Chicago P.D. 9×17 “Adrift” is about Adam Ruzek and how far he’s come from the man we met all those years ago. It’s also about Burzek, and what the path forward is. But above all things, it’s about growth and about priorities …and as much as that hurts right now, this hour makes it clear that Adam is now a parent, first and foremost.
There’s a funny thing that happens when you have a kid, a sudden shift in priorities. You are things, and you want things; but when you have a child, all that you are, all that you desire, takes a backseat to your kid’s wellbeing. And though I’m not sure Adam and Kim are making the right decision for Makayla at the end of this episode, the fact that Adam loves Makayla enough to walk away means a lot.
Did he have anything to prove? Not to me, as a viewer, but perhaps to Kim — even though, from the outside, it feels like he’s already proven himself time and time again. Feelings, however, are not rational. Kim isn’t acting on common sense; she’s acting out of fear. She’s trying to protect herself and her kid. And though I believe she’s being unfair, and she shouldn’t be protecting herself from Adam, I also believe this journey can’t end any other way than with Burzek as a family.
But boy, we’re apparently going to suffer to get there.
So, let us go into Adam Ruzek, the Burzek family dynamics and why the writing has failed the ship in particular as we discuss Chicago P.D. 9×17 “Adrift”:
ADAM RUZEK IS A FATHER NOW
The episode takes us through all the stages of Adam Ruzek, only to end up with him alone. It’s heartbreaking for many reasons, perhaps the most important one being that he didn’t think he’d need to be alone again. He had a family, after all. He’d finally found his home. But it’s even more devastating when we consider it’s Adam that makes the decision of putting Makayla first.
I’m not sure it’s the right decision, but that doesn’t matter to Adam. He’s being the grown up because that’s what you do when you’re a parent. You put your kid first, even when you just want to argue. Even when you think you deserve better. You put your kid first.
Makayla has been through a lot, and it’s not just good, it’s great to see she’s both Adam and Kim’s main priority. They are her parents, after all. The bigger picture of who they are together, who they can be – that’s not a Makayla thing, even though it affects her. That’s an Adam and Kim thing, and boy, do they have to figure it out. Not just for themselves, but for their kid. Because yes, you put your kid first, but you can’t live life just for your kid. That’s a surefire way to make everyone, including the person you’re trying to protect, miserable.
IS WANTING NOT ENOUGH?
The most frustrating part of this episode might just be seeing Adam and Kim both state that they want to fix things and yet having them unable to figure out how. The words are a step forward, of course. They are a family, and that’s what they want to be. That’s on the table. But, in a way, hasn’t that been on the table for a while? Haven’t they always wanted …and just never figured out how to have?
So many other issues are keeping them apart, issues they haven’t discussed, traumas they have yet to address (and yes, illogical plot decisions). But this episode puts them on even ground on the wanting, so the rest of it just feels …absurd. You want, you try. Otherwise, at some point, it’s on you for not trying. It would be very different if they didn’t want to fix things or if one of them didn’t.
This is it for Adam and Kim. Romantically, as part of a family unit, this is it. There’s never going to be another love interest, and Makayla is now an intrinsic part of the show and their family. So, what we need is to have forward movement in this storyline. Consistent forward movement. This entire season has been three steps forward, two steps back, and though that’s still some advancement, it’s not nearly enough.
Chicago P.D. does a lot of things I don’t agree with, and though the Voight of it all usually frustrates me more than anything, this episode just reminded me of all the times, all the couples, all the shows that have just …made me wait for something I knew was meant to be from day one. Pushing this storyline to next season would be a mistake. Pushing this storyline this far has been a mistake. How many other mistakes will the show make in this regard?
AS A SHIPPER, IT’S DISAPPOINTING, TO SAY THE LEAST
We don’t have to go into the why people watch things, and/or get into the argument of whether people should watch only for one ship. I’m a proponent of watching a show for whatever reason you want — one ship, two, a character, an actor, a set. It doesn’t really matter why you’re a fan, if you’re a fan. Every fan is important to a show, and though shows cannot cater to fans, they should strive to give every part of the show some coherency and consistency.
I’m not sure if we can say Burzek has gotten that. No, wait, I’m pretty sure we can be categorical in saying they haven’t. Their whole storyline has been dragged and dragged, and it’s been seasons since it’s made sense to me why they aren’t together. Whether you like them as a couple or not, I’m pretty sure we’re all one in not understanding why the show just won’t commit to them — or just end them once and for all.
Then, there’s the Kim of it all, and this always happens: Characters keep suffering to serve the plot. Because what does Kim want from Adam? I’m not sure she knows at this point, because he has literally become the man she’s been waiting for him to be — minus that thing where he lost it when Makayla was kidnapped, but truly, can anyone blame him for that? — and it hasn’t made any difference.
And sure, this episode, which is a step back, is at least a step, and it’s possible that in the end, it will end up being a good thing for them. There’s no bigger proof of how serious Adam is, how much this family means to him, than what he did at the end of Chicago P.D. 9×17 “Adrift.” But this only works if the show remembers to consistently advance this plot, and considering how many episodes there are until the end of the season, I just don’t know that this is going to get fixed this season.
Would that be so bad? Yes, and no. It truly wouldn’t be if the payoff was good — except it’s been so damn long, it’s hard to expect payoff. It’s hard to have faith. And it’s really, really hard to wait when this is the thing you’re most invested in. I thought this was going to be the season of Burzek getting back together. It should have been, and now I’m just …. what are we waiting for? What?
Things I think I think:
- Jay and Hailey having tiny married couple moments is always a joy. The definitive “Imma listen to my wife” moment from Jay we get in this hour is a special treat.
- More Kim and Kevin scenes, please.
- Also, Kevin Atwater. That’s it, that’s all I want to say.
- Everyone seems to forget that, yes, Adam wasn’t exactly being rational when his daughter was kidnapped (who would be?), but Adam was also RIGHT. REMEMBER THAT? HE WAS RIGHT.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. 9×17 “Adrift”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
The writers are driving me crazy with Burzek! I have come to a place where I either want them put together or broken up. I want a resolution one way or another. Over this season they have been together, but not together as a couple and this last episode feels like they “broke up” without breaking up, ugh. I did laugh when Voight first arrived on scene and basically said “you again, look at this mess you want us to take on,” reminded me of Season 3 when he almost lost his badge.
It does does not look like we are going to get a Burzek resolution this season. We know that this season will be 22 episodes. The next episode 18, with be Halstead centric. Based on the plot it could also heavily involve Voight as bringing in a recruit and training him seems like a way to groom Jay to one day lead the unit. We could get Upstead moments as well. The synopsis for episode 19 seems Kevin centric and Kevin certainly needs some love as he has had the fewest number of storylines. The season is going to end with the Anna storyline and as the showrunners have described it, probably episodes 21 and 22. Those episodes are case centric and if anything are Voight-Halstead focused (Volstead anyone?) and emphasize the new dynamic of their relationship. That leaves episode 20. I don’t think one episode is enough to resolve all of this. So my guess is that this might end up being resolved as part of the season 10 mid-season finale.
I think something big will happen for them in 9×20…in a positive way! There is a video of burzek family filming in a park and it sounds like kim says ily to adam! It look like there is going to be a dinner party at either adam’s dad or sister’s house. kim and makayla are going and we’re going to see adam’s childhood photos! marina talked about how she had to discuss filming a big scene with paddy recently, think thats in 9×20!