Chicago PD season 6 character review: Adam Ruzek
By Kari Highman
How was Chicago PD season 6 for Adam Ruzek? We’re looking back at how Chicago PD’s latest season went for Patrick John Flueger’s character.
As we continue to look back on Chicago PD season 6, we’re breaking down the season for each of the show’s characters.
Did your favorite character have a good season or a bad season? What were their strong points and were there any weaknesses? Was the character affected by the show’s writing, or vice versa? Where could they go from here?
Check out our detailed character breakdown, and let us know your thoughts on how this season was for each character in the comments.
In this article, we’re profiling Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger).
What happened
Chicago PD season 6 really allowed Adam Ruzek to shine, giving him some pretty complicated plot points, not to mention a new relationship. He went from more of a background character toward the forefront this season, which meant fans got to see Patrick John Flueger show off his versatility.
In the premiere, Adam tried to be the glue that held things together after the death of Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas), but instead caused a rift between himself and Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda). The two clashed again in the fall finale, when Adam decided to take the fall for Antonio regarding the death of a drug dealer slash rapist. While he was initially cleared in the IAD investigation, it would come back to haunt him (as most things do in the One Chicago universe).
Ruzek did have some fleeting moments of fun though, thanks to his fling-turned-relationship with Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos). The two hooked up early on in the season, and at first kept their relationship on the down low. It didn’t stay that way when Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) accidentally discovered it during “Brotherhood” nor when Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) found out a few episodes later. After that, Upzek fans didn’t see much of the couple until their ultimate demise in “Sacrifice.”
Of course, none of that quite compared to the finale “Reckoning” which featured Ruzek in hot water over that IAD investigation he was initially cleared from. Superintendent Brian Kelton (recurring guest star John C. McGinley) wasn’t about to let a member of Intelligence walk scot-free, so Ruzek spent the majority of the episode being questioned, while Voight and Dawson tried to find evidence to save him. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, because Ruzek was arrested at the end of the season finale, leaving the unit (and viewers for that matter) in utter disarray.