton of time to reflect on moments. These thoughts for S6 could change when I rewatch the season for review purposes this summer. The exciting thing is having those first reactions. That's what these will be.

So you're getting hot off the presses thoughts haha I just watched it couple hours ago. These are thoughts I had while it was happening. With some editing to make it readable ha Want my reactions be as authentic as possible with these. Why I avoid spoilers tbh. Be interested in seeing what everyone else’s are as well. The gif library was an absolute turd so I didn't get to use all the gifs that were made yet. So I made some. Anyways this so friggin exciting to delve into so let’s get started.

6x01 Strike Back

Tim got scruffier from the finale to now-and I’m here for it. Mm. Plus he's in Metro gear. Phew Lord. Something about scruffy Tim gets me going. Adore them riding together automatically after their battle. I truly love it. The little things I continually love with them. Also LOVING the Metro call sign. Yum If this going to be his call sign all season I am about it.

Oh my lord why is her sitting at his desk so squee worthy to me? It’s getting me all in my feels. I love that Lucy can just use his office as her own. So cute using it to steal it for some study time. I love this so very much. Then her asking if they can ride together so he can quiz her? Tim doesn’t hesitate for a moment before saying yes.

Still amazes me we’re in the place with them. The Tim of old would’ve groaned and moaned about such a task. He jumps right on it for her. Ready to help her out. Even though he’s not sure how much it’s gonna do. Clearly very aware Primm is out to get her. That is common knowledge now.

Lucy is right when she says it sucks. That she has to battle this and face possible wild cards.. It isn’t fair when she's earned her spot more than most. Fought and clawed for everything she's done in this department. Definitely more than Nolan... Hey wouldn't be a review if I didn't pot shot Nolan would it? lol I love Tim finding a solution for them. Saying they can take out do the box calls all day. Widen her knowledge a bit on it. Sharpen her skills with odd calls.

I love her grateful smile when she says 'Thank you.' Loves this man. Damnit they’re so cute their banter coming out of his office is on point. Tim saying she learns best when she’s pissed off. I mean if that isn’t her rookie experience with him in a sentence. Lucy saying this feels like she is giving him permission to be an ass. Heh it kinda is no matter what Tim says.

You know he kinda loves being able to make her his boot again in some form. He is going to enjoy himself with this. There is no doubt about it. That's why he's doing that smile of his. Lucy calling him out knowing this man so well. Pointing her finger and all. God I love these idiots so much. Tim trying to tell her just his smile. Uh huh sure it is Tim.... Lucy following after him with a smile of her own. These dopes I've missed them so damn much.

I’m very much loving Tim has not really shaved in 6 weeks ha. The scruffy remains and I’m excited about it. Lucy is starting to question asking Tim to help her. We all know she learns best from that man sitting next to her though. I also always enjoy when she gets to drive. Another micro shift that has changed that I love so much. Her heart eyes when he says Angela’s cop brain is just booting up LOL Loves this goober of man.

Lucy absolutely losing it and going on a rant of epic proportions had me rolling. LOL Massive emotional downward spiral happening here. I’m dying as I watch Tim take it in. God Eric the master of expressions crushing it again. This was a huge one for her holy crap. Nuclear really. Well done Melissa getting all that in with one breath basically. By the time she’s done I’m cackling at Tim’s expression. LMAO Oh my god these two. God I’ve missed them so much it pained me.

Lucy knowing Tim's reply without even looking at him. Just epic married status at this point. Doesn’t even have to look at him or for Tim to say anything. It’s already there because of that crazy good connection they have. How deeply they know one another. It’s so good. Tim being the smart man he is says nothing. Lucy knowing he’s thinking it haha

Lucy coming to conclusion she will do crazy wild card during the day and the manual at night. She will sleep when it's over LOL Tim shaking his head. Knowing there is nothing he can say right now that'll make this better. Or to derail her crazy train of thought. This is like S1/S2 them with the added benefit of them being together now. It’s glorious.

Getting serious Plain Clothes Day vibes from this episode as well. Except this time Lucy light years away from who she was then. Confidently reciting what she’s going to do Tim nodding along. Tim wouldn’t be himself if he didn’t rock her boat a little though. Lucy getting in her head about the crime scene now. Tim isn’t wrong she did tick all the obvious boxes. That the point of today is looking for wild cards. That’s what he wants her to engage that brilliant brain of her's in. It's why he's here.

To zero in on the 'Out of the box thinking'. Poor Lucy spirals out not being able to decide if she wants his help or not. I ADORE Tim telling her it’s ok to not know the answer. Not shaming her in the least just needing her to make a call. God how far we’ve come. Tim pushes her because he knows that is when she learns best. Trying to add a little urgency to her decision making. Unfortunately it backfires. I kinda loved them calling each other by their ranks in this heated exchange.

Lucy is so flustered it’s giving me PCD vibe once again in the best way. The sprinklers turn on and Lucy panics. There’s the wild card….We watch as a bullet leaves this man’s body and enters the storm drain never to be seen again. Lucy being so very disappointed in herself. It’s reminiscent of the disappointment she showed in s1 but only now she's far more experienced. So it hurts much more now….Oh Lucy my heart. You poor thing. Couldn’t have gone more wrong if she tried.

I can’t believe they played clown music upon her entrance.... Beyond cruel but that's cops. Always taking shots when people mess up spectacularly. Tim trying not laugh.... Babe she is spiraling right now maybe don’t lol Poor thing I would be mortified too. I love how both Tim and Lucy smile when they see Wes and the wee one. My heart. She wants Wes's opinion and he just crushes her with logic. Ugh She needs a hug. Bad day for our girl.

Lucy continues to break my heart as they sit in front of the crime scene. She is on the verge of tears. Verge of a breakdown it feels like as well. Killing me softly. Saying she should skip the detectives exam. My girl. Tim doesn't want her to give up. I will say this fight I feel like I would be Tim. Trying to be so supportive it’s come off as agreeing with her she can’t do it. When really he was just trying to be supportive of whatever she wants.

Can't win for losing right now Timothy. She is in a bad way right now. Lucy has some weight to her argument though. if I was her in this moment I would feel the same way. If I’m in a bad headspace I need reassurances. So I can relate to both of them in this fight. It’s not a fun time for either of them. Tim is still learning that emotional depth he needs to have with her in these moments.

Being supportive has worked before so he's not sure why it's backfiring right now. They’re solid but always room to grow beauty of them. Lucy spots someone pull up to crime scene crying. She has them peel out with Tim not really understanding why. Lucy catching her digging through her trash. She ends up getting a confession. Phew Well done Luce.

Oooh this final scene. Oh my damn lord. This is some PRIMO productive angst holy hell. Eric and Melissa came out swinging with it. I knew they were going to have one more scene about it. I just didn't think it would be this explosive. I adore Tim picking up on how short she is with him. Grabbing her by the arm and confronting her. Growth continuous growth for them both continues to show. Love it. Look at Tim being the one to come at this. I’m so proud of him.

Throwing her words from 5x21 somewhat back at her. Saying this isn’t going to work if she isn’t honest with him. Then Lucy really lays into him. Now do I think he purposely undermined her? No I don’t. Not ever. That’s not in his DNA to do that to someone he loves. I was deeply hurt for him when she suggested this. You can see how hurt he is when she says as such. He’s getting emotional and it makes me as well. I just wanna hug him.

Tim as we know is a DEEPLY loyal person. Also one of my main relations to him as a character. To purposely hurt someone they love isn’t fathomable to a loyal person. It's unthinkable. You have to hurt them first. To undermine Lucy would be to hurt her so he would never. To be accused of such by your favorite person? That cut's so insanely deep for him. I haven’t seen him this hurt since the 'Tim Test' line from her in 4x08. I’m legit wounded for him. He is so upset she could think that of him.

Now Lucy might be onto something with the subconscious part. He could’ve done it not realizing what he was doing. Because love isn’t rational. Man is hardwired to protect her and want to keep her safe. So I could see this especially with her psych background. I think this is solid guess at what happened. Now was this the right time to lash out at him for Isabel stuff? I don’t know…

Felt like a low blow when he was already down for the count. She is throwing him daggers with her eyes most of this conversation. Feels like its more than just the UC right now but that's just my guess at this point. Let's not forget she was having UC doubts towards the end of last season.

Now do they need to have these fights and conversations? HELL YES. My god this subject needs to be discussed. Especially with how 5x20-5x21 were. Want to reiterate this is my first impression. I was literally writing this as I experienced their fight for first time. When I rewatch it this summer this could change. My POV could shift. But right now I see a man who only thought he had her back and was raked across the coals in this moment.

So for me right now in this moment I feel like Lucy had pent up frustrations and took it out on Tim. The protective side of me for him isn’t pleased with that tbh. Doesn't mean I love Lucy any less. I adore her so much. You all know that. But my gut leaned towards Tim in this fight. That may be bias idk but it’s how I felt when it was said and done. Tim was very very defensive when she brought up Isabel. Which hasn't happened in awhile. But his emotions were heightened and he was on the defensive before they'd reach the topic of her.

Lucy basically kicked him while he was down and he felt it. I'm not discounting her feelings at all. She is allowed to feel overwhelmed. Has every right to be. She is STRESSED and it is coming out in all kinds of ways. Ways that aren't like her. I think she stewed on this thought the ENTIRE shift and it came out in the worst way. Which also isn't like her. What she did had him defaulting back to old school Tim. Cutting off the conversation before more emotions were to be had or he said something he would regret.

Basically cut the fight off at the knees and walked away. Lucy’s face says it all when he walks away. She wasn’t expecting that. Shocked he just left her like that. Oh Lucy, you wounded him more than once and he retreated HARD. Leaving her standing there wondering what the hell just happened? God this is so good though everyone. This is the type of angst I'm all for. What a way to start the season off hot damn. Hurts so good angst to get us going. I could not be more excited for where we go this season. Feel free to comment on this. Love to chat with you all about this. All uncharted territory for us all. We're in for quite the ride.

~~~

Side notes-non Chenford

Who are these friggin people? They’re insanely ruthless. Like Rosalind level ruthless in how they just dispose of people. Sending two their team out as a distraction to be blown up. Jesus. Then sniping their own guy. They’re smart but cold af. Then killing who I thought was the boss at the end. Shit. Consider me intrigued.

I liked the 6 weeks later. Makes sense need to do a time jump.

Celina being more afraid of Tim than Harper. LOL little does she know they’re basically the same person haha

Poor Aaron wants to be back in the game and can’t be. I agree with Grey he’s not ready even if he thinks he is.

God I love Nyla Harper. Took that mofo out like the complete bad ass she is. Came with repercussions which made me sad for her.

Angela being more excited to see burritos than her husband lmao I love this woman.

Feeling little potential flirty action for Aaron and his therapist.

[renegadesstuff]

This scene was so cute 🥹🤏🩷

[karihighman]

THE ROOKIE 6x01 PROMO PHOTOS ©️DGE Press / ABC. More photos linked below ⬇️

https://x.com/theshoptalkpod_/status/1755045943206973471?s=46&t=pvv3u7lB4i6CFwpIiMTySA

[lucysbradford]

CHENFORD

– 6x01, “Strike Back”

[chenfordsource]

TIM BRADFORD AND LUCY CHEN The Rookie 6x01: "Strike Back"

[chenfordspiral]

Tim and Lucy in every episode of The Rookie 6x01 || Strike Back "I don't like that smile."

[kim-ruzek]

Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen in 6x01 strike back

[shallowseeker]

Sometimes, I obsess over season 5-6, because...from Dean's POV, Cas just upped n' left.

And there's just...so much stuff in 6x01. His neighbor Sid haunts me.

Dean is grieving and prickly, and he sits with Cas in the silence for hours as they drive together.

But then: Cas likes being called Heaven's new sheriff, and he's leaving, and--

So, Dean's ugly hurt feelings come out, and--

DEAN: Wow. God gives you a brand-new, shiny set of wings, and suddenly you're his bitch again. ... DEAN: Well, you really suck at goodbyes, you know that?

Cas struggles for words, licking his lips nervously, not entirely sure what's he done to upset Dean so badly. (He was trying to be funny, be lighthearted and indulge Dean’s “sheriff” talk!)

Aside// I love how freely they talk here. Very quickly, they move into an emotionally charged conversation. Dean freely releases his true feelings about the situation, something he will soon have to bottle up in suburbia.

///

I'm not special. I'm not even a friend. The Apocalypse is over, and Heaven's done with me. Cas is done with me. I lost Sam. That was the mission my father gave me. I want to die. There's no purpose left in my life.

///

And then, we move to Dean in early season 6, and we see him spending a lot of time with his neighbor, Sid, who shifts from moment to moment, representing everything from Dean’s old life. (Sam, Bobby, John, Cas--all rolled into one.)

And Sid seems genuinely nice. He and the neighbors seem to tiptoe around Dean, alerting Lisa of his mental state, as if they know he's emotionally fragile.

Dean even looks out across the street into Sid’s window, like he’s looking in on their married life. Perhaps, he’s wishing they were his mom and dad, or Sam n’ Jess, or Bobby n’ Karen—because in being in suburbia, he feels sundered from his extended family.

Dean seems to feel like an outsider. (It’s strange, too, like he might even be longing for what Sid and his wife have with each other??? We get Sid buying Dean beer followed by Sid bringing his wife a glass of wine. He loves Lisa. He wants to be connected, but he’s struggling.)

And here, in the bar scene, Sid’s wearing a dressy button-down. SID: "I've been buying you beers for a year:" -- SID: "You're practically respectable." -- SID: "Wow! Every time. What is it with you?" -- DEAN: "It's like chicks dig unavailable guys."

This is not just about the waitress who scribbled her number on Dean's receipt. It's about Dean himself.

He digs unavailable guys. He's missing his old life, his family, his brother, and...the unavailable soldier, Cas.

It calls to mind Dean’s later lamentation to Cas, “I was there. Where were you?”

///

Later in the episode, the manifestation of his subconscious refers to Cas as "sugar."

Azazel: Yeah, kiddo. The big daddy brought your pal Cas back, right? So why not me? Add a little spice to all that -- that sugar. DEAN shoots AZAZEL.

///

And then, when Sam returns, Dean is chomping at the bit for news of Cas:

Dean: What do you mean you don't know? Sam: I mean, no idea. I-I'm just back. Dean: Well, was it God, or -- or -- or Cas? I mean, does Cas know anything about it? Sam: You tell me. I've been calling. Cas hasn't answered my prayers. I don't even know where he is.

///

Poor Dean.

At home, he's hypervigilant, checking everything, and staring out across the yard at Sid and his wife, which shifts to become echoey specter of John and Mary, as they die.

Sid brings his wife a glass of wine, a bit of a higher-class parallel to how Carmen brings Dean beer in season 2’s What is and Should Never Be. (Also, Sid was buying Dean alcohol earlier. Now, he treats his wife.) They smile at one another, and then the djinn strikes.

Sid grabs a CHAIR on his way down. His wife grabs a LAMP. "Dean, they're already dead and you know it."

There's just something about it.

His old life and longings are reflected in this Sid character, morphing from moment to moment. He feels disconnected--he misses Bobby, he missed his little brother, he wants a friend who's unavailable, and he wants his mom and dad to be safe and alive and happy. He wants an integrated life.

This strange, incomplete happiness feels like exile.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

I found out about Klaine ai cover of Night Shift thanks to your blog and now I'm craving for fics with a lot of angst and longing in them! (basically; fics including them breaking up and getting back together that really work well with the lyrics of the song) Thanks!

Here are some that might fit the song. ~Jen

Tying you to me by @hippohead

It’s been five years since Blaine kissed him goodbye at the airport, and he hasn’t seen him since.

Somewhere within those five years, though, Blaine became an international pop star. Which is... not exactly ideal; not when you’re trying to neatly pack away your feelings and the fact that you’re still desperately in love with him, and his face is on every billboard in Times Square.

~~~~~

The Journeying by @flowerfan2

Freshly graduated from music school, Blaine is thrilled when he is chosen to stay in the cast when the production of Into the Woods he was lucky enough to be part of in Boston moves to Broadway. He knows it’s going to be hard returning to New York City – the scene of his epic breakup with his fiancé and the emotional meltdown which cost him his place at NYADA. But he’s determined that this time, everything will be different. Little does Blaine know that out of thousands of potential castmates, his director has chosen none other than Kurt Hummel to play the part of Jack. Blaine has worked hard to recover from their breakup three years ago, and struggles to find a new way to relate to Kurt and simultaneously protect himself, especially when tragedy strikes.

This story looks at what would have happened if Kurt and Blaine had reacted differently to the break up in 6x01 than they did in canon; if events hadn’t brought them back together as soon, and if forgiveness hadn’t come so easily.

~~~~~

Long way home @pene

It can take a little time to find your way home. This is alternate canon, splitting off somewhere around Glease. It is a love story foremost, but some chapters are possibly a bit sad, particularly the first one.

~~~~~

With every broken bone @spaceorphan18

After finding that living together is proving to be too difficult, Kurt Hummel breaks off his engagement, and finds himself alone in the city that summer. As his life heads in a new direction, Kurt's forced to look back at the past, and re-examine his future, where he learns a little about himself, a lot about love, and that second chances are always a possibility.

Set at the end of season 5, a canon-compliant story that examines the question -- What was Kurt's journey between season 5 and season 6?

[antigonewinchester]

thinking more abt 6x01... Dean’s djinn dream. god. because part of it is about Dean’s childhood trauma, of Dean > John (powerless to stop his wife & kid from being hurt), Lisa > Mary (killed on the ceiling on fire), and Ben > Sam (fed demon blood by Azazel). oh fuck, the cycle repeats, generational trauma continues, Dean’s new family is going to face horror & tragedy just like his own did and he can’t do anything to stop it.

there’s that Dean’s having his hallucination dream while he’s trapped on Ben’s bed. so there’s a Dean > Ben connection too. and then there’s... how Azazel is also very vampiric in Dean’s dream, feeding Ben his blood (and in a very creepily suggestive way; he’s really touchy, the whole “drink it, you’ll feel better” line), and how thru the show vampires are often connected to physical/sexual violence, esp w/in the family & including incest, and how only 4 eps later Dean himself is then forcibly turned into a vampire through a metaphorical sexual assault (again by a evil father / mentor figure 🤔) and becomes a monster who almost hurts Lisa and inadvertently hurts Ben.

it’s also his getting vamped that shatters his relationship w/ Lisa and Ben, too. it’s striking to me that Dean admits he & Sam have a weird relationship to Lisa in 6x06, but he can’t talk about being turned into a vampire, he can’t open up about it. I’m not sure Lisa would have (or even should have) taken him back after that, but it’s very different for her to know Dean got forcibly turned into a monster and pushed her son away so he wouldn’t hurt him, versus him showing up like a stalker in the middle of the night, being creepy & invasive, and then shoving Ben. except Dean can’t talk about it, in a way that feels both genuine w/ his characterization and horrible & heartbreaking to watch.

[renegadesstuff]

THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER. BUT FOR EACH OTHER 🥺❤️‍🩹

[karihighman]

THE ROOKIE 6x01 EPISODE DESCRIPTION ©️DGE PRESS / ABC.

[lucysbradford]

CHENFORD

– 6x01, "Strike Back"

[booklove22]

Strikes over. 6x01 script is written. So exactly WHEN do we get Chenford back?

[begebege28]

In this episode, we were greeted by some lovely shots of Eddie’s fridge. Personally, I think this was on purpose. For the audience to focus what Eddie views to him as important. We see, on the left side a picture of Eddie and Chris from Eddie begins. On the right side of the fridge, Chris’s school calendar, a baby picture of Chris, chris and Shannon at the beach, and a picture of Chris doing a school project. BUT we also have a other important picture that is on the right side on top by the corner.

Hello again. Now that we had time to look at the picture, what could that picture be🤔🤔🤔 Let’s post a close up shall we

Hmmmm I wonder who those two people could be. If we were to guess, given what this entire season is about, it’s only leaves us with two people. Christopher and buck. Time to us the question, why would they (the writer) put this specific photo? To start, we need to figure out the photo. Looking closely at the picture, I believe it is from THE TSUNAMI EPISODE - 3x02. Now WHY THIS. It’s simple, look at buddie this entire season. They have slowly been building them and changing what it means to be a “normative family”. Now let’s go to picture of 3x02 and continue.

Furthermore, why this specific episode? This is the episode where truly buddie begins. We see buck taking care of Chris and doing everything in his willpower to save him from the tsunami. We also learn just how much Eddie’s sees bucks love for Chris. In 3x02, towards the ending, we get a buddie and Chris scene where buck is confused as to why Eddie would let him babysit Chris again after almost losing him. This is where we get the infamous line “buck, there is no one in this world who I trust Christopher with than you” also, we can’t forgot photograph by ed Sherran plays right before their scene begins “ wait for me to come HOME”.

Now we get to the present timeline. Why add this picture, if it is indeed from this episode. As stated above, this season has been about slowly building buddie. We see it 6x01 when they have a conversation regarding girlfriends and couches that become a SYMBOL for them later on in the upcoming episode. After the lighting strike, bucks parents came back and gift him a new couch. To which, he struggled to relax and sleep and where Maddie hounded him with people to come hourly to check on him. Where did our buck go to escape, EDDIES HOUSE. what happens when buck immediately sits down on the couch, he’s relaxed and goes to sleep. We of course, see them in the kitchen, talking about the shooting and what buck is feeling and see buck be vulnerable with Eddie. We get the buddie scenes with the poker and of course of buck and Chris scene as well. Where did that scene that place, IN THE KITCHENNNNNNNNNN (bucks) giving the audience a FAMILY IDEA of them.

To end this long thread, which is prob dumb, according to Oliver’s interview, the new couch will be important until his final scene of the season. He said the couch “will be in danger before the season is over”. Now what is left to interpret, I believe there will be a cliffhanger BEFORE the finale epsiode. This will be what sets off the finale. I think it will be buck, Eddie, and Chris at his house. The finale is a continuation of the cliffhanger. I think them almost dying together, the three of them will set off their feelings for each other. Why else would the new couch matter this much and “be in danger” if it was not significantly Important to there story arc.

Anyways, this was long and i do apologize if I was just rambling on and on.

[marvelousgeeks]

The Rookie is back, right where we left off in the Season 5 finale, with an episode that simultaneously jumps weeks ahead to remind viewers that the terrors are still merely in the early ages. While the officers find the culprit behind the heist, our suspicions are confirmed when Bridget Regan’s Monica Stevens returns to represent her client. This revelation leads to a phone call with an unknown person that we can all decipher is, Elijah Stone.

Further, and perhaps most importantly, Last-day curses should, at this point, be taken very seriously in this precinct, but it honestly doesn’t matter because Nolan and Bailey’s wedding is finally happening next week despite all the hiccups. And so help me, God, if a main character dies here. (I highly doubt it even when The Rookie 6×01 “Strike Back” makes me a little nervous with how mostly seamless things ran. Still, the Season 6 premiere primarily emphasizes the importance of communication, making it a continuous theme that pushes the show to be more gripping.

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