Chicago P.D. 11×07 “The Living and The Dead” continues after the very good Chicago P.D. 11×06 “Survival” and delivers another solid episode in general and another really good hour for Hank Voight. There isn’t a moment that feels fake, though, of course, it all feels rather unearned because the show hasn’t set up a Hank Voight that deserves to be here.
But, considering how badly they’d bungled his character before the last few episodes, I’ll take the good storyline and call it a win — even if the hour ends like almost all Chicago P.D. hours end, with pain. In fact, I’ll squint and hope the show remembers this is a Hank Voight they can write and that, when they write him, we can and do like the character.
It doesn’t last, because of course it doesn’t. The show can still decide that the glimpses of Hank Voight we saw with Noah can stay, but I’m not sure they will. The best Hank Voight has always been the one we saw with Noah in the last two episodes, the one we saw with Justin, the one that Erin brought out in the first few seasons. Even Anna brought out that side for a while. But everyone who brings out that side of Hank Voight seemingly ends up dead, so if you’re cast to be that character, well …you know.
With the show now pivoting to whatever they have to do to write Tracy Spiridakos’ Hailey Upton out, it’ll be interesting to see if the ‘softer’ side of Voight sticks around for a little bit. There’s been a lot of turmoil in his life in the past few years, and the Noah thing is surely going to hit him hard, but we cannot forget that even though he might play a robot sometimes, Voight is presumably a man with feelings. And the team is, deep down, the only family he has.
He might act like it’s nothing, but people leaving …it’s gotta affect him. Jay left last season, and the show only really focused on how that affected Hailey. On the heels of what happened with Noah, losing Hailey might be tough for Voight, if we’re assuming he has actual human feelings. And hey, the last few episodes make us think he does.
Jokes aside, it would be good for the show to remember that, for us to …I’m not even going to go as far as say like, but at least try to understand Hank Voight, they have to at least attempt to show us how he feels every once in a while. This was a good try. Better than what they’ve done lately. Next time, do more than just a couple of episodes before you throw us right back into the same pain, please. Everyone involved, yes, including Hank Voight, deserves better.
Things I think I think:
- I’d say someone give this kid a hug, but it’s not as easy as that.
- Will Voight have to figure out how to heal to help this kid heal? Imagine THAT.
- This is the case that never ends, I hate it.
- Hank Voight saying “we’re going to breathe.”
- And the talking about Justin? We need about 500% more of that. I’m very obviously not a Voight girl, but I promise I’d like him about 35% more by default if he talked more about his son.
- “Maybe we owe it to them to think about things.”
- How has it taken SEASONS to get a sentiment like this?
- Am I crying at an episode of Chicago P.D?
- While agreeing with Hank Voight?
- The way the show has handled Noah’s sexual orientation has also been refreshingly great, mostly because they’ve treated it like it’s no big deal. Not exactly what you’d expect from a man like Voight, tbqh.
- I’m so mad at how this dang case ended. I had very little hope, because this show doesn’t believe in anything but pain, but man …why?
- Like, I didn’t even want to LOOK.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. 11×07 “The Living and The Dead”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
Understanding Hank is understanding Chicago PD. He’s a brilliant complex character and without him this show would fall apart. Like him or hate him- that’s what he brings out in people but most watchers would agree, if you were in trouble, that’s the one you’d want to have looking for you. He is what makes the show so good, and the incredible ensemble cast has such depth.