Chicago P.D. 11×06 “Survival” is a pretty good episode of TV, one that remembers its past and uses Hank Voight’s strengths and flaws in about as effective a way as possible. In fact, at times, the episode feels like proof of what Chicago P.D. could be if it abandoned some of its long-held beliefs about what kind of show it needs to be.
Sure, some of the underlying issues with how the show depicts the police are still problematic — but that’s a problem with all cop shows. We’re watching copaganda, one way or another. There’s no sugarcoating that. And we have learned the hard way that cops are not always the good guys. TV gives them the benefit of the doubt because it has to — because, for the show’s purposes, it has to be black and white.
In reality, it rarely is.
But that’s a general issue, not a Chicago P.D. issue. The show has always taken it way further than that by making Voight the stereotypical “bad cop.” Moreover, the show has put him in a position where there hasn’t been anyone to hold him accountable for a long time, and almost as importantly, there hasn’t been anyone who’s given Voight a reason to be anything other than that guy for a very long time.
Now, perhaps, there is.
Color me surprised, but this storyline might actually work. Not to fix mistakes of the past, oh no. We’re too far gone for that. But if the show needed a direction going forward for Voight, this is the best idea they’ve had in literal years. Can confirm I like this much better than the entire Anna Avalos storyline.
As for the rest, well, they still have to figure out a good storyline going forward for Kim and Adam that isn’t just drama. And for the love of everything holy, can we stop that dangerous romance Dante has going on? And give Kevin some romance? And I haven’t even gotten to the fact that we’re midway through Tracy Spiridakos’ last season and we still have absolutely no clue as to how the show is even writing her out.
Maybe a week ago I would have said there’s no hope of them doing any of that well. And this show has, in truth, disappointed me more than it has given me reason to hope in the past few years. But I’m going to give them a tiny bit of a chance, if nothing else because, on a Voight episode, they surprised me this week.
Chicago P.D. 11×06 “Survival” doesn’t heal all wounds. But it’s a welcome reminder that, sometimes, this show can be the one we actually decided to watch and got invested in. That feels like a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but for a show on Season 11, it’s actually a pretty big deal.
Things I think I think:
- FULL SQUAD! FULL SQUAD!
- Sometimes it’s really, really hard to watch this show.
- And I don’t even mean in the way I complain about the writing or some of the characters. I mean in the sometimes it’s very real and that hurts way.
- When I saw what the episode was about, I thought … I really don’t know if this show can handle it. And yet, somehow… SOMEHOW.
- Look, I’m no Voight fan. We ALL know that. But this is the best Voight we’ve seen in a while. This almost reminds me of the Voight of the days when Justin was still alive. That Voight still felt like he could be saved.
- I’m SHOOK, I tell you. SHOOK.
- Ofc, I still need like 7 more episodes like this to even come close to actual feelings, but, you know, baby steps.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. 11×06 “Survival”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
To use your phrase for the love of all that is holy, I very much agree with everything you said in your review. I just wish and hope that they are not setting up some romance between Voight and Chapman. If it is a respect and working relationship like he had with Miller, that would be fine. He has too many issues and her character is not the “one”.
This is a very good episode primarily for the reason you emphasized, FULL SQUAD. This is much better than the style of episode that they have been doing more often than not over the past several seasons. I like seeing everyone interact. I loved the Ana Avalos storyline for a lot of reasons and two of them were 1) it was a multi-episode plot with a dangerous and intelligent adversary and 2) it produced case centric episodes where the whole Intelligence Unit was utilized. This story will continue and offers the potential for those dynamics to continue as they pursue the villain of this arc who we have barely seen. You are right about Chapman in that she could be someone to challenge Voight. She could be a female version of Al, someone who becomes a confidant and who is loyal to him, but keeps him from going off the rails. She already asked him a question no one in Intelligence has but should have when she said “you pull me in and then chase me away, do you want to be alone?” Taking in the victim could provide him something outside of his police work and give him greater purpose for however long they decide to have this last.