The One Chicago season finales are here. Tonight we will know the fate of our beloved characters… and ships. Because, let’s face it, ships are superior at these shows. We dedicate a weekly roundtable to analyzing them. Chicago Fire is the standard here, Med is a mess and Chicago PD, well, this show has some balance issues. Which is why today are going to analyze Chicago PD and its problem with ships.
To say that Chicago PD has some ship issues is the understatement of the year. Actually, this show has two big problems: one of balance and the other of harmony between its main ships AKA Burzek and Upstead.
Starting with the balance issue, it’s a real headache on this show. In some episodes we can die of feels with Upstead or Burzek and, in others, we have… nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not a look, not a gesture, not a conversation … absolute nothing. The fandom is like the FBI and finds content even under the stones in some furtive glance, some gesture that went unnoticed …
But the fandom shouldn’t have to be like the FBI to have content from their ships. Don’t get me wrong, there are episodes that ask us to focus only on the case of the week as it is especially important, shocking, necessary and emotional, as in Chicago PD 8×15 “The Right Thing,” but the problem arises when the show ask us to focus on the case of the week without balancing it with ship content over and over again.
It’s not a whim. A story needs to be linear so that you can connect with it, so that you can feel it, so that you can live it. If Chicago PD kills us with feels with Upstead and Burzek feels in one episode and then they act as if nothing had happened and, after 6 episodes, they kill us again with feels, we can’t really connect with the story as much as we should. We don’t feel it’s as organic, instead we sense that the story happens in fits and starts, jumping from one place to another, moving forward, stopping, then moving forward again, stopping again …
It is not a linear story, not the type of simmering that really makes you love the ship, makes you connect with the characters and understand them. It is as if something is missing in the middle. Something really emotional happens between Upstead or Burzek, and the next episode it’s like nothing happened. So you feel like there is a hole in the middle of their story that is never truly fixed.
And it’s possible to do so! Chicago Fire is the ideal mirror. In almost every episode they have a perfect balance between case of the week, ships and comic relief.
If Chicago Fire can do it, Chicago PD can too because Burzek and Upstead’s success is due to the chemistry of the actors and the connection the fandom feels with these characters, rather than the writing of the story.
That leads us to analyze the next elephant in the room: lack of harmony. Why can’t we see Upstead and Burzek happy at the same time? Why should we choose one?
We shouldn’t have to, but Chicago PD forces us to do it. I love both couples (Burzek more, I have to be honest) and I feel my heart divided because when I’m happy for Upstead, there is no Burzek content and vice versa. Why is it that when the fandom is happy for one couple it has to feel absolutely miserable for the other?
It’s silly. Showing two happy ships in a show is not only possible, it’s very healthy. Through the different developments of both couples we can find new things to discover, to love.
Balance is possible, Chicago PD. Again, learn from Chicago Fire. Learn, for God’s sake. It seems that I use Chicago Fire as an example all the time, but it really is the mirror in which the rest of One Chicago should be reflected.
I didn’t even like Chicago Fire until a season ago. But they knew how to balance all the plots and build a story that hooked you, that is magical AKA Brettsey and Stellaride. Chicago PD already has that story with Upstead and Burzek, they just need to tell it.
The just need to want to learn how to do it.
And I really hope I’m wrong but I feel like, following this line of imbalance, Burzek will get back together in the season finale tonight … but Upstead will break up. I hope I’m wrong but this is my gut feeling. And it’s going to be silly if it turns out they brought in some nonsense drama between Upstead about light and dark in episode 14 just so they could break them up in season finale … and give us happiness with Burzek.
I still don’t understand why two ships are incompatible for Chicago PD. You see, Chicago PD, we want happiness for our ships! They deserve it, the fans deserve it and it’s about damn time it happens.
Ah! And you can also show Burzek and Upstead plots in the same episode. You can. Developing one ship shouldn’t mean you leave the other one abandoned. Try it sometime, Chicago PD, you will surely like it.
What do you think will happen in Chicago PD season finale tonight? Feel free to share with us in the comments below!
Chicago PD season finale airs today at 10 p.m. on NBC.
