Chicago PD season 6: Ranking the biggest moments so far
1) Alvin Olinsky’s funeral
What happened: Chicago PD started its season paying tribute to a character who was killed off last season: Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas). The sixth season premiere picked up not long after the fifth season finale, and the episode ended showing Olinsky’s memorial service. One noticeable absence was that of Olinsky’s longtime friend and boss Hank Voight (Jason Beghe), who had been uninvited from the memorial by Olinsky’s wife Meredith—but still paid his respects to his friend from across the street.
The episode: “New Normal” (episode 1)
Why it’s important: To fully grasp the importance of this moment, you have to look back at the last season of Chicago PD. The decision to kill Olinsky will go down in history as one of the show’s most controversial choices. Fans are still upset about it and from interviews given after it aired, the actors were deeply affected by having to say goodbye to Elias Koteas as well.
But the episode in which he died didn’t give any space to remember him. There was a scene filmed of the Intelligence crew saying goodbye, but it was edited out—then posted on YouTube, and then taken off YouTube, and then reposted again. It was clumsy handling for a moment that would have meant so much to fans.
Chicago PD made amends by showing Olinsky’s memorial at the end of “New Normal.” Having that on screen was the audience’s chance to lay a fan favorite character to rest. It was also the most powerful moment of the season so far thanks to exceptional acting from the entire cast. Even with little dialogue, they conveyed so much emotion that it turned the whole moment into a sort of universal grieving experience between the audience and the characters.
It also demonstrated the impact that the character of Alvin Olinsky had on Chicago PD as a whole. It’s now been nine episodes without him, and there’s still a big Olinsky-shaped hole there. Setting aside the emotional attachment to the character, it’s obvious that the show has not been quite as strong without him. So we may look back on this moment at the end of the season and call it an even bigger turning point than it is now.
Next. Read our Chicago PD midseason report card. dark
What moments from the first half of Chicago PD season 6 stand out to you? Let us know what you would put on this list in the comments below.