Is everybody okay after that tension-filled season finale?
A great chunk of Chicago PD Season 11 Episode 13 featured Voight going through off with serial killer Matson or hallucinating whereas alone, and Upton’s rescue effort did not assist issues.
Let’s all take a minute to catch our breaths earlier than we dive into that disturbing season finale!
Matson Vs. Voight Was Certainly one of Chicago PD’s Creepiest Tales
One-on-one standoffs with a creepy villain are hit-or-miss propositions. They are often fascinating character research, psychological thrillers, or annoying and scary for the hell of it.
Voight vs. Matson was among the many most annoying, second solely to Regulation & Order: SVU’s William Lewis saga.
Voight and Upton gained their battle in opposition to Matson partially as a result of Voight knew how you can push all of Matson’s buttons. He refused to indicate ache or worry when Matson’ tortured him and did not do what he wished, both.
That obtained Matson off his sport, so he made a colossal mistake and underestimated Upton.
Why Not Kill Matson Outright?
Upton and Matson’s standoff within the parking space made no sense, not less than not on a floor degree. The cops on police procedurals, particularly PD, are all the time killing perps earlier than they get the data they want, so why ought to that cease Upton from capturing Matson?
I did not perceive why she surrendered till she fought him off and freed herself. Then it was apparent: she let him suppose he gained so he would not see her coming.
That was an excellent plot twist! Properly performed, even when it led to a different struggle within the basement that felt like a repeated beat.
Chicago PD Gave Us Good Thoughts Video games, However…
The opposite weak point right here was Voight’s refusal to name Upton. As talked about above, that threw Matson off his sport, however it appeared to make discovering Voight unnecessarily arduous.
Would not it have been simpler for Voight to make the decision so your complete group may hint his location and ambush Matson when he was anticipating Upton to come back alone?
Matson was relying on Upton taking the bait and being so desperate to rescue Voight she’d take any threat, regardless of how reckless, and he was proper — however it did not should go down that means.
The cop who faces a violent psychopath alone is sufficient of a drained TV trope with out making the cops do issues the arduous means for no obvious purpose.
If the writers wished Upton in excessive hazard, superb. Not less than clarify why neither Voight nor the group thought-about the extra apparent technique.
Upton’s Unsurprising Exit
We knew Upton can be leaving earlier than Chicago PD Season 11 started, so the one query was how she would exit.
I guessed she’d determine Petrovitch was proper and she or he needed to depart the unit after rescuing Voight.
Shut, however no cigar. Voight needed to speak her into doing it though she admitted she was a workaholic who grew to become a cop to flee her troubled childhood.
Chicago PD Season 11 Episode 10 Spoilers: Hailey Leads One other Darkish Case with Creepy Undertones
There was that one second after she obtained shot the place it appeared like she may exit in a physique bag, however as soon as she survived, it was clear what would occur subsequent.
Given all of the unsubtle bulletins this season, it is smart that Upton is utilizing the job to run away from her issues. Petrovitch saved insisting it was the case, and Upton saved denying it, so she’d have to appreciate it will definitely.
This might have been a shifting psychological well being story if it hadn’t felt as if it had been tacked on to Upton’s character this season solely to offer her an exit story.
Upton has by no means been my favourite, and I do not bear in mind her tales in full element, however I by no means obtained the sense that she had these severe points till this season.
It appeared as if the writers ran out of highway for her to journey down after Halstead left after which got here up with the concept of working from a troubled childhood and needing an equally troubled cop to assist her see it.
Petrovitch just isn’t a compelling character and hopefully is not going to keep now that Upton has seen the sunshine and left the unit.
After all, Upton left to go to a different regulation enforcement company the place she’ll really feel extra fulfilled. How precisely does that resolve the issue of working as a cop to keep away from coping with childhood trauma?
Voight’s Survival Methods
Voight spent a great deal of time making an attempt to outlive and breaking down mentally.
Was {that a} ghostly go to or hallucination of Olinsky? Both means, it was good to see him once more, and his telling Voight that Voight wasn’t dying but gave Voight energy.
Nonetheless, this is not Days of Our Lives. We do not want useless folks visiting the residing to miraculously get them out of a near-death state of affairs.
Voight’s flashbacks have been a terrific method for exhibiting his way of thinking. Earlier than Olinsky’s go to, he was centered on remembering Upton’s upset at having to shoot a perp. Afterward, he remembered all of the violent and not-quite-legal issues he used to do.
That recommended Voight had gained energy once more and was able to struggle with every thing he had — and he did, as soon as he obtained over how indignant he was that Upton risked her life to avoid wasting him.
I do not know what that bizarre father/daughter vibe between them was until Voight was to date gone he had Upton combined up with Lindsay.
Chicago PD’s Hunt for Voight Was Frustratingly Real looking
The precise police work a part of the hour was saved to a minimal to accommodate the thoughts video games, however what we obtained was sensible.
Chicago PD’s Most Compelling Characters Aren’t Who You Suppose
The problem discovering leads, the grey sedan turning out to be a useless finish, and the uncertainty over whether or not the burner telephones they traced have been precise leads or planted to throw them off felt like an actual police seek for a lacking particular person.
Petrovitch’s skepticism was pointless and annoying, marring an in any other case good search arc.
Petrovitch: This cannot be this straightforward. Matson is extra cautious than this. He’ll flip off the cameras.
Upton: He does not have entry. Additionally, he isn’t a genius. He does not have all the town’s cameras memorized.
No surprise Upton ignored her warnings in regards to the cellphone on the deserted constructing being a entice.
She did not do something all hour lengthy however inform everybody to not pursue leads in case they have been phony.
Stray Ideas
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There have been no actual cliffhangers until you depend Upton leaving. In that sense, it will have been higher to finish with Chicago PD Season 11 Episode 12 and let viewers fear all summer time about Voight’s destiny. -
I get time was of the essence, however why not name for backup as quickly as pictures have been fired in order that Upton did not find yourself going after Matson solely on her personal? -
The hospital scenes would have been a wonderful place for a Chicago Med crossover. Additionally, what insurance coverage covers hospital stays which might be merely inspired and never deemed medically needed?
Your flip, Chicago PD fanatics.
What did you consider this finale?
Hit the large, blue SHOW COMMENTS button and tell us.
Chicago PD Season 12 will air on NBC on Wednesdays at 10/9c within the fall of 2024. Season 11 is streaming on Peacock.
Jack Ori is a senior workers author for TV Fanatic. His debut younger grownup novel, Reinventing Hannah, is obtainable on Amazon. Comply with him on X.