Even though this horrid eighty-degree weather says otherwise, it is officially fall, which means TV is back! Chicago PD returned picking up just after where we left off—with Voight murdering Justin’s killer. In case you need a brief reminder (as it has been a long hiatus), Justin got involved with some shady people to help out a friend and ended up getting killed in the process. When Voight found his son’s killer, he misdirected the entire team (except for Erin) to a bogus location and took the killer out to the silos. Erin’s pleading didn’t do anything, and as she drove away, she heard the life-ending gunshot.
“They took sixty years of living away from him. Falling in love, getting married, holding his child in his arms.”
And so begins season four!
The victim is identified as Evan Burner, a young man who was just trying to help his sister. At first, Evan’s sister Allie has a lot of resentment toward the police. When confronted later by Ruzek and Olinsky, Allie reveals that she was essentially blackmailed into helping a narcotics cop with a drug bust. Not wanting his sister to get involved with a dealer, Evan volunteered to go in his sister’s place. Clearly things didn’t end well for him.
Elsewhere…
Now that Roman has sadly relocated to San Diego, Burgess needs a new partner. Platt pairs her up with Julie Tay, who is coming off the “worst job in the city”. But before Burgess can pressure Tay for info on her previous gig, they respond to call. The attacker gets away, but not before Julie jumps on the car! I like her already. They find the attacked woman and take her to Chicago Med, where Julie tells Burgess about her past job.
“How much longer are you going to cover for Voight at the expense of your own career and this entire department’s reputation? Does that matter to you? Or have you been fully absorbed into his world? I know you’re indebted to him…but it’s time for you to think for yourself.”
Erin is under a tremendous amount of pressure from Commander Crowley to reveal what really happened to Justin’s killer. Crowley pretty much knows what happened, she just doesn’t have the evidence to prove it. The stress is clearly getting to Erin, who looks like she hasn’t slept since last season’s finale. And that tension with Voight? Yikes. He might not come out and say it, but Voight is absolutely pressuring Erin into keeping his secret. And shame on him for that.
Things only get worse for Voight when Olive decides to move to Scottsdale. It’s understandable, as everything in Chicago reminds her of Justin. But taking Baby Voight away from his grandpa? Not cool. Seeing Baby Voight cry and reach for his grandpa was heartbreaking. First cry of the season! (For me, not just Baby Voight.)
Later, Commander Crowley shows up on scene to take Voight. At that point, I really thought Erin told Crowley everything. But when Crowley and co. dig for the body at the silos, nothing is found. What?!?! How in the world did Erin move the body? Did she move the body? I have so many questions. She definitely had something to do with it as she later tells Voight, “You saved my life. I would’ve been dead at fifteen if you hadn’t taken me in. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. And I’ve always looked forward to saving yours.”
I have a lot of thoughts on this whole thing. A big part of me is disappointed that Erin didn’t turn Voight in. From a storytelling perspective, I understand that we need the lead (Voight) to, well, be able to lead. That would be difficult to do if he was behind bars. But now Erin is wrapped up in this mess with him, and I have to believe that this story will continue to unfold for at least the first half of the season. They can’t just get away with this, right? There has to be some sort of fallout. She stood by him, yes, but things will forever be different between them. This was a huge turning point in their relationship and the show. On the plus side, things are going swimmingly for Erin and Jay. Jay doesn’t know everything, but he knows enough of what’s going on to know that Erin faces a weighty decision. Jay asks Erin to move in with him and says, “Cases come and go, bosses come and go, jobs come and go. I don’t want you to come and go.” I’m going to choose to be happy in this moment for them and not think about the fact that Jay is way more into this relationship than Erin (right? Or is it just me?).
These three have always had an interesting dynamic. I know some fans are tired of these three having the spotlight, but they continue to shine because there is a goldmine of material there. Voight and Jay are on two opposite sides of the moral spectrum and Erin is constantly being pulled by both ends. Sure, things might be going better than ever for Jay and Erin, but everything has been elevated. The more serious Jay and Erin become, the stronger his pull. With Justin dead and Olive and Baby Voight gone, Voight only has Erin, making his pull stronger as well. This episode sets up what will likely be serious drama between these three moving forward. Jay implores Erin, “Do not go down with him, please.” And by the end of the hour, Voight breaks down to Erin and cries, “You’re all I have left now.” You feel that, Erin? They’re both pulling. Hard.
What did you think of the episode? What do you think of Julie Tay and her new partnership with Burgess? Will Antonio have more of a leadership role this season? What will the fallout be, if any, for Erin and Voight? How will the struggle between Voight and Jay play out? Share your thoughts below!
