TV REVIEW: Chicago PD’s “The Weigh Station” Is a Lesson in Heaven and Hell

Chicago PD picks up right where we left off last week with Erin and Jay sitting in a bar, k-i-s-s-i-n-g, not really. They’ve been shot at and cute bartender was hit, now laying on the floor with a nasty gunshot wound to the neck, blood pouring out. “The Weigh Station” is all about the bounty on Halstead’s pretty head, but it’s the Voight show front and center. Jason Beghe is about the best thing on NBC (can we call it a tie with James Spader), and he does not mess around.

#SaveHalstead

Voight’s first act tonight? Put Jay in protective custody also known as locked down in the time out chair. Halstead reacts appropriately, throwing a hissy fit – even throwing things. Burgess and Roman are tasked with keeping him under house arrest. I’d be demanding time and a half.

Our band of cops spend the rest of the night trying to save Halstead. First up, Olinsky visits Oscar Bembenek in jail; the bad guy who put the hit on Jay. Alvin demands he call it off. Oscar says, “You’re talking about the Halstead who killed my brother?” Oh, it’s on.

Ruzek is on the case using his charms on Sergeant Platt. He asks Trudy for her connections with the prison system; he suspects Oscar called the hit from jail and wants to hear the recordings of phone conversations without going through all that legal mumbo jumbo stuff to get them. “What the hell is that?” he asks as she pulls out a packed Rolodex. Hey, don’t knock it. She hands over the digits on her jail connection.

Erin and Dawson do their part to save Halstead by tracking down a suspect with two bullet holes in his back courtesy of Lindsay. He says he just drove and quickly gives up the name of the shooter.

Atwater and Voight team up, locating the trigger man. He spits a huge wad in the direction of Voight. “That hurt my feelings,” says Hank. Oh, it’s in the cage for you and Voight’s going to want his special alone time. “Don’t you have some paperwork to do Kevin?” Atwater exits and Voight works the shooter over also giving him a theological lecture.

“Purgatory is a weigh station between heaven or hell. Just like this place. Heaven is upstairs, coffee, we talk. Hell is a place we call the silos, about a fifteen minute drive from here. Where do you wanna go?” The shooter wisely chooses heaven and gives the cops their first big lead of the night – an old hitman, JP, was offered the job first but turned it down. He also reveals that Jay wasn’t the only target; there’s a whole list. What? Let’s all get #SaveDimples trending ASAP!

#TheHitlist

We find out soon just who’s on the list. Voight’s called to the gruesome scene of a dead 16-year-old girl, the daughter of the assistant state’s attorney on the Bembenek case. She was just biking home when shot and killed. Whew, Erin’s safe. Next hit, the Bembenek judge’s mom is killed in her home, single bullet shot to the head. Going after kids and moms? You know Voight is not standing for this.

Pictured: (l-r) Sophia Bush as Erin Lindsay, Jon Seda as Antonio Dawson — (Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC)

#OldSchoolHitman

Voight and Olinsky visit the hitman originally offered the job, an old school killer named JP. The cops want to know how big the list was.

JP’s cooperating, offering up the name of the hired killer. He says the young guys are a new breed of contract killer. He reminisces about the “honor” back in the day. “Today they murder the kids if they can’t get to the parents. I have the stomach for a lot of things but not for that.” Aw, a killer with a heart of gold. They devise a plan to use Jay as bait and set up a meet with the new hitman. What could possibly go wrong?

Jay demands to go through with deal even though Erin’s really worried about her partner, like “I’m forgetting fire what’s his face” worried. The plan has more holes than the two dead people and heads south quickly. JP is sent a picture of his son, being held by the real bad guys. He takes off, gun on Jay, deal off. He easily gets away from the following cops.

JP dumps his car, stealing a minivan for the Jay trade-off. “He’s got my son,” he explains. When they stop at the meet point, Halstead goes Rambo and gets the gun away from JP in spite of having his hands tied together. A hitman carrying Mustang shows up with Voight and Erin giving chase, eventually causing the car to wreck. Hitman is caught and JP’s son is in the trunk alive.

Olinsky visits Bembenek for some quality gloating time. He lets bad guy know that the husband of Oscar’s mistress is coming to prison town, his prison town.

#ILoveYouGuys

Voight gives a speech about things “staying in house” saying he means it stays in house so we can keep operating like we do. Voight praises Halstead “what you did for this city, no one will ever know. This family knows.” They’re all going to Molly’s to celebrate.

#MistyMoments

At the beginning of “Weigh Station,” Bunny hops over to CPD to let Erin know that she’s getting married at 5:00 today. Erin is not impressed. Mom says, “Could you just put your machete down for one minute. I’m getting married. You’re my only child. I’m trying to turn my life around.”

Erin does drop the machete and goes to Bunny’s wedding. New husband seems sweet, but mom’s a piece of work. Lindsay heads back to PD and has to talk to Voight. She recalls borrowing 200 bucks so she could “buy junk for my mom. I couldn’t get her a fix until morning, right before school. She puked all over me. I couldn’t take a shower because the water had been shut off. The teacher pulled me aside because she thought I had a drinking problem. I copped to it to protect my mom.” What a scene. Erin continues, “Wanted to say thanks for taking me in. You’re my family.” And I thought we were going escape this one without a single tear shed. Nope. Voight pulls the plug on the waterworks when he says, “You’re about the best thing that ever happened to me. I mean that.” Oh, these two. The chemistry, the authentic moments, the way they play off each other… nothing better.

Pictured: (l-r) Elias Koteas as Alvin Olinsky, Joseph Price as Paul Schulze, Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek — (Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC)

#WowMe

Chicago PD always has a twisty moment you weren’t expecting. Not one of those fake surprise endings where everyone can guess what’s going to happen, but a real moment of surprise. This one came at the very end of “The Weigh Station.” Jay survives, no shocker. Voight gets his guy, no kidding. Erin looks beautiful, duh. Who shows up in one of the final scenes? New Chicago Fire paramedic, Syvie Brett. What? Where did we think this one would end? With concerned Erin and pretty boy Halstead coming together, sharing a drink, maybe a bed? Instead, we get Jay and Brett at the hospital, checking on injured bartender.

Jay confesses that he’s never seen somebody take a bullet for me. A doctor comes out relaying some good news… they are optimistic.

Brett asks the cop to stop at Molly’s, “we’ll raise a beer to Mattie.” Jay says yes, but first he channels his inner Severide sad face, dropping to the ground and almost crying.

So, what did you think of this one? Were you as surprised at the Brett/Halstead connection? I predicted that Linstead would happen in another four episodes. What are your thoughts? And Voight talking about heaven and hell! Preach. See you back here next week for another installment of this thrill a second cop drama, more Voight raspiness, and additional exploration of Sophia Bush’s dimples.

Chicago PD airs Wednesdays on NBC at 10 pm

Random Hashtags

#Pladia

Getting the award for odd couple of the night, we have Nadia and Sergeant Platt bonding over birthdays, holidays, and sassiness. Platt’s just being her cheery self, offering up the nugget of encouragement, “You’re gonna be up there till your boobs are bouncing off your knees.”

Nadia disagrees saying she’s going to be a cop someday while plopping down a birthday card for the grumpy cop.

Platt makes up later telling the young girl, “Hey, tough stuff, it’s a peace offering. So get over yourself and take it.”

She also admits that Nadia was the only one who remembered it was her birthday. Even her new boyfriend forgot. Oh, Mouch. Platt gives her an encouraging pep talk. Pladia, I’m feeling it.

#HalsteadsRage

Jay has his rage face on all night, throwing a couple of hissy fits and throwing some crap around. His rage apparently knows no bounds when he slaps the board of faces of the people taken out by Bembenek. He gets into Roman’s face early in this one over the babysitting duties, but new cop doesn’t back down.

#ARomanMystery

There’s some Roman/Olinsky connection, but Alvin doesn’t have a clue. Roman almost tells him why he looks at the old cop with disgust, but keeps his mouth shut. Any ideas on what this could be about?

#Burzek

Burgess and Ruzek are still on. Kim gets a little ticked when Ruzek uses his manly ways to charm a cop into helping them, but gets over it by episode’s end. She tells her guy, “My place in an hour.” The puppy dog enthused look on Ruzek’s face is priceless.