Chicago PD season 6 midseason report: Adam Ruzek

What it means

Ruzek’s storylines have really done a complete 180 since the midpoint of Chicago PD season 5. It’s a long road from the audience worrying that Voight was going to shoot him for being a mole, to his current state as one of the key components of the team.

Executive producer Rick Eid told us how Ruzek somewhat fills the void Olinsky left behind. While nobody can completely replace Olinsky, Ruzek has definitely changed and there are aspects of him that do seem like Alvin—namely his hard-line loyalty to the team, although he’s much more vocal about it than Olinsky ever was.

Audiences haven’t seen him have another significant altercation with a suspect, though getting in a fistfight with Antonio proves that he still has a temper. He just seems better at reining it in this season.

Chicago PD fans are divided on the new romance between Ruzek and Upton, and understandably so. After multiple teases about Ruzek and Burgess getting back together (remember this scene?), the brief explanation the show gave as to why Ruzek isn’t with her was unconvincing.

It’s hard to believe he’s just over her, and it’s also hard to invest in his new ship given that this is a guy who’s been engaged three times. There’s nothing that says he won’t move on from Upton just as quickly as he seemed to let go of Burgess. That’s not to say he will either—but the writers can’t assume that fans are just going to buy into his new love story.

That being said, Ruzek feels like he’s on a brand new track this season, so it will be interesting to see if Chicago PD keeps him growing up in the next 13 episodes. He could emerge as a new rock for the team to lead on, and it’s a good look for him.