Chicago PD season 7: What to watch for in the new season

2) The transfer of power

One Chicago fans already know that the show is getting a new Superintendent of Police during the season. Paul Adelstein (Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, Prison Break) will be recurring throughout the season as interim boss Jason Crawford.

So what kind of character will Crawford be? Will he be another antagonist for the Intelligence Unit to face? Another corrupt supervisor that the team has to take down? We’ve seen pretty much the same type for the last few seasons. There hasn’t been one who’s more sympathetic to our heroes since Commander Emma Crowley (Barbara Eve Harris).

Not every high-ranking officer has to be out to get Intelligence, or unable to see past their own ambitions. This would be a great time for Crawford to buck the recent trend.

In addition, remember that Kelton had been elected Mayor of Chicago before his death. So with him dead, what happens there? Alderman Ray Price (Wendell Pierce) was running against him, but lost that opportunity when Voight allowed him to take the fall for his wife’s crimes, and he’s now in jail. He’s certainly not going to get a second chance.

That means the writers have to come up with a third character, whom we didn’t meet during all of the election drama, who’s going to be the interim mayor. Who will that person be? What can fans expect from them as far as their interactions, if any, with the Intelligence team? And keep in mind that choice could extend beyond Chicago PD, since the Mayor is someone who oversees the whole city.

If the One Chicago writers are serious about continuity—and they have been—whoever is the new mayor on this show would also be the mayor on the other two shows. So it’s time to choose very wisely.