Chicago P.D. is returning to NBC within the 2025 TV schedule after taking per week off, with one regular episode left earlier than what one star describes because the “One Chicago model of Avengers: Endgame” crossover. A “regular” episode of P.D. does not imply a straightforward episode, although, and Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) is about to undergo the wringer with a case that includes an unidentified younger woman surrounded by plenty of deaths.
He may have Burgess (Marina Squerciati) to hopefully lean on within the new episode, referred to as “Zoe,” on January 22, and I regarded again at how showrunner Gwen Sigan’s feedback about Burzek evaluate to Flueger’s forward of what may very well be a tough evening of primetime for his longtime character.
First issues first!
What Gwen Sigan Mentioned About Burzek
I spoke with Gwen Sigan forward of Chicago P.D.‘s winter premiere (which you’ll be able to stream with a Peacock subscription now) in regards to the Voight vs. Reid battle, shortly earlier than the primary episode of 2025 to deal with Adam Ruzek. The great ship Burzek has had surprisingly easy crusing since getting the duo received engaged in Season 11 after ten years of ups and downs. The showrunner addressed why P.D. has lastly given Burzek a well-deserved break, saying:
We needed to! The factor is with the 2 of them, they’ve had a lot prior to now so far as will we/will not we, and I believe as soon as they made that call that ‘We’re doing this, we’re in it collectively,’ it was now simply the day-to-day work of being a pair, and making that alternative on daily basis to be collectively and to face life collectively. There’s plenty of drama in that, and there is plenty of attention-grabbing issues in that, so that is what we have tried to steer extra into this yr.
The 2 needed to construct a steady life collectively for the sake of Makayla, and the result’s a household unit that is as settled as one may hope for with two dad and mom in Voight’s Intelligence Unit. Up to now so good since Ruzek proposed, and it feels like that is not going to alter with regards to the connection. However what about as separate characters? Sigan went on:
And likewise their lives as particular person individuals, not essentially solely tied to their relationship. So it has been a little bit of easy crusing, however I believe they’re navigating. Particularly within the second half of the season, you may see they’ve these particular person tales that definitely they navigate now collectively, so we get to see that relationship and the way it grows, and it clearly is a problem to take care of household and simply the common issues that everybody goes by in life which might be tough, however we do it collectively versus alone now.
As members of the Chicago P.D. crew going again to the very starting, neither Burgess nor Ruzek have had a lot time for a private life. Now that they are engaged to be married, do these One Chicago characters even have time to plan a marriage? I requested the showrunner that very query, and she or he responded:
There’s not plenty of it. We even have a narrative that we’ll get to see somewhat little bit of that, and that it isn’t simple to plan a marriage when in addition they have plenty of different issues occurring. You recognize, they have Makayla, they have another tales that come up this yr. They’re juggling fairly a bit. [laughs] So we’ll see that problem. I believe [many] ladies know it is fairly tough to plan a marriage, after which when you’ve a job like Burgess does, it is like, how? We’ve somewhat enjoyable with that this yr.
Primarily based on the promo for “Zoe,” the following episode may not be packed stuffed with enjoyable until there’s some early on earlier than the plot thickens for Ruzek. Nonetheless, after I spoke with Patrick John Flueger about what’s subsequent, I wanted to get his tackle Burzek to match with what Gwen Sigan previewed.
What Patrick John Flueger Shared
Ruzek appears to be in for a tough trip within the new episode on January 22, with the outline from NBC revealing that his life with Burgess might be disrupted by an sudden customer whereas the investigation of the week has larger emotional stakes than regular as a result of involvement of a younger woman. Followers must tune in for all the main points, however I wanted to know: what has it been like for Patrick John Flueger to play Ruzek with a content material house life and steady relationship thus far in Season 12? He weighed in:
See, I like that. We spent, what, ten, eleven years watching Burgess and Ruzek undergo turmoil, relationship turmoil, and again and forths and ups and downs, and that is all attention-grabbing. It is fascinating. However I truthfully assume that the viewers likes it. I believe that they like seeing these two individuals truly settled in with one another, supporting one another, not battling with one another so arduous. I actually prefer it. I believe it is supplied up a wholly totally different technique to inform our storyline, that these two persons are simpatico now, that they are not battling with one another and the way one another police or how one another react to conditions personally a lot anymore.
I believe it is protected to say that the actor is appropriate that followers like how Burgess and Ruzek have moved previous their years of relationship turmoil, and it is definitely an improve from the unhappy story of what occurred to finish Upstead after Jesse Lee Soffer’s departure as Jay Halstead. Flueger went on:
They perceive one another as they at all times have, however they do not battle in opposition to one another a lot. Now they’ve time to band collectively and battle in opposition to or battle for the issues that they consider in, collectively or individually. And I believe that is actually cool. It is simple to have relationship turmoil on TV. I believe it is more durable, from a writing standpoint, storytelling standpoint, to have two individuals truly simpatico and proceed to create drama between these two of us.
Parenthood has accomplished so much to inspire the characters to calm down and create stability for Makayla, and scenes with Burzek at house have given a glimpse of the routines that they’ve constructed with one another and their daughter. I famous to Flueger that it is arduous to think about Ruzek embracing a lot domesticity ten years in the past, and he responded:
I believe it is like artwork imitates life on some degree, as a result of I agree. I agree, however I believe perhaps he is settled into it in a shocking method for him. I believe he is stunned with how a lot he settled into it. That is the higher technique to put it, and the way snug it’s. I believe he is a contentious particular person. I believe they’re each strong-willed, however once more, relatively than combating in opposition to one another so arduous, they take that power they usually push and battle for and in opposition to the issues that they consider in or consider needs to be modified.
In fact, that is nonetheless Chicago P.D. we’re speaking about, so the characters are going to run into some type of strife even when it isn’t with one another. Whereas it stays to be seen who the “sudden customer” is who causes some bother for Burgess and Ruzek, the case with a younger woman in want of assist goes to hit near house for the Intelligence officer. I requested Patrick John Flueger how excessive the stakes are for the case of “Zoe,” and he shared:
That is such an attention-grabbing query. I do not know if I may give it a one by ten. I imply, I believe it is extra necessary to Ruzek simply because he is the primary level of contact with this child and he meets her in such unlucky and shocking circumstances that I simply assume he actually takes it on in a method that not all of us can take it on. There’s gotta be some individuals which might be somewhat extra grounded. He isn’t essentially the most grounded out of the crew, however clearly with a child, and there is additionally different useless kids concerned, different useless relations, everybody’s very pushed. However the method by which he meets this baby is so jarring that wanting in her eyes for the primary time might be one thing that he’ll take into consideration earlier than he goes to sleep for a very long time, whether or not the case will get resolved or not.
Whereas crimes involving tender age youngsters are at all times tough for the Intelligence Unit, Ruzek will really feel related to the little woman from the very starting. It does sound like an ideal episode for the actor, if not essentially for the character’s peace of thoughts as Season 12 continues! Take a look at the promo beneath for a style of what to anticipate:
Watch On
Tune in to NBC on Wednesday, January 22 at 10 p.m. ET for the “Zoe” episode of Chicago P.D. Patrick John Flueger additionally solely had excessive reward for the younger actress taking part in the titular character, so yow will discover out why fairly quickly. As at all times, P.D. airs immediately after Chicago Fireplace at 9 p.m. ET and Chicago Med at 8 p.m. ET. You can even discover each episode of One Chicago thus far streaming on Peacock forward of the crossover occasion on January 29.