Chicago P.D. Season 12, Episode 14 ‘Marie’ is one of the better episodes of Chicago P.D. when it’s about the emotions behind the things that are going on in these characters’ lives, particularly Adam’s. It’s also one of the worst episodes of the show when it goes full copaganda and forgets that every piece of entertainment bears a larger responsibility.
In the beginning, it feels like we’re in for a vast improvement over episodes that sometimes stick too close to the case-of-the-week format and at others act like this show only has one character that matters and who that is changes by the week. And in the end, the episode even manages to pull at our heartstrings. But in the middle, the biggest issue with this show rears its ugly head once again, and it becomes clear Chicago P.D. doesn’t just not know how to deal with it, it doesn’t want to.
Sure, this hour is about Adam and about Disco Bob. It’s also about Kim, Kevin, and everyone in Adam’s life trying to be as much of a support as they can to him while he’s going through a hard time. But above all, it’s about how, even in the best moments, Chicago P.D. always, always ends up being the worst version of itself. And at this point, it doesn’t seem like there’s any chance of coming back from that.
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the highs
Alzheimer’s is rough and there’s no playbook for how to handle it, particularly when it seems like it hasn’t gotten to a point where the person afflicted needs to be looked after 24/7. And for Disco Bob, it’s incredibly frustrating and also scary to know that he can still do things, but no one lets him or trusts him to do them. Because once you have Alzheimer’s, in some ways, you become the disease.
This feels unfair, but as I said, there’s no playbook here. Adam is doing the best he can while trying to live his life and do his job. The best, however, isn’t good enough sometimes. And the fact that he recognizes that his dad needs more care than he can possibly provide is a really important thing. For Disco Bob himself, for Adam, and for Adam’s family.
With Alzheimer’s, there are no good answers. Sometimes it’s just about doing the best you can for as long as you can. And with Disco Bob getting the best care he can get, perhaps Adam can still get the good parts of his dad, and not spend 24/7 worried about the bad moments. That’s not giving up. That’s making the best decision for everyone involved.
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and the lows
The way Adam loses control in this episode, the way he crosses the line in his “pursuit” of the truth, in his “quest” to save Zoe, is presented as an afterthought in Chicago P.D. Season 12, Episode 14 ‘Marie’ and that’s one of the biggest recurring problems in this show. That it’s made police brutality, because yes, torturing a bad man is still bad, a normal line these characters can cross. One we are supposed to agree with because the show always gives these characters fairly black-and-white reasons to do them, and morally speaking we are meant to agree.
But this is a very slippery slope, particularly in a reality where cases of police brutality are on the rise. Sure, Chicago P.D. is fictional, but the way it continues to make excuses for actions that are objectively wrong all in the pursuit of a “greater good” makes this show one of the worst examples of copaganda around. And ironically, the show doesn’t even need to go in this direction. It can still let characters get away with doing questionable things in fiction, just do so while making it clear that the end does not justify the means.
At times, Chicago P.D. attempts that. But the attempts feel like too little, too late. Because at this point, these characters are the people who do bad things, not just the people who prevent bad things from happening.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. Season 12, Episode 14 ‘Marie’? Share with us in the comments below! And if you have your own opinion on the show, leave a review/rating on our Chicago P.D. hub!
Chicago P.D. airs on Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
Come on. Honestly even bought has been stopping the torture the answer out of bad guys. He walks into the room where his team is trying to get information and stops them but I’m confused because it seems like this episode started on one of the other Chicago shows. Last episode I don’t remember seeing anything about this missing girl.
It’s a continuation of the episode from a few weeks ago, titled “Zoe.”