Chicago P.D. 10×10 “This Job” is an episode about bad cops coming from a show whose main character is the worst of the bad cops. Because what is self-awareness? They can be moralistic about the difference between the fictional cops on the Intelligence unit and the kind of cops that do things the “wrong way,” and continue on with copaganda because guess what? There’s someone worse than Voight (even though we’ve seen nothing to prove he actually is).
At this point, it’s hard to decide if it’s either cognitive dissonance or wilful ignorance, but for storytelling purposes, it doesn’t matter. Chicago P.D. isn’t the kind of show that can be moralistic about cops, because it keeps putting Hank Voight on a pedestal. Yes, the very same Hank Voight we’ve seen do worse things than any dirty cop they could show us. Chicago P.D. could be the kind of show that focuses on cops that aren’t always the good guys, but heaven forbid they don’t try to have their cake and eat it too. No, instead we get to live in the hypocrisy of an episode such as this one, and we’re supposed to continue rooting for this team.
It isn’t even that hard when you take Voight out of the equation. The problem is you really cannot. Just as you cannot escape the fact that basically everyone on this unit — save Dante, and even he has now chosen to cover up for someone — knows pretty well who Voight is, what he has done, and hasn’t just looked the other way, no, they have defended him. Whatever their reasons might have been, that’s the reality. And it’s not a good one.
Sure, this episode paints it all in a way that makes it easier for us to understand Dante’s choice, Adam’s choice. That’s TV for you. In real life, though, the cops like Voight don’t get away with stuff because other cops are protecting the innocent. They get away with stuff because other cops are protecting them. On TV “bad cops” stick around because the good cops are busy protecting people. In real, life all cops protect each other, which throws the whole good cop/bad cop thing into question. How good of a cop can you be if you’re willing to protect the bad ones?
Ironically, that would be a fun avenue for Chicago P.D. to explore. Adam Ruzek does the right thing pretty quickly in this episode, and it isn’t even Jay or Kev he’s trusting, it’s a kid he’s just met. And that speaks highly of Adam. He is called out on his privilege, and his response isn’t to get angry, it’s to internalize what Dante is saying and then turn around and help him get the proof he needs. But of course, the plot was never going to allow this story to end where it needed to end, at least not during Chicago P.D. 10×10 “This Job.”
But it surely will. At some point, this corrupt cop will be taken down, and the city will be safer because of it. Because of Hank Voight and the Intelligence unit. Now, isn’t that the most ironic thing you’ve ever heard in your life? The only thing worse than a full-on Voight redemption arc is this idea that Voight needs no redemption, that all he needs is someone worse (allegedly) than him we can compare him to.
Yet here we are. Here Chicago P.D. is. The show has always been inconsistent plot-wise and has basically gotten to where they are on the strength of great characters and ships, but it’s getting to the point where it’s hard not to wonder if that’s enough when there are no coherent ideas behind the stories they’re trying to tell and very little to no actual character or ship development. Midway through a season, there should be more. Ten years into a show, there definitely should be.
Things I think I think:
- Adam checking on Dante was good. Adam inviting Dante to poker night? Even better.
- Plus he left when Dante wanted to? Adam, you’re a good man.
- Dante checking on the victim was perfection.
- As a character, Dante really works for me. I’m still kinda sad we got robbed of his dynamics with Jay, though.
- The fact that Hailey ends up having to work with Voight makes me want to throw up a little.
- Did no one on this show watch the last season of this show?
- I can send the DVDs over.
- “I just became part of the blue wall.”
- You kinda did, not gonna lie.
Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
I have mixed feelings about this episode. If you look at in isolation, I think it is a good episode for the interactions between Adam and Dante. I also like the idea of Dante working with Adam and not just Kevin. Last season, it was a lot of Jay/Hailey/Voight, Kim/Adam or Kevin episodes. Having them mix who is paired with who works better overall. My problem is this episode is not in isolation. The previous episode the Intelligence Unit took down a sex trafficking ring and their commander killed himself. No mention of that, really? No indication of who the new chief will be? I have no issue with the focus of the episode being on Dante, but I think it would have been better if we had an episode or two where we see more of Dante before having a story like this. I would also like to see more episodes where everyone is more involved. Kim and Hailey were barely in this episode.
My comment is simply, if you have so many negative comments about the program just don’t watch it.
Absolutely loved it!!! Love Dante, a welcome addition & a breath of fresh air. The messiness of intelligence makes this show interesting. Cast is perfection!!! It’s a show, not a reality TV show. Keep it rollin just the way it is. One thing, I miss Al, Hank’s BFF!!
Best show on tv. Get rid of Dante he don’t fit in. A little bit more of Kim would work