As we continue to look back on Chicago PD season 8, 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
Ruzek took some metaphorical punches during the most recent Chicago PD season. The show brought back his father Bob (recurring guest star Jack Coleman), only for Adam to once again have to bail Bob out of trouble—this time with his dad even selling out Adam to get himself out of his latest predicament. Bob did retire in his most recent appearance, but it was still the same old song for the Ruzek clan.
Meanwhile, Adam continued to exist in a relationship grey area with ex-fiancee Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati). The two still weren’t an official couple, but Burgess took the step of naming Adam her adopted daughter’s guardian, and it’s clear there are still tons of feelings between the two, especially after Burgess was kidnapped and hospitalized in the season finale.
Ruzek also had difficulties with his partner Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) as the two butted heads over important issues. They argued over race and policing in one episode, then actually got into a physical fight during the finale. So while Ruzek himself didn’t make a ton of major life changes during season 8, he certainly had several big moments based on what happened to the people around him.
What it means
If one thing was clear from this season, it’s that Adam Ruzek needs to make some decisions about the relationships in his life. Season 8 showed how much what happens to the people around him, both the choices they make and the things that happen to them, really have impacted his life more than the average person. And all of his major relationships were at different crossroads by the time the dust settled.
Does Ruzek cut ties with his father after this latest altercation? He should, considering that Bob has been nothing but trouble, and showed that he was willing to have Adam do his dirty work just to save himself. But will that actually happen, since Adam’s also seemingly the only person Bob has who’s willing to help him?
While Adam and Kim’s relationship is on better ground, Chicago PD has had them in this not quite a couple space for a while now, and it would do everyone good to just answer that question and be clear about it. Especially since Kim’s fate is unknown, let’s at least clear that up.
The Atwater and Ruzek dynamic is the most complex because the writers have used it as a way to address topics like racism. They’ve become the characters who have those discussions. While the two of them made up after their fight (as evidenced by Kevin being on the phone with Adam near the episode’s end), that’s still a turning point. Though they’ve forgiven, do you ever really forget a fistfight with your partner? Or where do they go from here? But Adam has to figure out what he wants there, too.
Our prognosis
Assuming that Burgess pulls through and there isn’t some shocking surprise in the season 9 premiere, there should be some big Burzek moments in that episode. It would be weird if Chicago PD didn’t have those scenes given the subject matter. But the writers have to commit to Burzek completely or not relatively early on this season; it’s not fair to the characters or fans to keep that vague (and we’re going to guess the show wants them as a couple again, or there wouldn’t be this video on the official YouTube channel).
If they do get back together formally, the writers need to find a new story to tell. They’ve been on and off a few times over the series, so people have seen this before. Having Burgess now being a mom is one change, but the relationship between Kim and Adam has to grow, too. It can’t just be about that.
The other thing to watch for is how Atwater and Ruzek get written. Much like Atwater deserves to be more than just the show’s go-to for issues that involve race or other Black characters, these two can’t only be used to talk about those subjects. They’re certainly good at it, but it would be a one-dimensional partnership if they kept getting the same kinds of stories.
Here’s food for thought: fans have clamored for years for more scenes between Atwater and his former partner Burgess, and so why not scenes with Ruzek, Atwater and Burgess together, either on or off the job? Ruzek was clearly not certain about Kim’s idea to adopt Makayla, so Kevin (being a surrogate parent himself) could give Adam advice about stepping into that space. Or they could all have dinner together. Even a little scene like that to kick off an episode would be fun for fans and add dimension to both those relationships.
Or how about something good for Ruzek like finally taking the detective’s exam and getting good news rather than bad news? But Adam needs and deserves to go forward in Chicago PD season 9, showing how he’s matured from the hot-headed recruit we met years ago into a different kind of individual.
For the latest Chicago PD season 9 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago PD category at One Chicago Center.