As a seasoned gamer and Chicago P.D. enthusiast with over a decade of watching this gripping police drama, I must say that the recent episode, “Blood Bleeds Blue,” was an emotional rollercoaster that truly tested the mettle of Detective Jay Halstead (Patrick John Flueger).
Spoilers ahead for Episode 2 of Chicago P.D. Season 12, called “Blood Bleeds Blue.”
In “Chicago P.D.”, it’s always a challenging situation for Ruzek when Patrick John Flueger takes center stage. This was particularly true in the 2024 TV schedule episode titled “Blood Bleeds Blue”. After the shocking finale of Season 12 where Detective Martel was shot in the head, leaving Ruzek powerless to intervene, the second episode showed how he coped with her death. This was a difficult task for him, as he spent most of the hour with blood on his hands, even though he wasn’t responsible for it.
In a conversation with TopMob, actor Patrick John Flueger discussed the episode, sharing his thoughts on how the scene could have unfolded differently if Burgess had been present and revealing some behind-the-scenes factors that intensified the emotional impact for viewers.
Would Ruzek Had Processed Better With Burgess?
Although Marina Squerciati remains a member of the cast in Chicago P.D., she didn’t appear in the first two episodes of Season 12 because her character, Burgess, was attending the NAWLEE conference. (The real-world explanation might be due to budget constraints.) Ruzek managed his job well with Martel as a partner, but things took a turn when she got shot, causing him to stay on high alert for most of the following episode.
In a recent chat with star Patrick John Flueger, I delved into the surprising twist of the series premiere and his vision for Ruzek’s final chapter. Naturally, I couldn’t resist asking about how Ruzek might have navigated Martel’s demise if Burgess had been by his side during the aftermath. Flueger graciously opened up:
It’s possible that his ego prompted him to exert extra effort to appear stronger during the situation, given that his fiancé is observing him, which is a typical behavior among men. The phrase, “I need to be a man!” might have been his response. However, once the incident occurs, things move rapidly, and it seems like there’s no time for him to pause and reflect or process emotions as much as one would prefer.
Throughout much of the episode, Detective Ruzek found himself teamed up with Officer Kiana Cook (played by new series regular Toya Turner), who just so happened to be nearby when Martel was shot. Cook shared enough insights about her background for Ruzek to pick up on a deeper backstory as to why she was on patrol duty, but he had other pressing matters occupying his thoughts.
How Chicago P.D. ‘Leveled Up’ With Episode 2
“The song ‘Blood Bleeds Blue’ fit perfectly with the end of the premiere, and it resonated deeply with Ruzek’s emotions. It wasn’t something that fans would have caught just by watching the episode.
I inquired if Patrick John Flueger had been filming straight from the finale of Season 12’s premiere (which is now streaming on Peacock) up until the beginning of Episode 2. He affirmed that this was indeed the case.
We shot that scene where she gets shot, and then the continuation of it was all shot on one day.
As a devoted fan, I can understand the logic behind shooting both parts of a scene on the same day, but “Chicago P.D.” is typically a series that rotates directors, often inviting past stars like Jesse Lee Soffer to direct in Seasons 10 and 11. In an interesting twist, Jay Halston Flueger shared that there were actually two different directors from the Season 12 premiere to the episode following it straightaway.
Chad Saxton, our lead producer, took charge of directing Episode 1, followed by Victor Macias helming Episode 2, and the process carried on. Both of them are incredibly gifted individuals, with Victor having a knack for emotional storytelling. He immerses himself deeply in his work, often struggling to sleep after a day on set. As our primary camera operator, he is well-acquainted with me, more so than any other director we’ve had the pleasure of working with. When it’s time to wrap up a scene or move on to the next, I would usually remind him, “Vic, check in with this guy.” This is because he understands my style better than anyone else who might step into that role.
Kick off the new season with a two-part episode, both directed by Chad Saxton, who not only holds the executive producer position but also helmed the memorable 200th episode of Chicago P.D.. Following him in the director’s chair is Victor Macias, who has a deep understanding of the cast. These episodes demanded an accurate portrayal of Ruzek’s emotions, a task perfectly suited to them as well as Flueger. The actor further emphasized:
1) He becomes quite emotional while handling the camera, it’s astonishing. I couldn’t have hoped for a more perfect duo, transitioning from Chad to him. And contrary to popular belief, Chad isn’t a robot; he has a massive heart. Both of them possess an eye for cinematography. These initial episodes seem extremely cinematic to me – they look impressive, they look superb, and I feel we’ve stepped up our game.
It’s tough not to appreciate Chicago P.D. premiering in a more “film-like” manner this time around, as the two-part structure gave the story longer run time, resembling a movie instead of a typical procedural episode. In the future, the narrative will center around the character of Atwater. Here’s a sneak peek at the upcoming episode:
Tune in every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET for fresh episodes of Chicago P.D., featuring Ruzek and his team. As usual, it airs right after Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. ET and precedes Chicago Med at 8 p.m. ET, both on NBC. If you’d like to catch up on past episodes of these series, they’re available for streaming on Peacock.
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2024-10-03 06:07