“In our house, we were supposed to trust each other. So I’ve told you everything: good, bad, ugly, illegal. I’ve laid all of it out. You should have told me, ‘cause I would have told you.”
We are still very much getting to know these characters, who they are, who they were, and who this team is as a whole. Voight initially told his team, “Tell me the truth, so I can lie for you.” This team prides itself on being honest with each other, but they each have pasts that no one seems to know much about, yet. This week, we get glimpses into the pasts of Lindsay, Voight, and Halstead, a trio that I’m sure will be heavily featured this season.
Three things you need to know going into the episode:
1. The team knows about Voight’s deal with Internal Affairs.
2. Lindsay is still furious about #1.
3. There is a $100,000 bounty on Halstead’s head.
Within just the first few minutes of the show, the team has two victims, Billy Fagan and Nick Marcello. Both were killed with a shotgun and left with a single dollar bill pinned to their chests. The case gets personal, as Nick was a childhood friend of Voight. When the team visits Nick’s wife, Tricia, she says Nick “retired” long ago (from a less-than-reputable line of work). Later, however, Tricia admits to Voight that Nick was involved in some shady business.
The team learns both Fagan and Marcello were partners in a shell company, running some shady business (duh). Connected with this shell company is a dry-cleaning business, run by a man named Dale Hansen. When Halstead and Antonio visit Dale (in the hospital, where is wife lies unconscious after an overdose), they learn Fagan and Marcello weren’t too happy with Dale, and threatened his life.
Voight visits another old friend, Don Enrietto. Something’s fishy about him, and he is also miffed about the IA deal. Don says he’s not connected with Dale and the murders, but my gut says, “liar.”
“You were always the one who was running his mouth the most, and had the least to say,” said Voight. Isn’t that always the case?
Another shotgun victim, another dollar bill. Is it bad that all I’m thinking is, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems?”
This time, a girl was left alive in the trunk of the car next to the victim. The girl is the latest victim’s daughter, and got a good look at the killer. They use her to create a sketch of the killer. When Ruzek brings the sketch upstairs, Antonio and Halstead immediately recognize the killer as Dale Hansen’s son, Nate. Nate was enrolled in a military academy and disappeared days after his mom overdosed.
Per Olinsky’s advice, Jay changes up his routine and visits a bar other than Molly’s. It’s implied he used to frequent this bar, as he knows (and is quite flirty with) the bartender, Mandy. Before the flirting can continue Jay gets a call and leaves suddenly (thank goodness). Someone broke into his apartment, and his landlord tells him it’s the only one in the building that was broken into. Of course it’s not random. Someone is hunting him.
“Do you know what you said to me when you woke up? ‘Get my cigarettes.’”
When they talk about Voight, Momma Lindsay reminds Erin, “He’s not your blood.” But, blood only goes so far. This unit is family, and that’s one thing this series is out to prove.
Later, the team pays a visit to the Hansen house. Dale and his daughter now know about Nate. The already deceased victims had shown up at the house, which is how Nate knew who to go after. Dale gives them the big boss’ name, Nate’s logical next target; Don Enrietto.
They find Don, still alive (though maimed). Halstead finds Nate, or rather, Nate finds Halstead. After a pursuit, Halstead, Lindsay, and Atwater lose Nate along the train tracks leading into a tunnel. They get a tip, Nate’s gone to the hospital, where his mom is staying.
Halstead is able to connect with Nate and gets him to put down the gun. “I was in the army…I know exactly what you’re dealing with. We’re trained to protect. That’s what you did.”
I am so happy with Halstead’s character development. I do hope we learn more about his time in the army. He gets a bit of the spotlight this week to lead into next week’s Halstead-centric episode.
Erin meets Jay at the bar after meeting with her mom, and proceeds to down some drink quickly. When she asks for another, Mandy flashes a smile at Jay.
“You’re sleeping with her.”
“What? No!”
“You’re a horrible liar.”
“We played Scrabble, like once, at her apartment.”
Jay needs a place to stay until this bounty thing blows over, and asks to stay with Erin. Please, please, PLEASE let this happen.
“You gonna try to play Scrabble with me, too?”
“I will be the perfect gentleman, as usual.”
I think they should play Scrabble. They should have a Scrabble marathon. But, before we can hope for more flirting between the two, Erin sees a man walk in with a gun, pointed at Jay. They duck in time, but shots are fired, and Mandy is hit.
What did you think of the episode? Which character’s backstory do you want to see the most? I, for one, am looking forward to lots of Halstead next week.
