TV REVIEW: Chicago PD’s “The Docks” or Pulpo Part 2

Pulpo part two begins right where Chicago PD left us last week. Antonio’s been shot and the slippery octopus is on the run.  Dawson’s alive with his family and the Intelligence team waiting on news. Well, everyone except Gabby. I guess she’s too busy getting blown up.  A doc comes in to say “he’s not outta the woods” but when Voight reassures the Dawson kids that dad will be okay, we believe him.

While Antonio’s fighting for his life, Jin’s slithering around Voight’s office looking shadier than Nagini.  We think the jig is up when Sergeant Platt catches him, but she falls for the old installing software ploy. She must still be in the aftermath glow of her Mouch connection last night and not thinking straight.

Erin’s Charlie connection continues this week, but offers more aftermath than glow.  Annie, a lady from Erin’s past, and her young son are waiting for the detective. Lindsay summoned her old friend to tell her in person that Charlie’s back in town.  Annie’s worried about meeting him and breaking the news that he’s going to be a daddy, or he is already a daddy…to the twelve year old on her arm. Better late than never? Can’t wait to find out what Charlie’s up to.  It’s obvious he’s bad news, but just how bad is anyone’s guess.

Voight is out for some Voight justice tonight, his sight set on an eight limbed creature of the sea.  He says, “Pulpo attacked our family.  Let me be clear, forget the rules.”  He adds that when they catch their prey, he’s to be handed off to himself and Olinsky.

Halstead says, “I’m looking for a little clarification.”  Really, pretty boy?  Pulpo shot your team member, now he must die. How’s that to clear things up?

Voight explains, “Pulpo ain’t making it back to a jail cell.”  I think Jay finally gets it, but he looks troubled or confused or something. I feel a Voistead showdown, who’s with me?  Gotta admit, I’m routing for old gravel voice.  Pulpo shot Antonio, remember?

Pictured: (l-r) Yuri Sardarov as Otis, Sophia Bush as Erin Lindsay, Jesse Lee Soffer as Jay Halstead — (Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC)

Halstead voices his concern to Erin and Ruzek saying he’s not okay with being a part of a lynch mob. Ruzek says he’s the new guy, don’t look at him, and Erin says quit your whining, let’s get Pulpo. In our fashion update of the night THE jacket is back.  This thing survives shoot-outs, bombings, nuclear holocaust, everything!  Please Ruzek, say goodbye and dump it the way you threw Burgess to the curb before your fiancée dumped you.  More on that later.

The rest of “The Docks” is spent on a Pulpo hunt with the bad guy slipping away every time.  He even uses his baby mama and son as a diversion to get away.  Our cops find a Russian connection because one thing we’ve learned from CPD is that Colombians and Russians are usually the baddies.  Oh, and that one random white supremacist bomber.

A Russian club owner’s helping Pulpo because the octo-villain fronted him a million dollars in cocaine.  I’m thinking that’s almost like being engaged.  How do we know all this?  Otis from Chicago Fire shows up to translate!

Yay, he survived the explosion on Chicago Fire’s finale last night. Yes, I realize these last two episodes of Chicago PD were ordered late in the season and they’re kind of a secret bonus surprise (think Cracker Jacks), but if you tell us that Fire and PD exist in the same world then you can’t have a disaster on one show one night and then pretend it didn’t happen the next.

While on the Pulpo pursuit, Jay finds a little gossip time, playing twenty questions with Erin about Voight’s dad. The sergeant mentions his father a few times in this episode, and we gather he was a cop gunned down in the line of duty. Is it just me, or is Halstead annoying in this one?  He’s all righteous indignation and office snoop rolled into one denim loving detective.

Our heroes finally find Pulpo trying to make his great escape in a car inside an 18-wheeler. Yes, you read that right. Voight tells the team to get lost while he and Olinsky take the cop killer away. I’m pretty sure Pulpo’s getting more than a Voight face slap.

Olinsky and Voight drag him out of the trunk with Pulpo pleading for his life.  The guys duct tape his mouth shut and throw him in a cage (how many do they have?).  They sit down for a little coffee talk. Olinsky asks Voight if the Browning killing ever keeps him awake at night.  Hank says he sleeps like a baby, adding about Pulpo, “he’s gonna die in prison.  Were just speeding up the process.”  Alvin confesses he hasn’t slept in twenty years.

Pictured: (l-r) Jason Beghe as Hank Voight, Patrick Flueger as Adam Ruzek, Sophia Bush as Erin Lindsay — (Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC)

Meanwhile, Jay visits Antonio and at that point we know Halstead’s going to stop the Pulpo retribution.   Antonio clues him in about “The Docks” so he shows up to convince the older men to bring in the bad guy. He says, “What Antonio wants and what Pulpo deserves are two different things.”  Olinsky agrees and Pulpo lives to swim another day.

Alvin visits his ex-wife.  It is only a few steps from the garage where he lives, but he hasn’t been inside in a while. He confesses many things, all leading to his main confession – regret.  He breaks down saying he wants to make things right between them. Fire’s got Boden, CPD’s got O.  They both can chew a scene like no other and pull at those heartstrings on a dime.

Speaking of scene chewers, or stealers, Voight has a great one at the end.  First, he meets up with Halstead at a bar.  He explains to young padawan, “I make the best decision I can. Sometimes I’m right. Sometimes I’m wrong. I accept that. I move forward knowing I did the best I could.”  He ends their little talk with, “I have my convictions, and I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks.  You have yours as well.  I respect that.”  They clink drinks, makeup session complete. Cutaway to the final scene – Voight at a wall of fallen officers.  He runs his hand across the name Richard Voight. Dad. No words, it lasts only a few second, but oh that look on his face.

Tonight was a three way slime off. Pulpo vs. Jin vs. Charlie. The octopus won out, but next week looks like Charlie’s making a run for top honors.  Erin’s got herself in a little trouble and it seems her old “friend” is making her do some not so police officery things.  Season finale in one week.  Let’s see what kind of explosion PD makes. After last night’s Chicago Fire, I’m hoping it’s purely metaphorical.

Random Notes

• Voight kicks Sumner out of Intelligence after Jin “uncovers” some phone records showing calls to Stillwell. Is that before or after your champagne brunch with sleazy IA man, Jin?
• Atwater fills the vacant spot on the team.  Burgess looks like she just lost her puppy or her Ruzek. She asks Voight why.  He says, “I don’t tolerate in house romance especially from a uniform who should be committed to the job.  Dismissed.”  Any questions?
• Charlie asks Erin if she thinks she owes him.  “Yeah, sure,” she answers. Uh oh.
• Platt is so sweet with the Dawson mama and the kids. “I’ve known your dad a long time. We went on a call one time. A dealer shot at us. I got hit, your dad ran over and picked me up. I was thinner back then.”  Oh, Platt, we love you.