Chicago P.D. 9×10 “Home Safe” is an episode that was meant to be all about Burzek, or at least about Adam and Kim as parents. Instead, it ends up being too much about the case, as the show tries to focus on Adam’s place in Makayla’s life without ever attempting to go into the Burzek of it all. And though a part of me understands that Chicago P.D. might be ready to commit to the family aspect without committing to the relationship aspect, it really does feel like the obvious answer is – has been – for Adam and Kim to have a real conversation about their relationship.
They’re not together now, okay. Is that definitive? Or do they feel like they could be together in the future? Are they building towards something? This is not just a conversation they could be having, it’s a conversation they should be having. Not just for Makayla, but for them. They’ve known each other for too long, loved each other for too long for all this uncertainty.
Storytelling wise, too, some resolution is needed. Not just because the way the storyline is being handled now feels like a miscommunication fic, but because it’s unfair to fans who have invested in the couple. To me it feels like the show is planning long-term with them, and that’s fine. Or at least, it would be, if we had a light at the end of the tunnel.
Let’s discuss Daddy Adam, the Burzek of it all and the lack of (oh yes once again) balance as we review Chicago P.D. 9×10 “Home Safe”:
DADDY ADAM
Chicago P.D. 9×10 “Home Safe” is the best Adam Ruzek. He’s clear about his desires and intentions, he’s emotional, and even when that seems to betray him, it’s hard to fault him for caring too much. Still, he finds a way to get the information he needs, and then, at the end, he clearly articulates what he wants to Kim. He also makes it clear what Makayla means to him, not that we had any doubts whatsoever.
So much of this storyline has been about Kim, and that’s the way it should have been. Kim hasn’t gotten the focus she deserves for many things, but her decision about Makayla needed to be about her first. But at this point, it’s good that, considering the dynamics they’ve created, the storyline is expanding to also include Adam, truly include him.
It’s hard to look at this storyline and not think of the what could have been that Kim mentions at the end of this episode. They were going to be a family at some point, with a baby of their own. Now they are a family, even if Makayla isn’t theirs by blood. And that means that the fight that’s coming is one that Kim and Adam need to fight together.
Kim is now Makayla’s mom, that’s clear. But Adam has become her dad, just as much as Kim became her mom. Families are made out of love, not blood, and this episode makes it clear that both Adam and Kim will fight for their kid. Will protect their kid. And yes, will love her, no matter what.
SOME BURZEK CONSISTENCY, PLEASE
Part of the Burzek frustration stems from the fact that it feels like their relationship is going nowhere. And it’s going nowhere because we haven’t really gotten any real conversation between Adam and Kim about it for …seasons. It’s not even two steps forward, one step back, it’s that we took a bunch of steps back and then stayed there and then ignored the elephant in the room. Storytelling-wise, that’s frustrating.
I don’t think Chicago P.D. needs to necessarily put Adam and Kim together now, there’s still a lot to discuss between them, a lot of issues to be addressed. But I do think they needed to give fans a light at the end of the tunnel for the romantic part of their storyline. Now, the question is …was this enough?
Can it ever be enough if the show doesn’t take the time to address all the dangling plot threads in their relationship? We’d like long and involved conversations, but TV doesn’t always allow that. But we’d at least take some focus. And though the family storyline does, and will take precedence, it should ultimately lead to a conversation about Adam and Kim as a couple. That’s what makes sense.
Do I think they want us to move on from Burzek? No. Do I think the show is moving on from Burzek? No. Do I think they intend to use this found family storyline to delve into the things that have kept them apart? Yes. Are they doing a good job with it? Not even close. There’s still hope, of course. It’s just that now, I’m worried they’re going to take Makayla away, when I’m too invested in the Burzek family now to look back.
BALANCE, WHERE ART THOU?
There are a couple of frustrating things about Chicago P.D. 9×10 “Home Safe” that are typical in a Chicago P.D. episode. Starting with the fact that we barely get any acknowledgement that Jay and Hailey got married. Then there’s Kev walking in on a very serious Burzek conversation and not even asking about it. Not to mention that this show seems to think only one character can have issues at a time, because to focus on Adam’s issues this episode, they didn’t even give Kim’s that much of a spotlight.
We’ve never asked for a lot. But we do want to see things be a little more realistic, particularly in the way this team relates to each other. The first half of the season dropped Kim’s trauma like a hot potato because it was more important to …eh, give Voight another chance at a redemption arc? I’d argue she still hasn’t dealt with her miscarriage, and she and Adam haven’t really dealt with what they lost and what it means for them as individuals, much less as a couple.
I can go on. Hailey’s daddy issues. Jay and Will. Kevin’s girlfriend. The tense conversation between Kevin and Adam from last season. Vanessa Rojas. Chicago P.D. will be a better show once it figures out we don’t need them to focus on everyone all the time, but we do need some consistency in storytelling, for every character.
That shouldn’t be too much to ask.
Things I think I think:
- DADDY Adam absolutely kills me.
- Upstead with the rings just hits differently, doesn’t it? No matter what they’re doing, they have the rings on and that’s a thrill.
- But like, truly no one wants to gossip about Jay and Hailey getting married? Or make fun of them? That’s not even real.
- Also, like, Adam has just been sleeping on the couch for how long? And no one thought this was something they needed to discuss?
- More focus on the friendships in 2022, please.
- I really did appreciate the convo between Adam and Kim near the end, where they committed to each other, in a way, by committing to Makayla. I understand putting her first, and I appreciate that they’re of one mind about her.
- Which is why I hate the cliffhanger so, so much. Don’t take Makayla from them. Please.
- But, but …if we want to go for a super fanfic scenario of “they have to get married to keep Makayla” I’m not sure I’d complain. 😂
- A lot has to happen now. They haven’t “lost” Makayla yet, they just have a challenge for custody and challenges from family members are usually considered. Not my favorite storyline, not even close, but this isn’t anywhere near a done deal.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think about Chicago P.D. 9×10 “Home Safe”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
There are some fans that do not like the relationship aspects of Chicago PD and for them this was a great episode. I also think having a case centric episode was probably a good thing. The custody issue with Mikayla raises some interesting possibilities. Having Adam and Kim in the same unit involved in dangerous cases could be a negative for them. In Chicago Fire, Trudy is going to transfer a young officer who was struggling to the 21st to help him and give him a better training officer. Imagine if Kim became that training officer, not permanently but for this season and maybe into season 10. This would give us the old dynamic with patrol and more Trudy Platt. Voight could still use Kim and she could still have plenty of interaction with Intelligence like she did when she was partnered with Roman. The Intelligence Unit could also use a new member particularly a person of color since it is unrealistic for a unit that does undercover work in Chicago to have only 1 person of color. How they have not had a scene with Hank and Hailey during Season 8 where Hank says “they moved Rojas back into a long term under cover assignment” or some other explanation is beyond me. It’s a 30 second conversation. I was disappointed that we did not get a scene in Molly’s with the Intelligence Unit, Platt and Will toasting Jay and Hailey on their marriage.
I wish they hadn’t used the cuss word by daming God in this episode. Is there no other words they could have used……this is prime time…..not everyone wants to hear this kind of language
I am glad they did not focus the show on Hailey and Jay. I do not agree with them at all. Every time I see Hailey and Jay they
makes me 🤮. I love everyone else. Jay and Erin was hot. Hailey not so much. Love me some Atwater and Voight. Kim and Adam I adore. Trust is Trust, lol. I miss Erin.
I’m still trying to figure out how the Roy episode was more about Haley and not Kim. Then there’s everybody has slept with everyone, I would’ve at least liked to have seen Kevin and Vanessa have some type of relationship but of course they killed her off without even offering up some type of storyline. Halstead and Upton, nah. Ruzek and Burgess need to have some type of conversation about what they lost, yes they need to also focus on a stable life for Makayla, that little girl has been through a lot and to move her from Kim and Adam is a no way. I somewhat would’ve like to have seen Voight and Olivia have some type of relationship even though he’s Chicago and she’s NY, would’ve been nice. I don’t know about everyone else, I am a Hank Voight fan, he really focuses in on keep his city clean and safe. But at the same time curb those tendencies. I didn’t see Commander Miller, 8s she still with the show and what is going on with all the changes with Voights Bosses? Food for thought.