'Chicago PD' Season 8: What's in store for Intelligence in 2020? Here's how things could change for the team
NBC's flagship 'Chicago' franchise is set to return to the network for new seasons in just a few weeks. The anticipation is high because we are all waiting to see how 2020 would have affected our three favorite shows. Of the lot, 'Chicago Med' will especially have a lot of changes because of the Covid-19 pandemic. We don't expect much to change for 'Chicago Fire' in terms of plot, but for 'Chicago PD', a whole new type of environment awaits.
Earlier we had written on whether the police procedural drama would reflect the Black Lives Matters protests from 2020 – especially in the light of so many young Black people being killed by police. 'Chicago PD' is often known for its accuracy, but last season's plot when Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) framed an innocent Black man (who died in prison after a wrongful arrest) in order to protect one of his own. For a while, Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) was deeply troubled by the outcome of what he did – he arrested a Black man when an AI facial recognition software said he was the suspect. It was only later revealed that the software was less accurate for people of color (the darker the person, the less accurate it is) and that the killer was, in fact, someone else.
Suffice to say, 'Chicago PD' has a lot to do to rectify what went down last season. We also wondered whether the new character, Deputy Superintendent Samatha Miller (Nicole Ari Parker) would help create proper changes. Miller is a progressive, ardent proponent of police reform. She wants to help Voight and Intelligence adapt to the new reality but will not tolerate breaches of the new police guidelines and protocols.
According to showrunner, Rick Eid, who recently spoke to TV Insider, Miller wants to abolish the "warrior cop" mentality and help Voight and his team adapt to the new reality. Eid said, "She views Intelligence as integral in this mission. If she can change Voight, the rest of the police force will follow." Facing hostility from the community and scrutiny from his bosses, Voight must assess whether, indeed, "he's part of the problem or part of the solution."
Meanwhile, another thing that needs to be addressed from the last season is the growing feelings between Halstead and his detective partner, Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos). The two characters have been getting closer over the last two seasons and we even saw Upton admit that she has feelings for him in private. Eid told TV Insider that the characters' chemistry has not weakened despite Upton's brief stint with the FBI in New York at the end of the last season, but both of them will consider the difficulties of dating colleagues.
Speaking of dating colleagues, Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) and Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) went through an unimaginable loss in the last season when Burgess lost her baby while she was on a case. Ruzek and Burgess might still feel strongly for each other, but given the loss they have been through together, they may just realize that they are better off as friends.
Another romance we had been hoping to see was between Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) and Vanessa Rojas (Lisseth Chavez). Unfortunately, Chavez will not be returning as Rojas. Meanwhile, Atwater has a lot to deal with on his own. His testimony that a fellow cop – who was killed in crossfire – had racially profiled an innocent Black man, led to Atwater becoming the target of the racist cop's family and friends. That is set to continue in the new season, but we have faith that Voight will have Atwater's back.
'Chicago PD' Season 8 will premiere on NBC on Wednesday, November 11, at 10/9c.