Chicago P.D. 11×10 “Buried Pieces” is a much better Hailey Upton episode than the last few attempts at character-focused episodes have been, and yet it still feels like we are barely scratching the surface of who this character is. There is so much more to discover, and now we will never get a chance to. Instead, we have to, just as she does at the end of the hour, close our eyes, take a deep breath, and let go.
Before that, however, we have to take a moment to be thankful. To Tracy Spiridakos, for the job of creating Hailey Upton in the first place. For a character who isn’t perfect, no, and who in this episode only just begins to unpack childhood issues that have shaped every decision she has ever made. But a character who has, despite all of those issues, always tried her very best.
At her job. In her relationships, whether they be friendships or romantic relationships. At her life. And of course, that doesn’t mean she’s always succeeded. Trying doesn’t guarantee success. And it doesn’t even mean that Hailey, the one we see in this episode, isn’t a mess. She is. She is just the kind of mess that can, after another person — ironically, one perhaps even messier than her — points it out, recognize her faults and try to get better.
That’s who we’re saying goodbye to. We still don’t know why or how. All we know is that for Tracy Spiridakos and Hailey Upton, there are only three more episodes to go. And in case anyone doubts it — and you really, really shouldn’t at this point —Josephine Petrovic is being written as her replacement.
We probably have at least one more case, but if this is the last “isolated” one Hailey got to work on, as disturbing as it was, it feels fitting that it was one where she got to help a mother and child escape a real monster and she also got to help Petrovic take a first step towards getting better. Of course, for Josephine, that road is long and complicated. It’s never a straight line. But the first step is always very, very important.
And as for Hailey, her “monsters” aren’t really in Chicago anymore. Perhaps that’s why she cannot stay. You cannot ever really escape them until you face them. You cannot really move on until you confront your issues. Running from her problems, literally and figurately, isn’t helping. So perhaps it’s time Hailey Upton ran towards them. What’s the worst that could happen?
Things I think I think:
- Voight out? THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS FOR ME.
- Yeah, we can see it’s not helping, Hailey.
- “Voight’s out, so it’s your call.”
- Now, part of your job is worry about Petrovic being drunk. Fun times!
- We all had a moment of “Hailey would be a much better boss than Voight,” right?
- Look, I’m 100% with Hailey on Petrovic.
- Sometimes the cases are borderline too much. This is one of those cases.
- “I just need alcohol to do my job.” Famous last words.
- “If people stop trying, it’s not about you. Doesn’t mean you’re not worth trying for.” Okay, that hurt me in my soul.
- The show keeps trying to make me feel bad for Petrovic, and make me feel sympathetic, and I’m just not there.
- The mom? Really?
- I want to throw up.
- Hey, I get wanting to be bigger than your dad, Hailey.
- At least this hour feels like it’s about Hailey, even if it’s also about Petrovic.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. 11×10 “Buried Pieces”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago P.D. airs on Wednesdays on NBC.
I agree with most of what you have said. At this point, I am pretty much resigned to the fact that Hailey’s exit is not going to be as good as it could have been. There are three episodes left and the next one is Kevin centric, so no chance of doing anything with Hailey, like Hailey and Kevin having a conversation. The last two episodes will probably be the pursuit of this season’s “big villain.” I can see her ending already. We see more of the psychopath’s victims, which causes Voight, who is already tuned up, to put this criminal in the category of “the truly evil” and that he will “do what other cops are unable or unwilling to do.” So Voight will cross lines and Hailey will be the one who is along side of him while he does this. This will cause Hailey to decide that following Voight’s lead has cost her too much already and she would be better served leaving his unit. Could she do something heroic and get promoted to Sargent and head her own unit, I guess, but it doesn’t seem that this is the direction they are going in. We can forget about a happy ending for Upstead.
Petrovic could be an interesting character. However, is this the screwed up family spot in the unit? Erin’s mother was a drunk and a drug user who neglected Erin, with Voight and his wife saving her. Hailey’s father was an alcoholic who abused his wife and children. Now we find out that Petrovic has similar issues. Come on One Chicago. I wish they didn’t go down that road. Sure, there are people who become alcoholics due to family issues (I know there is more to it than that, but for the sake of brevity, this is how I’m framing it). I would have preferred to see them delve into other potential causes for her alcohol problem. The abusive/neglectful family issue just seems lazy to me.