‘Chicago P.D.’ 10×02 Review: “The Real You”

Chicago P.D. 10×02 “The Real You” is about who we really are deep down, but it’s not just that, it’s about what people perceive. For Adam, those two things have been in direct contradiction for a while. Because yes, Adam Ruzek has indeed been a hot mess in a dress at times. But he isn’t that anymore. He hasn’t been that man for a whole. And yet, the most important person in his life, Kim, has been unable to see it …until now.

And sure, Kim has had her reasons. She’s been through a lot of trauma herself, and everyone in this unit needs a lot of therapy to even try to unpack all the things they’ve done and the things that have been done to them. But at some point, the decision to not face that trauma, if that’s the thing that’s keeping you from moving forward, and the decision to not see what’s right in front of you because you’re stuck on what used to be is just that …a decision.

We were way past the time for Kim to make a different one. For her kid, for Adam, and for herself. And I’m really glad she finally got there.

There’s, of course, more to this perception/reality issue, as it applies to Jay Halstead and Hank Voight. We’ve always been really, really clear on who those characters are, and the outside world’s perception of the two of them has more or less matched the reality. Not so much anymore, at least, not outwardly. Is it setup or just bad writing? We will have to wait till next week to find out.

So let us talk about the Burzek elephant in the room and the baffling storytelling decisions when it comes to Jay Halstead as we review Chicago P.D. 10×02 “The Real You”:

I BELIEVE IN YOU, ADAM

Deep down, Kim Burgess has always believed in Adam Ruzek. And I will be the first to admit he did a great deal to break that trust. But he’s also done a lot to atone for his screw-ups, enough that at this point, it doesn’t even feel like he’s the same man that hurt Kim. So Kim has been literally hanging onto her fear because, in some ways, that’s easier than opening yourself up again, than trusting someone else not to break your heart, once more.

This is all compounded by the fact that Kim isn’t just thinking about herself anymore. She’s a mom now, and she’s gotta put Makayla first. She’s gotta think about what she wants, but also what Makayla wants, no, what she needs. And though there was a part of her that could always see that Makayla both wanted and needed Adam, there was always that little voice telling Kim that just as Adam disappointed her once, he might do the same to Makayla.

But we were literally at the point where there was nothing else Adam could do. He’s proven himself, over and over, and he hasn’t even done it out of a desire to rekindle a romantic relationship with Kim — though I’m sure he would also like that — he’s done it for his family. Because that’s what Kim and Makayla are, his family. And yes, he might make mistakes in the future. He’s human, and we all make mistakes. But this Adam Ruzek will put his family first, and it’s good that we have finally gotten to a point where Kim can see that.

The rest they can work on now that they’ve taken that first step.

IS THIS REALLY HOW THEY’RE WRITING OFF JAY?

Jay’s storyline right now would be bad even if Jesse Lee Soffer wasn’t leaving the show, but considering that we know Jay’s storyline is leading towards an exit, the whole thing isn’t just nonsensical, it’s borderline insulting. Again, sure, there could be an explanation. There could be a bait and switch in our future. Jay could have reached the end of the line, be working with the new boss to take down Voight for good, and be leaving the unit because his plan falls apart (which, I mean, makes some sense, but also makes no sense because he had a ready-made opportunity last season and he just DIDN’T TAKE IT). But this is Chicago P.D., and they have absolutely not earned the benefit of the doubt in that respect.

Perhaps, they’re doing just what it seems. Maybe they are driving a wedge between Upstead, perhaps the Jay that was always the moral compass of this unit is now the guy who nods and does what Voight wants, the guy who takes it a step too far without caring for the consequences and worst of all, the guy who lies to his wife about the reasons why he’s doing these things. Maybe this show really is throwing almost a decade of character development into the trash just to keep the bad cop in the show.

If so, they deserve nothing more than people just …not believing in them anymore. Jay Halstead’s character arc has been one of the most consistent things in this show for nine seasons, and if they’re willing to ruin that just to continue telling Voight’s story, then why should we believe any story, any character, any ship is safe? And that applies even if the endgame of this storyline is what I mentioned before or some variation of Jay leaving so he won’t “turn into Voight.” Because the truth is, the Jay Halstead we know and love would never have turned into Voight in the first place. Period. Anything else is making the character fit the story they want to tell and not the other way around.

Things I think I think:

• Adam is really here in shorts building his kid a birdhouse.
• Not ONE person in Voight’s unit can say with a straight face they’ve always followed the rules.
• “It’s just like a knee-jerk reaction of yours to expect the worst.” When Adam’s right, he’s right.
• Kim’s “If you don’t know where Jay is, why should I?” look to Hailey was priceless.
• Take-charge Hailey was kinda HOT.
• Disappointed wife face is a thing.
• I get Adam, I do, but this level of OMG HOW COULD YOU THINK ID’D DO THAT is a lot for someone who works for Hank Voight.
• Who is this character Jesse Lee Soffer is playing these days? Cause it sure as hell isn’t Jay Halstead.
• WHAT SECRETS ARE YOU KEEPING FROM YOUR WIFE, JAY?
• Do we think Dante has a closet fool of the same kind of clothes, like Smurfette?
• Will and Jay talked! Off-screen, but they talked. And Hailey and Will talked too! And we didn’t see it.
• The way Kim just rests her whole weight on Adam, lets go of a little bit of the burdens she carries alone. I’m so happy for him, but also, for her. It’s so hard to do everything on your own, to feel like you always gotta be strong, for yourself and for your kid, because you have no backup. Kim deserves that backup.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. 10×02 “The Real You”? Share with us in the comments below!

Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.