Chicago PD season 14 is going to be a very difficult season to watch for longtime fans. Just two episodes into the season, we’re going to have to say goodbye to a character who has been part of the show from the very beginning and played an immeasurable role in making the show the success it continues to be.
After 13 seasons as a series regular, LaRoyce Hawkins will exit Chicago PD in season 14, episode 2, which will serve as the final episode for Officer Kevin Atwater. Fans are already dreading the episode’s arrival this October and aren’t happy with the show’s decision to write off such a beloved and crucial character. However, in the midst of processing that disappointment and frustration with the show’s decision, fans have overlooked the fact that Atwater is not the only character we’re going to be saying goodbye to this season.
With Hawkins exiting the show at the top of the season, this means Chicago PD is all but certain to also write out the amazing Karen Obilom.
Obilom first joined the cast in season 13, making her debut as Officer Tasha Fox in the fifth episode of the season, “Miami.” We’d come to learn that Tasha and Atwater came up together in the police academy, and their friendship blossomed into something more by the end of the episode as the pair enjoyed a passionate night together after working an intense case involving a bombing in downtown Chicago.
At first, it seemed like Tasha was going to be a one-off guest character, but that all changed when Obilom returned a few episodes later to reveal to Atwater that their night together resulted in an unexpected pregnancy. While unplanned, both Tasha and Atwater agreed they wanted the baby, and the pair would later come up with a plan to co-parent and get to know one another better along the way. The plan was that Tasha would move back from Miami and return to Chicago; however, it seems that will no longer be the case.
With Atwater being written out, it seems likely that the writers will end up having Atwater be the one to relocate, and with his departure will likely come the exit of Obilom as well. After all, if Hawkins is no longer a part of the show’s ensemble, the writers do not need to craft ways for Obilom to continue in the role of Tasha.
It’s truly a shame to think that we’re losing two amazing actors with this decision, as we wanted nothing more than to see more of Obilom in season 14 and get the chance to watch Atwater and Tasha’s relationship blossom into something bigger. We were so excited about the idea of getting to see the pair prepare to become parents, and for the storylines that would allow her story to be told, especially for Tasha. This storyline would have allowed the show to show the challenges that come with a pregnancy for a woman in law enforcement, something the show has never explored before.
We hate the idea of losing either character, but losing both Atwater and Tasha is a blow that is going to take some serious time to recover from. All we can hope for is that the door will be left open for the duo to return and that we might be lucky enough to drop in on them later in the season for a guest appearance, which will give the fans the chance to see a slice of happiness for the couple with the birth of their child.
Chicago PD season 14 premieres Wednesday, October 7, at 10/9c on NBC.
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