Chicago PD has lost some major players over the last few seasons. It hasn't been easy for the writers, the fans, or the remaining cast members. That said, the show is still going strong. The new characters that have come in have done a great job, and the veterans continue to compel with their layered and lived-in performances.
We had Chicago PD bringing up the rear in terms of which One Chicago winter premiere we were most eager to watch, but that doesn't mean there haven't been exciting developments throughout the first half of season 12. In fact, we've compiled a list of them below.
Hank Voight's potential love interest
Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) is not a romantic fellow. He's dedicated to the job, and he still cares deeply about his late wife, Camille. He's never really made an effort to strike up a relationship since Chicago PD started, but this could change due to Nina Chapman (Sara Bues).
The ADA admitted to having feelings for Voight, which took both him and the audience aback. She's slated to return later in season 12, and we're very intrigued to see where their dynamic goes into the future.
The death of a new Chicago PD character
Emily Martel (Victoria Cartagena) had potential. She was a veteran police officer who had an established friendship with Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger). She was also coming in on the heels of Hailey Upton's departure, so it seemed like she was a possible replacement. No dice.
Chicago PD decided to kill her off in the same season 12 episode in which she was introduced, which was a masterstroke. It was upsetting, but it also yielded some of the most memorable acting of the entire season from Flueger. It's no coincidence this episode is the highest rated of season 12 so far.
Kim Burgess' promotion to detective
We needed more detectives. There was getting to be a wide gap between Voight's rank and the rest of the IU, so it was very exciting when Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) got the bump up and achieved detective status.
Burgess' promotion has led to some tension with her fiance, Ruzek, but it's also allowed her to blossom as a police officer, and take more of a leadership role within the Intelligence Unit. It's nice to see, even if it will invariably lead to drama in 2025 and beyond. We're here for it.
Dante Torres cutting ties with Gloria Perez
Thank goodness this happened. Dante Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar) really messed up when he decided to start an affair with Gloria Perez (Yara Martinez), a drug kingpin wife turned informant. It was messy all around, and it put the officer's life and career at risk.
The season 12 fall finale wisely closed the book on this arc by having Perez die and Torres express regret for his past actions. Hopefully the character is a bit more discerning moving forward, when it comes to informants in particular.