‘Chicago P.D.’ 10×08 Review: “Under the Skin”

Chicago P.D. 10×08 “Under the Skin” is an episode about Kim Burgess’ trauma, and in that regard, it’s a long overdue episode. We’ve skirted around Kim’s issues for a while, and the show has decided to focus on other storylines — including Makayla and Kim’s relationship with Adam when it’s been Kim’s “turn” — over her very real trauma. And of course, as is expected, Marina Squerciati delivers a powerhouse of a performance as a woman just trying to live her life while dealing with the weight of unresolved pain.

But that Marina Squerciati can do this, that she can make us feel for Kim even when the writing has had her wait way too long to deal with this issue, isn’t actually something Chicago P.D. should be proud of. Over and over again, the actors have carried a show that seems to have lost any semblance of direction, and that they can doesn’t mean they should. Characters need arcs. Ships need a journey. And actors of Marina Squerciati’s talent deserve something to work with.

Is it my turn now?

Chicago P.D. has never been the poster child for balance, but lately, it’s like they’ve forgotten characters can have feelings outside of the designated episodes. Hailey even had to take vacation days, lest she found herself feeling things when it was Kim’s turn. And of course, whoever thought of Kim possibly confiding in Hailey? That’s nonsensical, the two of them are just meant to exist around each other without ever actually interacting about anything other than the case. Rule number two of Chicago P.D. Catching bad guys together? Check. Talking about feelings? That’s going too far.

Adam is the only one who gets to have feelings in Kim’s episodes. And those feelings have to be about Kim. Which, to be fair to Adam, most of his feelings are about Kim or their kid, so that part wasn’t that hard.

It’s a nonsensical idea that contradicts the show’s logline. Not that this has ever been a family, not really. Instead, they are a group of people we like to pretend are close, but who are never active participants in each other’s lives, just extras. That’s what the show wants. That’s what it’s cultivated. And that’s why Chicago P.D. will never be the thing it could have been — what it should have been.

Someone who gets you

Ironically, the thing that truly works in this episode — other than Marina’s performance — is the Burzek relationship. I say ironically because boy, it could be argued their relationship has suffered the most from inconsistent writing. At times it was hard to believe the writers even wanted them together. Because of that, there were times when it was hard to root for them. But we’re way past those days. If anything, we’re in the how long can the writers really keep them apart era, and sadly, we’ve been here for a while.

The mistakes of the past are just that, in the past, and in the here and now, there’s no one who understands Kim Burgess, no one who has her back, like Adam Ruzek. And truly, no one who loves her as he does. Because he loves her always. When she’s strong, when she’s lost, when she’s next to him and when she’s not. He doesn’t need her to be anything other than Kim to love her. He doesn’t even need her to be okay, he loves her anyway.

And Kim hasn’t really been in a position to accept that. Maybe she still isn’t. But that Adam was able to vocalize it and Kim was able to hear it, even if she couldn’t fully process it, feels like a step forward. For the relationship, they both want, the one they both deserve. The one they have had for brief moments, and they can still have, in a lasting way.

Hope feels like a really, really good thing — even if that hope hangs on the actors, and not on the writing.

Things I think I think:

• Shower scenes on this show are a bad, bad sign.
• Adam and Kim co-parenting is adorable.
• You should spend those vacation days sleeping, Hailey. SLEEPING.
• Not that trauma makes sense, but it’s hilarious how this just sort of feels like they’re all taking turns remembering their traumas.
• Remember when Torres had issues? Feelings? And Kev? ME EITHER.
• You know what everyone on this show needs? THERAPY.
• That Adam and Kim moment, when realized she didn’t have the gun? That gave me OTP feelings.
• I never expected Kim to remain in the car, but my common sense still screamed at how she ran in. You two have a kid! You can’t both run into danger!
• Patrick Flueger needs to stop (never stop), because his acting in this episode gave me heart palpitations.
• When, exactly, did you deal with it Kim? When?
• “You and I, we’ll figure it out.”
• FEELS.
• Also, just TELL KIM WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY. Tell her.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. 10×08 “Under the Skin”? Share with us in the comments below!

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