The team has his back though like they always do because they know who he is, but the theme of this episode is a heavy one. It is a story we often see in real life that has been brought to our screens many times now. These are the stories that should be told, but more often than not, it is Kevin who is at the center of these episodes, forced to represent the horribly flawed judicial system and its blatant racism. We know why, but Kevin is a character who is so much more than that and it feels...not okay. Not right. Especially when you have a show like PD with a character like Voight at the helm. At one point Voight tells Kevin he didn’t do anything wrong, that everyone on the team knows that, and Kevin is quick to remind him that just because they know the truth, it doesn’t mean others will see it too – or maybe it’s that others won’t allow themselves to.
Kevin doesn’t operate that way. He never has and never will, and every facet of this episode solidifies what we’ve always known to be true: he is a good man, a good cop, and he will always do the right thing.
Maybe this episode is one we did need after all, even with its familiar storyline. It was a reiteration of the truth, of what we already know, and what we know is just how good these characters are, how good they can be. We know what they’ve been through and the things they’ve done, but that’s what makes them human. It makes them relatable, and it’s why we root for them week after week when their morality is constantly questioned, when things aren’t always black and white, and when things go from bad to worse.
We’re only six episodes into this season, but each of those six have been so emotionally gripping and complex. Recycled storylines and familiarity aside, they've still managed to keep us on the edge of our seats for the entire hour, and that’s the kind of storytelling the characters and we, the viewers, deserve.
Chicago PD airs on Wednesdays on NBC.