TV REVIEW: Chicago PD Says “Turn the Light Off” but still shines bright

Chicago PD’s latest offering is another heart pounding episode that begins with a case of the week formula but ends with the formula being tweaked and unexpected plot twists added for some extra spice. This gritty cop drama knows how to do drama. It throws everything at us unapologetically – intense action, characters adding layer after layer, twists and turns, story lines from previous episodes revisited to add depth, all under the cloak of some pretty dark cases.

First unexpected storyline revisited: Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush) runs into the drug addict she unsuccessfully tried to help in earlier episodes. She gives Nadia (guest star Stella Maeve) the cold shoulder obviously disappointed in the girl’s reluctance to accept help. Chicago PD makes us believe everything that is happening in its world. One way it does this is continuing stories that reappear and are never quite tied up in a neat little bow. Life is a continuum of moments that are often recursive. The story lines in this show follow that same pattern, adding to its realism.

The case of the week is a stolen eight million dollars from a clearing house. Someone had to work hard for the money; there’s a string of dead bodies left behind. Voight (Jason Beghe) soon suspects one of the injured guys of planning an inside job. Of course he’s right, well, because he’s Voight dammit! Turns out the inside job was inside jobbed by a rival gang, the Latin Kings.

Burgess (Marina Squerciati) volunteers to pose as a hooker to catch the Columbians with a taste for hookers who look like awkward cops. Ruzek (Patrick Flueger) is all for this if he gets to see the young thing in some sleazy outfits and heavy makeup. Erin insists on sending Nadia in to help with the bust so that someone will have Burgess’ back.

She ends up in a house full of cocaine, Columbians, and cocked guns. I’m thinking not a good combination. One of the main bad guys beats up Burgess as she flails her legs ridiculously from the bathtub she’s fallen into. Next, he kicks Ruzek’s ass. Finally, he gives Jay a little beat down and gets away. The fight scenes with the boys are intense and not expected. The guy got away? We thought you were super heroes, boys.

Pictured: (l-r) Jason Beghe as Hank Voight, Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Mia Sumner, Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek, Jon Seda as Antonio Dawson — (Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC)

In the awesome “don’t mess with Voight” scene of the night, one of the bad guys refuses to give up where the $8 million is. The sergeant is holding the guy’s hand close to the garbage disposal in a way that says “hamburger meat, right up.” Needless to say, he sings like a bird and the cops recover the money with Internal Affairs weasel Stillwell making an appearance.

In the final shocking plot twist, Chief asks Antonio to go to Voight’s office. He says, “Nice job but you left a big loose end.” The fighting machine who got away. He lets the cops know that Pulpo, the bad guy who kidnapped Antonio’s son Diego, is being released from jail as bait to catch baddie on the run. No way! I’m thinking Voight is going to make pulp out of Pulpo.

Another shocker of the night has Jay (Jesse Lee Soffer) hooking up with a cute blonde. Okay, that’s no shocker, just a good excuse to show off his six pack and show Severide from Chicago Fire he better do some serious ab work. The girl shows up at the station with Jay genuinely excited to see her. Later it’s revealed that this is Halstead’s high school sweetheart whose brother was killed by Lonnie Rodiger. Jaw dropping to floor. Way to keep me guessing CPD. I love it!

Of course, the funniest moments were owned by fan favorite Sergeant Platt (Amy Morton) who enlists the help of Ruzek. She needs to close the “dad deal” and Ruzek is just the guy for the job. She asks him to pose as her fiancé for the night so that dear old dad will be happy his beloved Trudy has finally found Mr. Right. Ruzek assumes Platt’s gay and is more than happy to pose as her beard. Dad is convinced when Ruzek sweetly says he loves that “Trudy” knows who she is and doesn’t take crap from anyone. Aw.

Platt thanks Ruzek for the help, and he asks why she just doesn’t tell dad about her sexual orientation. Platt’s offended saying she “did half the guys in my class at the academy.” Wow, you she-devil. Ruzek says, “Forget I said anything.” Platt counters with, “Forget about me saying anything to your fiancée about you shacking up with Burgess.” I’m kind of liking Platzek and can’t help but wonder if she’ll use her womanly ways to give us Platinsky and Ploight soon.

Another exciting episode is over, and I can only wish for this fast paced cop drama to slow down. With only four episodes left in the season, I want to enjoy every last one. The unexpected twists and continuing story lines are crescendoing soon with its older brother, Chicago Fire, in what is teased as an epic crossover event. Here’s hoping CPD will teach big bro a thing or two about character development, hanging on to a storyline for more than the space between two commercials, and creating a plot twist that is not predictable yet stays true to the integrity of the established characters. Bravo on an excellent season one Chicago PD.

Random Notes

Atwater finally returns, just long enough to ask Burgess what’s up with Ruzek saying she looks like she’s at the seventh grade dance with him. Nice to see you for half a second LaRoyce Hawkins.

Voight says a suspect is using “the old black guys did it” defense. Oh Voight. You’re so old school, politically incorrect.

Erin asks Jay about cute blonde. He responds with, “How’s it going with the fireman?” She says, “We’re taking it slow.” No kidding. Not one Linseride sighting in tonight’s eppy. Sad days.

When Ruzek doubts that Daddy Platt will buy their coupling because of the age difference, an offended Platt asks, “How old do you think I am?” Answer that one smart guy.

We learn that Voight’s two favorite words are “death penalty.” Would we expect any less? We also learn that computer nerd Jin has a crush on Detective Lindsay when he turns all fumbling, bundle of nerd nerves in front of her.