Chicago PD season 6 character review: Antonio Dawson

Our prognosis

Unlike the two departing characters on Chicago Med, there are no plans yet for Antonio Dawson to return for a final goodbye in Chicago PD season 7. That means that there’s not going to be a great resolution for his storyline—his exit will happen off-screen and the other characters will explain it in dialogue. That’s really disappointing, especially for a character who’s been so important to this whole franchise.

Since Antonio is no longer on the show, the only thing to look forward to is how his departure will impact the show. It certainly should! It’ll be interesting to see how Antonio’s absence compares to the loss of Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas), since both are huge figures whose fingerprints are all over this team.

Olinsky has gotten a couple of mentions and references since he died at the end of season 5, with several characters speaking highly of him. Will the characters similarly miss Antonio and realize he had an impact on them, too? And even if they don’t, will the writers address the fact that Antonio was the moral counter-balance to Voight and now that’s not there anymore?

The sixth season premiere had Voight specifically acknowledging that. But Chicago PD needs that contrary voice, that person who won’t fall in line with breaking the rules just because Voight said so, and is willing to disagree for more than one story or episode. That’s what keeps the show as a full-fledged series. And that’s going to be Antonio Dawson’s legacy.

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