Chicago PD season 6 character preview: Kevin Atwater

What should happen

The best thing Chicago PD season 6 can do for Kevin Atwater is give us more Kevin Atwater. For the last two seasons, he’s been more of a supporting player than a star. And while every one of the show’s characters has played a supporting role to someone else from time to time, having two whole seasons of that seems like a bit much.

Additional screen time would also solve the other issue when it comes to his character: that the show doesn’t seem to have a clear idea of what it wants to do with him. He’s not the guy to have the huge confrontation scenes like Voight, and he’s not involved in a ship like Halstead or his own partner Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger), so it’s as if the show doesn’t know his role. He’s not a big part of any story.

But why not? There’s no reason why he can’t be in a relationship. Even just highlighting more of his friendship with ex-partner Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) would be welcome. Or how about just giving him his family back? That murder case could have resolved itself by now.

Atwater has a lot of things he brings to the table, from being Chicago PD‘s only series regular of color to being the one who most often focuses on the community and the effects of crime on the community. There need to be more storylines for him, to open up his character and get the best use out of what both the character and LaRoyce Hawkins can do.