Are Chicago PD’s Ruzek and Upton really done?

Chicago PD’s latest episode featured a big change in the Ruzek and Upton relationship, but is it actually permanent or just some late-season drama?

Wednesday’s Chicago PD broke up its biggest ship—the question is are Adam Ruzek and Hailey Upton seriously over, or is the show just throwing a wrench in their relationship?

The end of this week’s episode “Sacrifice” saw Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) and Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) agree to “take a break” after a case where their romantic feelings caused them to question each other’s decision-making.

It was as much of a surprise as when they originally got together, being shown in bed at the start of the season’s third episode “Bad Boys.”

Which is what makes it hard to necessarily take Ruzek and Upton’s breakup at face value. Chicago PD has spent a large part of season 6 pushing their relationship, from Ruzek suggesting that they get a place together to teasing when everyone else would find out about it.

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Their ship got a sizeable amount of screen time, only slowing down when the writers started showcasing Ruzek’s ex Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and her fling with political operative Blair Williams (recurring guest star Charles Michael Davis).

But Burgess and Blair only got all that focus so that Chicago PD could create interest before it killed him off two episodes ago.

And now that he’s dead, and Ruzek and Upton have decided to take that break, the series doesn’t have a single romantic relationship on its books.

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The One Chicago franchise places a certain emphasis on the romantic lives of its characters—every one of its shows has at least one relationship that’s a major part of its story, whether it’s Chicago Fire‘s Stellaride or Chicago Med‘s Manstead.

That’s similar to the current TV climate, where many shows have a romantic subplot, some of which are set up from the very first episode. Shipping draws a fair amount of viewers in, and if Ruzek and Upton are serious about their break, then Chicago PD doesn’t have a ship.

Of course, some fans would say this opens the door for another Burgess and Ruzek reunion or for Upton to hook up with her partner Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer). Those things are possible, too. But consider this: the writers not only invested a lot of time into Ruzek and Upton, they also took a big creative risk with them, as well.

Some fans were not happy when the duo got together, since the previous season had teased that Burgess and Ruzek still had feelings for each other. They were frustrated and understandably so. And most of the character development that both Ruzek and Upton have gotten in Chicago PD‘s current season has been through the lens of their dating. Ruzek had his storyline with his father, but that’s about it.

Do the writers really want to say they upset a large part of their fan base for something they just called off before the end of the season? Do they want to have focused so much for both of these characters on this pairing, and then just move on?

Now that the show has gone this route, and committed so much to it creatively and in terms of asking fans to go with them on this journey, it’d be another surprise if it seriously has dropped the idea. But with just two episodes left, Chicago PD fans will find out fast if Ruzek and Upton are truly broken up.

For the latest Chicago PD season 6 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago PD category at One Chicago Center.