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'Chicago P.D.' Season 8: Kevin Atwater to quit amid racial chaos and THAT last scene? Fans say 'F*ck your blue wall'

'Why is my husband Atwater ON THE GROUND GETTING BEAT??? YALL WANT ALL THE SMOKE TONIGHT! #ChicagoPD,' a fan tweeted

Spoilers for 'Chicago P.D.' Season 8 Episode 1 'Fighting Ghosts'  

It is not a good time to be Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins). If anything, it is the worst time to be Officer Atwater of the Chicago PD because literally anyone and everyone in the police department is out to get him. In one instance, he is followed by cops who plant evidence against one of their own. Other times, he simply faces rejection and prejudice from the other cops. Until finally, at the end of the premiere episode, he was accosted just outside of his house and beaten up. 

Following the events of the previous season, when a Black man was killed in prison after being revealed to be innocent of the crime he was suspected of, 'Chicago P.D.' picks up from where it left off before the pandemic shut short its production last season. Being the only Black officer in the entire unit, Episode 1 of Season 8 clarifies that the character will be of key focus in this season going forward. And rightly so, especially given the racial tensions in the country at this point. 

Amidst all his ordeal and discrimination, fans of the show are backing Atwater. His storyline is all the more interesting and important now - one that hits close to home for many viewers. "I am WAY too emotionally invested in this Kevin Atwater storyline. I’m literally just sitting on the edge of my bed looking crazy bc IKYFL! #ChicagoPD" a fan tweeted. "@RoycedaVoyce - thank you for this episode. i can't even imagine how you felt filming those scenes. i hope my nephew grows up to be strong, and courageous as you are, and as atwater is. #ChicagoPD@NBCOneChicago," another fan added. 

That final scene, in particular, has fans of the character very upset. Just as Atwater reached home following a heated argument with Hank Voight (Jason Beghe), he was accosted by some men who beat him black and blue and left him on the ground before fleeing the scene. This has gotten many fans livid. "Soooo y’all just want me to stress out this season... Why is my husband Atwater ON THE GROUND GETTING BEAT??? YALL WANT ALL THE SMOKE TONIGHT! #ChicagoPD," one fan tweeted. "Listennnnn don’t come for my man Atwater!! He did the right thing. F*ck your blue wall #ChicagoPD" another added.

Many are hoping that Atwater keeps his strength throughout all this. "Atwater got to stay resolute. Can't let those dirty cops win #ChicagoPD," tweeted a fan. 

At the same time, some viewers are fearing that this chaos might lead to Atwater quitting Chicago P.D. - especially the fight with Voight in the final scene when his boss yells at him to find a new job if they can't come to a middle ground. "Is this the beginning of Kevin Atwater's departure from #ChicagoPD?" a concerned fan asked. 

'Chicago P.D.' airs Wednesdays at 10/ 9c on NBC.