Chicago P.D. Season 13, Episode 18 ‘The Wicked River‘ is about the next stage of Kevin’s life. When the episode begins, we see that he and Tasha don’t exactly see eye to eye on what happens next. Tasha has a life in Miami, a new place, a job. Kevin’s entire life and family are in Chicago. And yet, they’re now having a baby together. Their lives are intertwined, whether they want ot or not.
A baby deserves two parents, and Tasha’s decision to come back to Chicago and tell Kevin means she understands that. But they’ve never had a relationship. Sure, they knew each other in the academy, but it’s not like they were boyfriend and girlfriend at any point before. They just slept together, and now they’re having a baby. So is it fair for Kevin to expect Tasha to give up everything just to be with him in Chicago? And what does being with him even mean?
He doesn’t know when he asks. She doesn’t know either. But by the end of the hour, they start to figure it out. And I do mean start. Because having a baby is just the beginning. The pregnancy is just the beginning. When that’s done, it’s not over. No, when that’s done, you have a tiny human who depends on you. One you love. One you would die to protect.
And that’s not the only thing, because Tasha and Kevin still have to figure out their relationship. They gotta figure out if what they have is real, if they can make it real. And they promise to do just that, try. Day by day. It’s not the fairy-tale ending, or fairy-tale beginning, either of them probably dreamed of. But that doesn’t mean it can’t end in happily ever after.
I know what you’re doing
‘The Wicked River’ is a pretty good episode for continuity’s sake, even if it all comes in small moments. There’s, of course, Tasha in general. We figured we’d be seeing her again, considering she and Kevin are having a baby, but the show doesn’t just forget what they set up with her and Kevin before. Miami is still a problem, even if it ends up being an easily solvable one. Their lack of a relationship is still a problem.
Plus, there’s Kim seeing right through Kevin and sending him home because she knows Tasha is waiting. She knows that because she knows Kevin. Sometimes the show forgets how well these people know each other, how long they’ve been in each other’s lives. Not this hour. This hour uses the relationships that have already been established to strengthen the narrative and to give context to Kevin’s decisions.
When Tasha asks him if he’s told anyone about the baby, Kevin responds that he hasn’t because he doesn’t know what they’re doing. And later, when she comes to help him take down the rich kid, Kim and Adam clock what’s happening very easily. They don’t even have to talk about it, either. They just do that married people eye convo thing, and then Adam is congratulating Kevin, with a big smile on his face.
Kevin is going to try. Tasha is going to try. And now, Adam and Kim know. Which means this is real. The baby. The relationship. This next step for Kevin Atwater. And honestly, it all really works.
I have a soft spot for Kevin episodes. Perhaps because I really like the character. Maybe because I feel like he’s gotten some really good moments in the show. But this new challenge for him might be my favorite thing the show has done with him yet. I can’t wait to see where this goes, where Kevin goes. And yes, where Tasha goes. I’m invested now.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago P.D. Season 13, Episode 18 ‘The Wicked River’? 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.
