Critic’s Ranking: 4.7 / 5.0
4.7
Don’t you hate it whenever you’re making an attempt to stroll by way of life as a reformed, advanced particular person, however then somebody decides they’ve to check your gangsta?
Hank freaking Voight is about to be an issue, and Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 21 served as one hell of a penultimate hour in opposition to Intelligence’s most formidable foe in years.
You can see the precise second Darkish Voight clocked in after Reid stripped Burgess of her badge, jailed Torres, and disbanded Intelligence till additional discover.
Shawn Hatosy’s Reid is Chicago PD’s Biggest Villain But
Reid has labored extremely nicely as this season’s large unhealthy, exactly as a result of we haven’t spent a lot time with him, however we nonetheless felt his risk looming over the season.
A part of it’s that Shawn Hatosy is out right here being the toughest working man on tv, staying booked and busy bouncing from one mission to the subsequent and slaying all of them just like the badass thespian he’s.
Sure, I’ll perpetually be a Shawn Hatosy fangirl. Whereas The Pitt’s Jack Abbot has turn out to be one in every of my greatest consolation characters of the season, admittedly, there’s nothing extra fulfilling than Hatosy enjoying a foul man.
It’s the gravel in his voice — the cadence that may be intimidating and threatening, together with that head tilt, posturing, and thousand-yard stare. He’s simply so rattling good at being unhealthy, you already know?
And Reid is downright diabolical. If we didn’t determine that out with how calculated and conniving he’s been all season, all underneath the guise of being Intelligence’s “pal,” then how Otero, a freaking drug seller, mentioned him spoke volumes.
Calculated and Unhinged, Reid is Formidable Past Phrases
There have been so many little methods during which he identified to Voight that one thing isn’t fairly proper with Reid. He implied that Reid isn’t all there, and studying between the strains would recommend that he’s a sadistic psychopath.
We don’t even know all of the issues Reid has been doing within the imply streets of Chicago, however he instills real concern in everybody round him, has an unknown variety of individuals doing his soiled work, and sure has a lot blood on his arms he’d give Carrie a run for her cash.
Reid is a sick, disturbing man, and Chicago PD Season 12 has executed nicely at constructing to that with out essentially beating us over the top with it. This paid off as this hour progressed.
By the second half of “Open Casket,” the viewer doesn’t notice simply how unhealthy issues have been with this man till it’s too late.
Chicago PD has had many grotesque and heartbreaking deaths. We didn’t spend a lot time with Otero or know him too nicely, nevertheless it was nonetheless such a tragedy when Voight stumbled upon that disturbed earth and blood.
Otero is a Shockingly Sympathetic Man
Everybody working to dig him up left a sinking feeling within the pit of the abdomen, and seeing his physique like that was genuinely upsetting. Voight taking it in felt eerily harking back to when he discovered Noah.
What’s subtly interwoven all through this hour is the variety of individuals Voight has misplaced. His complete existence is shrouded in grief, tragedy, and loss. And there’s this concept that possibly if he acquired higher and have become a greater particular person and cop, that loss would elude him, and he wouldn’t face tragedies.
Deep down, Voight seemingly felt as if he had advanced as an individual and shed his outdated ways in which he’d spare the individuals who remained from going through comparable fates and ache, however at varied little factors all through this hour, what hits is that his evolution doesn’t matter. He loses issues anyway, and that may’t stand.
However I’m leaping forward of myself right here.
Otero’s dying was tragic as a result of, regardless of his occupation, what we noticed was a person who misplaced his spouse and beloved his son a lot he needed to maintain him from strolling down an identical path.
It’s the one manner Voight — in one other second that foreshadowed that the outdated model of him was combating its solution to the floor — might leverage him.
Otero would do something to avoid wasting Renny, and sadly, he succeeded, however at a tragic price.
It’s a dying that may influence Voight solely as a result of he seemingly might relate to Otero and promised to maintain Renny secure. In the end, this is only one last item to push Hank to the sting.
Voight Tried to Play It Straight
The hour labored so nicely as a result of Voight has been enjoying this as proper as doable. He’s been following the principles for months, making an attempt to assemble the proof, determine issues out with Chapman, and defend his workforce within the course of.
They’ve investigated Reid so arduous that their shut numbers declined, which is probably going one of many many issues a hypervigilant Reid took notice of within the first place.
Voight, Chapman, and the workforce hit each single wall they may, and I really like that Chicago PD builds to this in order that after we see Voight within the closing moments of the hour, we all know that he genuinely tried all avenues earlier than Reid and circumstances pushed him up to now.
It’s such a genuinely quiet arc and evolution that Voight has had over the previous couple of seasons. But in some way, the collection sticks the touchdown with it even when, to the bare eye, it’s felt as in the event that they sidelined Voight for a bit.
However we will pinpoint how we acquired right here and to this important second in Voight’s improvement, after we see the merging of the outdated with the brand new. It’s so thrilling that I’m frothing on the mouth for this finale!
He’s not the one one who has had these nice character moments, both. There’s been a rising sense of wariness and fraught rigidity surrounding Torres for fairly a while.
Torres’ Destiny is Heartbreaking, However Constructed Up Properly
It’s been arduous to shake the disquieting foreboding feeling that has hung over him since Gloria’s dying. Each time he’s appeared onscreen, rougher, extra sullen, visibly struggling in some regard, my abdomen has twisted in knots, not realizing the place Chicago PD meant to take him.
We’ve seen the little moments with Burgess associated to the job which have implied Reid has an uncommon fixation on her that’s arduous to put.
These little issues have simmered all through the season and are available collectively on this penultimate episode nicely.
Intelligence did the very best they may, nevertheless it’s not surprising that Reid was onto him and even pulled the wool over their eyes in the long run.
However he didn’t simply do this; he yanked the rug from beneath their toes, knee-capped all of them, and knew learn how to make it harm. He’s a masterful villain.
Reid Delivers Final Killshot to Intelligence and Voight
The ultimate bullpen second shakes viewers up as a lot because it does Intelligence, particularly Voight. It was like one calculated blow after the subsequent.
Torres is that this endearing, younger, flawed, however particular particular person on this unit whom everybody genuinely cares for, and Reid and his goons’ arresting him after they’ve tried so arduous to guard him was genuinely upsetting.
Worse but, he’s been struggling for thus lengthy and is so conflicted that he’s the kind who would welcome the punishment — the masochist excellent for a sadistic Reid to direct his consideration. Consequently, he kicked the pet with that transfer.
Stripping Burgess of her badge would rattle Intelligence additional, as she’s been the grounding power that basically introduced the workforce collectively this season. She’s additionally so deeply linked to everybody there; in some ways, she is the workforce’s coronary heart.
Lastly, disbanding Intelligence was the headshot for Voight as a result of it’s actually all he has left. It’s his objective, calling, his complete life.
With Nothing Left to Lose, Darkish Voight Emerges
And earlier moments within the hour solidified that notion as Chapman mused about Voight clinging to the previous — his mantle like a shrine to everybody he beloved and misplaced however nonetheless holds expensive — his happiness frozen in time with them.
Intelligence is his life’s blood. He’s given every thing to it and misplaced every thing to it, too.
Chapman has been prodding a bit into who Voight is, and he or she’s gotten nice perception right into a vulnerability reserved for few. She can also be conscious of his darkness, however extra susceptible to seeing him because the advanced person who he has been.
He beforehand admitted to her throughout Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 18 that he doesn’t know the place the road is. That’s why it’s really easy for Voight to cross it and go too far into the darkish aspect.
The implication of Chapman’s promise to him and her total presence is that she can be that line for him — she’d be there by his aspect to ensure he doesn’t cross, pull him again when he will get too far.
Chapman Can’t Assist Voight Keep the Line
Mockingly, not solely is she this fashion, however Kiana is as nicely. Whereas the characters skipping out on episodes may be irritating, I can recognize the moments once they make it work nicely with the writing.
She’s one other one who challenges Voight, and his not being there by way of all of that is one other factor that doesn’t safeguard him from diving into the deepest, darkest model of himself.
Chapman is aware of sufficient to grasp that Reid’s newest chess transfer will break Voight, and he or she confirmed up simply as we knew she would.
However Voight’s not responding to her was thrilling. Voight staring into the mirror, going through himself and who he’s at his core, was such a incredible remaining second.
Voight assembly his outdated self within the mirror, making peace with it, and permitting that model of him to overhaul is such a satisfying improvement, notably for many who usually marvel if this outdated canine actually did be taught new tips and forgot all else.
He hasn’t, and he had little interest in opening the door to one of many few individuals who might persuade him to face down and hold the darkness at bay.
Chicago PD Might Have Let Voight Off the Leash (And I’m Hype!)
Reid simply took every thing from Voight and harm the one household he has left within the course of. He’s not fascinated by redemption proper now — he needs vengeance.
Voight is able to go well with up as an avenging angel, Reid’s executioner. And it’s one thing we will universally agree upon this time.
He tried every thing else, and now it’s time to let the monster off his leash.
On this case, it takes a monster to beat one, and the season finale must be epic.
Bits and Bobs:
- The director and DOP have been incredible throughout this hour, however probably the greatest moments was Torres on the funeral. The lighting, the spiritual imagery, and the foreshadowing have been top-tier.
- Poor Kiana takes a day or two off, and her work husband is imprisoned. Her sister misplaced her badge. Her bros are able to rage over all of this, and so they disbanded Intelligence. Goodness!
- Trudy makes her few seconds of screentime rely each single time!
- I beloved the Burgwater scenes a lot. I’m so glad they’ve been capable of present us their partnership extra this season.
- Ruzek and Atwater had manner an excessive amount of enjoyable with that rip!
- Chapman spending the night time at Voight’s home. Sure, I’m nonetheless pushing the Voight/Chapman agenda.
- I’ve by no means been so hype concerning the return of Darkish Voight ever!
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