February flashback: Chicago PD season 1, episode 5

Four years ago Chicago PD ruined Atwater and Burgess’s patrol car in Chicago PD season 1, episode 5. Look back at the episode in our February Flashback.

With Chicago PD taking most of February off for the Winter Olympics, we’re rolling back the clock and revisiting the Chicago PD episodes that previously aired this month.

Today we’re going way, way back because four years ago today, Chicago PD season 1, episode 5 premiered and reminded us that things in the District rarely go the way you want them to.

“Thirty Balloons” had nothing to do with a birthday party or that Nena song everyone missed the meaning of. It was in reference to the balloons drug mules ingest, as Intelligence was on the hunt for two college students carrying cocaine.

But while the drug bust was the main focus, the episode is probably best remembered for its very strong subplots.

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One was about how to handle the boss, and how the boss was handling his business. It opened with Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) seeking advice from Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda) on how to work with Hank Voight (Jason Beghe), asking, “Do I learn from him or keep my distance?”

Antonio replied in true Antonio fashion, quick but profound: “Both. When I almost went down the tubes in Vice, was right about the time I stopped judging other cops.”

In other words – do your job, protect yourself, Voight will be Voight. Good advice, Antonio.

But unbeknownst to them, Voight was walking a thin line with his Internal Affairs handler (guest star Robin Weigert) who was increasingly frustrated with his lack of cooperation. She threatened to send him back to prison, but he was unruffled.

“Thirty Balloons” also has a scene that’s hilarious now in retrospect, as Voight tried to ruffle Jay by warning him to keep his hands off Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush). It’s funny because fans know it had absolutely no effect, and Linstead went on to become Chicago PD‘s biggest ship. Voight still scared somebody in this episode:

Downstairs, Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) not only provided Chicago PD’s comic relief for the week, but also some first-class policing that got them noticed by Voight, who informed the duo “that kind of effort is what gets you into the Unit.”

Under strict orders to keep their brand-new squad car pristine, Atwater immediately damaged the door during a struggle with the original drug mule who started the week’s case. He and Burgess spent the episode trying to keep the car repair off the books, at one point having to run ten blocks to a call over an attempted bread loaf robbery.

Burgess’ instincts toward leniency and mercy paid off again, scoring the pair a break on the cost of the secret car repairs, since the man fixing their car turned out to be friends with the woman trying to steal the bread. Unfortunately he couldn’t help them when a cinder block later fell on the hood of the apparently doomed squad car, in a rare sight gag for Chicago PD and an epic one at that.

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And while Voight gave them compliments, Platt (Amy Morton) was not so happy with the state of the squad car or her charges, while Antonio found himself asked to inform on Voight for what we now know was just the first time. In retrospect, Chicago PD season 1, episode 5 feels like it has a bit of foreshadowing in it, so it’s definitely worth a rewatch.

Next: 5 reasons we love Chicago PD's Kevin Atwater

You can re-watch Chicago PD season 1, episode 5 on DVD or iTunes. Check back all month long as we revisit the episodes that were throughout February!

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