Chicago P.D. 8x15 Episode Review
Overall Episode Rating: 7.5/10
This episode sent you through a rollercoaster of emotions and was very case heavy beginning where we find out Miller’s son is involved with drugs. He owes his dealer a lot in his eyes. He comes to Voight asking for help. Voight goes to Miller telling the truth. Miller playing hard ball with her sons future while, Voight wants to protect him to some degree. I think it definitely brought up feelings about losing his son. Miller and Voight going head to head when they have a really good idea where he is, but can’t get a search warrant. Miller stops them, even though it is her son’s life at risk. Eventually, we find out her son was killed. Voight’s reaction you could tell was eating him up due to this new reform that couldn’t save him even with changes. Miller finally hitting a breaking point, blaming herself for his death. I loved the ending where all Intelligence splits into their own team to conduct search warrants. Loved it. Gimme more of those scenes. Then, we get to the cliffhanger. Burgess, honey, why would we split off and go ahead of your team… this definitely has me very anxious for the finale. There is so many ways this episode can play out. Which I think makes it more exciting but nervous feelings at the same time.
Upstead Content Rating: 6/10
There were some very solid Upstead partnership scenes. I was just grateful to not have any unnecessary drama between these two this episode. Not sure, if that will hold up. I think it will be interesting going into the finale based on articles. There’s a lot of Ruzek/Voight vs. Halstead/Atwater discussions. So… I’m interested to see where wild card Hailey ends up.
Overall Episode Rating: 8/10
I actually really enjoyed this episode. It was a classic Wolf Entertainment episode focused on the case with a social/ political question and comment. Honestly, it was a nice break from the unnecessary drama the producers have It was really interesting to see Voight and Sam’s dynamic and how they handled using Sam’s son as a CI. I found the argument they had in the bullpen on whether to make a move or not to bust the auto shop where Roy’s car was spotted without probable cause especially intriguing.
V: What are you doing? This isn’t reform. This isn’t why people are marching in the street, why you moved to Chicago to change it. This is about what needs to be done to save your kid.
S: Then you find him without breaking the damn law.
S: We don’t get to rewrite the laws because it’s my kid. Every victim is somebody’s kid. We do it the right way.
I had so much respect for how much self restraint Sam had here during that argument. It was heart breaking to watch her tell Hank to back down knowing her son’s life was on the line, and I’m sure we all knew by then that Darrell wasn’t about to survive this episode since cop kids don’t survive P.D.
Speaking of cop kids not surviving P.D. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the amount of self restraint coming from Hank. I know Hank Voight is a controversial character but he has truly grown over the past 8 seasons in terms of his “old ways”, and even though we didn’t hear Hank explicitly say it, this case must have been hard for him as well since he lost his son in a fairly similar situation. He is by no means the most sympathetic character on the show, but you could tell his heart broke with Sam’s when they found Darell’s body. And I have to say, Sam’s heartbreaking breakdown at the crime scene, the way she called for her son, the way she cried “I killed my son” in front of Hank was amazing acting from Nicole Ari Parker. We love an amazingly talented cast!
In true Wolf Entertainment fashion, this was a very powerful episode that questioned real life, what is meant by “reform” and the blurred lines that come with it. What happens when the laws we depend on to protect us actually prevents us from being protected/ saved? It also set the precedence for the season finale in terms of what is expected of the unit when someone close is involved and foreshadowed the potential, tragic consequences of what might happen in 8x16. Well played, Chicago P.D. WELL PLAYED!
While we got no romantic Upstead crumbs nor any form of resolution to what happened in 8x14 (which I am still VERY salty about), we got some badass, solid professional partners Upstead and you know, I’m just glad that we get to see them work so in sync as the perfect duo they are despite all the tension and drama they’ve been subjected to this season. I just hope that in the season finale, we’ll get some romantic Upstead just so we know how they are doing since the case and most of the episode will seem to focus on the division within the unit in response to Kim’s abduction (probably more Adam vs. Kevin then a Jay vs. Hank clash), Kim, and I’m assuming consequently Burzek. I really really really hope that the writers won’t send Upstead nation into hiatus wondering where they stand after 8x14. 🙏🏻