Chicago PD - Called In Dead - Review

“I’ve been cleaning up after people my whole life. This feels like my chance to get out in front of it.”

Well, the winter finale has come and gone. But of course, the writers couldn’t leave us with storylines wrapped up nicely in a bow! No, of course not.

Erin rushes to her apartment where she finds Nadia trying to revive an drug addict, Alicia, who is in the bathtub. I've really enjoyed seeing Nadia as semi-part of the team. I was very wary of her at first, but she fits in well and she's really growing. She has a good heart, evidenced by this episode. I hope we see more of her, and more of her with Platt. We've seen the beginnings of a great relationship there.

Cut to a team of robbers breaking into the club where Alicia got the drugs. Now, I knew something was up immediately. These robbers were careful not to shoot anyone, and worked together quickly, intelligently, and without any arguing. Why? Because it was Halstead, Lindsay, Antonio, Olinsky, and Ruzek, of course! I just love these guys. We are two and a half seasons in and I can’t get over how much I love this cast (with the exception of Burgess and Atwater – whoops, did I just jinx something?).

This re-con mission wasn’t work for these guys; they’re laughing and genuinely having a good time. Of course, Commander Creepy (Voight’s direct boss?) comes in and ruin everything. There is a story just waiting to happen with this Commander. He’s creepy, he’s argumentative, and he’s hiding something.

The team brings in the club owner and coerces him into giving up a few names (the muscle, Blue). They use him to get “Blue”, who isn’t as easy to flip as the club owner.

Olinsky is trying to woo back his wife and it’s just adorable. Adorable, that is, until he shows up to his house with flowers to find his wife tied to a chair with two armed men pointing guns at her. How romantic. It somehow got out that the Investigation unit was the team that stole the heroin. I wonder who told…

Olinsky is forced to go back to the district to steal the heroin, or his wife dies. He gets out the car (driven by one of Blue’s men) and goes into the district, as if nothing is wrong. While in the evidence room, he briefly picks up a gun before filling the duffle bag with the heroin. When he returns to the car, he shows Blue’s lackey the heroin and then shoots him in the head. Well, okay then.

Voight meets Olinsky at his house and then the two return to his house. It’s clear these two have been working together as long as they have, they don’t even need to speak and they know exactly what the other is doing. I’m still waiting for more of this backstory.

All roads lead to a dirty judge (who was granted permission to hear a certain wire tap!). Going after a judge is very dangerous business, and Commander Creepy puts the kibosh on it immediately. The evidence leads to a branch clerk who, most likely suspecting he’s about to be caught, is found trying to flee.

Elsewhere…

“If your head is someplace else, I need to know,” Voight tells Erin. She’s clearly thinking about the task force, as decision time is just about up.

Halstead later informs Lindsay that either a DEA agent or the Marlboro man is waiting for her outside. The DEA agent makes a pretty convincing offer to Erin, who is definitely considering the position.

When Erin all but tells Voight she’s taking the position, I was surprised by how emotional it was. He’s a proud dad, watching his daughter succeed in ways neither of them imagined. When she tells the team she’s leaving, they are speechless. But the look she exchanges with Halstead couldn’t have been fuller of meaning. It’s Linstead time, ya’ll!!!

I’ve been saying all along that Erin would probably take the position, because it opens up the opportunity not just for a relationship with Halstead (bring it on, please!), but will also break up the monotonous routine of the show (I don’t mean that in a bad way, but the show does follow the same routine week after week). I hope we get to see Erin at her new job, but of course, something will bring her back to Investigation. I predict she’s back with the team before March.

Elsewhere, Platt assigns Roman and Burgess to deal with threats on the Bulgarian President by crazies. All of a sudden, Burgess’ relationship with Ruzek comes flying in again, almost unnaturally. Oh, and guess who will be accompanying the duo? Jenn Cassidy (Greek’s Spencer Grammer), Roman’s ex. This will be fun.

Burgess is forced to play mediator all day, and is unsuccessful. Jenn and Roman bicker nonstop. By the last stop of the day, Burgess has had enough. While Jenn and Roman argue incessantly, Burgess goes up to the door alone, and is shot. Jenn and Roman rush to her side and the credits roll as Roman yells into his walkie, “My partner has been shot!”

I’m honestly torn. On the one hand, I could see the writers killing off Burgess. It’s a bold statement (and if you watch Fire, you know they aren’t afraid of bold statements). On the other hand, I can’t see them killing her. It’s too soon, and her death wouldn’t have enough of an impact to really change the show moving forward. At least for me, the writers haven’t made me care about Burgess yet (a secret I know I’ve kept from you all so well…) so her death wouldn’t mean anything to me, except that Ruzek would be devastated, which would be painful to see.


I’m giving the first half of season 2 a B+. I have to admit, this fall finale fell flat. With the exception of Erin’s big decision and Burgess getting shot, not much happened. But, it did leave me feeling that all is about to change, and I can’t wait to see it!

What did you think of the fall finale? How long will Erin be on the task force? Will this be the start of Linstead? Will Burgess survive?

The winter premiere of Chicago PD is on Wednesday, January 7 at 10 pm EST.

About the Author - Meghan Reynolds

A Colorado native, Meghan was born a raised a Denver Broncos fan. Aside from football, she loves storytelling, whether it be movies, television, books, or music. Some of her favorite shows of the past and present include LOST, Friends, The Office, Scandal, Chicago PD, and Chicago Fire. She is excited to be reviewing two of those shows for SpoilerTV, Chicago PD and Chicago Fire.