‘Chicago P.D’ 9×13 Review: “Still Water”

Chicago P.D. 9×13 “Still Water” is an episode about choices and what it means to make them—whether they are right or wrong. Because when Hailey Upton jumps into that river to help, she’s doing it out of the best intentions. And when she pulls out someone, she doesn’t know that she’s choosing the “criminal” over the “victim,” all she knows is she’s saving a human being.

But in the end, Hailey’s choice, which wasn’t a choice at all, proves to be the wrong one. Or, at least, that’s what it feels like to her. As viewers, though, we understand that it’s not so simple as that, and that Hailey doing what she could might not have saved the day, there are always loses, but it did provide justice for many other women.

It’s not enough, of course. For first responders, for people trying to help, any less cuts deep. And sometimes, you carry the loses with you more than you do the wins. But there are still some wins to be had this episode, not just case wise, but when it comes to the show establishing who Hailey Upton is. So, let’s go into those as we review Chicago P.D. 9×13 “Still Water”:

SAVING SOMEONE IS NEVER THE WRONG CHOICE

Let’s dispense with the notion that Hailey made the wrong choice, even if that’s the narrative the show and Hailey herself puts out. The truth is, Hailey didn’t make a choice: She did what she could under terribly trying circumstances, and she endangered herself to do it.

Saving someone is never the wrong choice, and considering the moral grey areas this show has been willing to play with in the last few years, establishing that feels like a really good moment for Chicago P.D. in general, and for Hailey Upton in particular. Plus, let us not forget that, had Hailey not pulled that man out, the chances his crimes would have been discovered were slim to none. Of course, the happy ending isn’t to save the criminal, but that doesn’t mean Hailey — or us —should be playing judge, jury and executioner, a la Hank Voight.

Of course, the fact that Hailey is celebrated for “doing the right thing” in this context, while Voight’s sins are usually handwaved as “doing the right thing” as well, even if both “right things” are in direct contrast to one another, cannot be underscored. That’s the choice the show has made for the sake of entertainment, but it’s hard to not look at it, particularly during episodes like this, and consider how much better Chicago P.D. might have been if it had one consistent message in this regard.

HAILEY UPTON’S SOUL

After a season of playing with Hailey’s “dark side,” the show firmly establishes—once again—who Hailey Upton is. She’s the person who will jump into a river to save strangers, and the person who will jump into a pool to save a man she knows to be guilty of multiple crimes, because that’s her job. Her job isn’t to decide who lives and who dies; it never has been. And though people, and characters, are hardly ever one thing, and they can make wrong choices and then right ones, or vice versa, let us hope this puts that storyline to rest for good.

This is fiction, and absolutely every character on this show has made questionable choices, more than once, for the sake of drama. But the consistent messaging regarding Hailey Upton could not be clearer: She’s a good woman and a good cop. Not a perfect one, no. But she’s no Hank Voight, and she never will be.

Of course, if the episode works as well as it does, it’s because Tracy Spiridakos is more than capable of a powerhouse performance of a much different type than the one she’d given in this season’s fourth episode. That was raw and emotional; this is more calculated, angrier, but still amazing to watch. We’ve gotten to see many facets of Spiridakos’ performances during her time as Hailey Upton, and it says a lot about her that it’s never felt like any one of them is out of place. Instead, together, they all make up an amazing character, played by a gifted performer.  

BALANCE, IS THAT YOU?

This is, above all things, a Hailey episode, and as Hailey has a husband, that means we get some Upstead moments, even if they’re brief: a hug that lasts way too little for a shipper’s taste, a few moments of Jay checking if Hailey is good, and just his constant presence around her, as silent support. Sometimes, that’s all we need from the person we love—to know that they’re there. To know that they trust us to do our thing, but that if we need them to, they will have our back.

But the episode also — gasp — focuses on other dynamics on the team. First, that of Trudy and Hailey, which has been teased before, but never explored, because Trudy Platt just doesn’t get enough screen time these days. And second, that of Hailey and Kevin as just… two people who are part of the same team, the same family.

As such, it feels normal when Trudy wants to throw a party for Hailey. Particularly considering she’s part of the reason Hailey became a cop, it feels good to see the whole team celebrating together, at the end, with Trudy the clear mastermind. And it feels like a good omen of things to come to have the first scene start with Hailey and Kevin, and moreover, to see Kevin checking on Hailey in the middle of the episode, like a normal, casual thing that happens between friends.

Balance has been sorely lacking in Chicago P.D. for a while, and this episode is both a great showcase for Tracy Spiridakos as an actress, for the stunt team in general, and a hopeful look at the future where this team can truly feel like a family. I can’t wait for that.

Things I think I think:

• I feel like I should make this entire list just one item: Where in the world was Will Halstead? Why didn’t anyone even bring him up? Does he even KNOW Jay is married? Does anyone??
• For that matter, how come Dylan doesn’t know Hailey? How long ago did he meet Jay?
• Is the show pulling back because they want to give us a big Will/Jay moment? Because otherwise…
• THIS WAS THE MOMENT.
• THE.
• MOMENT.
• The only other thing I gotta mention was how cute it was to see Kevin and Jay say “yes” in unison re: whether they were checking up on Hailey.
• But also, Will, where in the world are you?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. 9×13 “Still Water”? Share with us in the comments below!

Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays on NBC.