‘Chicago P.D’ 9×04 Advance Review: “In the Dark”

Chicago P.D.’s fourth episode of season 9 is a tour de force for Tracy Spiridakos. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s seen her work as Hailey, and it’s not a surprise coming from this show, where Marina Squerciati recently blew us out of the water with Kim’s kidnapping arc. Fact is, this is a very strong cast, and this episode allows Tracy to showcase her strengths as a performer.

About seventy five percent of the acting she does in this hour isn’t done through dialogue, but through little movements, the way her breath catches, the way her eyes move from one person to the other. We can feel everything Hailey is feeling, and at times, her anxiety is contagious, in a way that makes this episode hard to watch. She’s desperate, and we’re desperate.

The directing also really helps set the stage, and of course, this is a very good script, but if we have to put one thing above the rest, it must absolutely be the performance. This isn’t the kind of happy episode you feel like you want to re-watch, but it’s nonetheless the kind of episode you can’t look away from.

Here are some teases about Chicago P.D 9×04 “In the Dark”

• The case in this one is a lot. Like, a lot. I haven’t been as affected by a case in a procedural in a while.
• A friendship that we hadn’t gotten to see in a while gets some time to shine in this episode.
• Supportive Jay Halstead might be my favorite Jay Halstead. To be fair, he is supportive Jay Halstead most of the time, but he gets to be that even more this episode.
• That scene from the promo, the one with Jay and Voight? About as intense as you expect. Probably more.
• I continue to be happy with the show remembering that Hailey and Kim can share scenes, and even exchange words.
• So much of what happens in this episode, so much of what you feel, of the way they’re telling the story, is done based off looks. It shouldn’t work as well as it does, but this cast absolutely nails it.
• A character does something we’ve all wanted to do for seasons in this episode, and it’s immensely satisfying.
• Like, I might have re-watched that scene a couple of times level of satisfying.
• Better continuity on some storylines would still be good. As this episode proves, we don’t even need big things.
• The ending shot of this episode is brilliantly cruel – you’re gonna want more, ASAP.
• Sometimes love is noticing the smallest things.
• Very happy with the balance this episode – despite the clear focus on Hailey as a character.
• I have about 5 lines I’d love to quote at you, but it’s just going to be better if you get the full impact of those words when they’re delivered.

Are you excited for Chicago P.D. 9×04 “In the Dark”? Share with us in the comments below!

Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays on NBC.