Chicago Fire, Chicago PD and Med’s most hated villains

1. Denny Woods, Chicago PD

Denny Woods (Mykelti Williamson) tops our list of most hated villains from One Chicago for a variety of reasons. It was Denny who went after Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas), leading to Olinsky winding up in prison at the end of Chicago PD season 5. Though Woods did not kill Olinsky himself, that made the beloved character’s death possible—and getting rid of Olinsky remains one of the most painful things to ever happen in the One Chicago franchise.

But by that point, Woods had evolved into a single-minded sort of megalomaniac. He was first introduced in the fourth season as Voight’s former partner, who had committed all sorts of crimes and should have been brought to justice. Instead, the show didn’t only have him avoid any kind of repercussions, but it let him be promoted. He returned as a Lieutenant talking about police reform, and then just went on a one-man crusade against Voight.

Woods deserved hate not only for what he did to Olinsky and Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger), who he turned into a mole but because he was an example of wasted potential and plot twists that didn’t quite make sense. The idea of a cop who was busted for wrongdoing, learned from it, and became a reform advocate had potential; that didn’t happen. A reform storyline could have been great; instead, it became about Woods’ obsession with his ex-partner.

So much more could have been done with the incredible talent of Mykelti Williamson. The show has cast great actors as Voight’s former partners in him and Mark Dacascos, but in Woods’ case, the character got increasingly over the top and left a ton of wreckage in his wake.

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