Chicago PD has developed a bit of a bad habit in recent seasons of putting a bit too much stock in its newer cast additions, resulting in longtime characters being relegated to supporting roles in the background. Season 13 has sadly continued this trend, with Officer Eva Imani getting much more screen time and character development than many of the show’s original cast members.
While we’ve loved what Imani has brought to the show and the dynamic the show has introduced between Voight and Imani, we can’t help but feel frustrated by how some of the show’s veteran characters are being underutilized even more than usual.
This has become particularly true for two characters, in particular, this season: Kevin Atwater and Trudy Platt.
The timing of this stance might seem odd, as the show literally just gave us an Atwater-centered episode, but it was episode 18 that reminded us how poor a job the show has been doing at giving Atwater time in the spotlight. We’re all for a slow-burning storyline, but the writers have been taking a bit too much time with the Atwater and Tasha content.
It took the show nearly three months to finally make major strides in the pregnancy storyline, which was introduced in the closing moments of episode 11, “On the Way." That episode aired on January 28, and the storyline was dropped almost immediately after being sprung on the viewers, with no meaningful updates about Atwater and Tasha’s relationship in the episodes between episode 11 and episode 18.
Atwater is a core part of the show’s ensemble, and it’s a shame that the show continues to treat him as a secondary character. There’s no excuse for the show to wait weeks to give such a major storyline attention, and perhaps the reason it’s so jarring is because of how well Chicago Med and Chicago Fire do at juggling the ongoing storylines of their core ensemble.
Yes, there are episodes where certain characters might not have as much screen time or are part of the episode’s B-storyline. However, as a whole, Med and Fire both do an excellent job of following through on major storylines organically and giving characters the chance to shine on a regular basis rather than making them wait their turn in the queue to get a spotlight episode. Just imagine if Chicago Med went weeks without addressing Hannah’s pregnancy and how she and Dean are navigating things. That’s essentially what Chicago PD has done with Atwater and Tasha.
Then there is Trudy Platt. While Platt is not part of the core Intelligence Unit, she’s a key part of the Chicago PD ensemble, but the show has barely used her this season.
There have been several instances in which Platt is MIA entirely, and the show never even bothers providing fans with an explanation for where the character is, and when she is present, the show seems to be giving her more and more limited screen time. When we do get a rare appearance from Platt, the show underutilizes her and barely provides the character with anything memorable story wise.
Seriously, try reflecting on season 13 and coming up with a major Platt storyline outside of the events of episode 9, “Heroes,” which put Platt front and center after a simple favor for a former recruit took a heartbreaking turn. If you’re struggling to come up with an answer, it’s because the show unfortunately hasn’t given Platt much of a storyline this season, which is truly criminal.
Amy Morton is and always has been phenomenal in the role of Platt, and it’s a shame the show has squandered her talents this season by barely giving Platt anything to do. Episode 9 was such a highlight of the season, and Morton’s performance in the episode was flawless, while also serving as a reminder of just how special the Platt and Burgess relationship is.
We understand that it’s always fun to bring in new characters and shake things up, but we wish it didn’t come at the expense of servicing the amazing characters who have been part of the show since the very beginning. As we look ahead to the final three episodes of season 13, we can only hope that the writers will give Atwater and Platt the chance to shine more as the duo deserves more time in the spotlight!
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