After Chicago P.D. Brought Back An Old Character (With Very New Issues), Is Patrick John Flueger Hinting At Another Returning Character?

by

Spoilers ahead for Episode 10 of Chicago P.D. Season 12, called “Zoe.”

In the 2025 TV lineup, Chicago P.D. made its comeback following a week’s break, but the postponement of the new One Chicago episode proved to be worth it as Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) took center stage in a deeply emotional case. This was further complicated by the sudden appearance of his father, Jack Coleman’s character. It was revealed that Bob Ruzek is battling late-stage Alzheimer’s, leading Ruzek to make a significant decision that impacts not only Burgess and Makayla but also his own life. Flueger discussed Coleman’s return with TopMob, hinting subtly that Bob may not be the only Chicago P.D. character returning after an extended absence.

Ruzek And The Return Of His Dad

Without previously informing him, Bob unexpectedly arrived at the police station, identified as “Zoe”. While Adam was pleased to see his father, the timing could not have been more inconvenient for an unscheduled visit from Florida. The Intelligence Unit officer had just begun interacting with a girl who claimed her name was Zoe, but soon discovered that she had been involved in murder and had been held by a man who wasn’t her real father for a long time. This case turned out to be one of the most grisly from Season 12, necessitating the full attention of the team. However, either Adam or Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) needed to be present with his dad due to this sudden visit.

I found myself in a predicament, as it became evident that something was amiss with me. I misplaced cases and missed deadlines while insisting everything was under control, and even struggled to shave without noticing I’d left the safety cap on. Eventually, I confessed to Adam that my condition was Alzheimer’s, which had progressed further than I initially led on. In a month, I intended to relocate to a Florida facility. However, my son refused this arrangement and insisted I move back to Chicago so he could provide care for me instead.

Despite Bob giving Adam a heads-up that things would turn sour, it seemed Adam didn’t consult Kim before making the decision. Regardless, they both agreed that Adam would return to Chicago, and Jack Coleman wouldn’t be a one-time guest in Season 12 of “P.D.”. This led me to ask Patrick John Flueger about his experience working with Coleman again, given that Coleman’s character hadn’t been on the show since Season 8 (in 2021).

It was straightforward. Jack’s the type of person you can effortlessly continue conversations as if no time has passed. He’s an approachable individual, genuinely likable. Our team adores him, so returning to work felt like coming home. However, the narrative he’s crafting is hard to envision being executed better. His contributions have been immense. Moreover, we share a strong understanding, having collaborated for years, and it’s safe to say that our relationship leans towards mentorship from him.

Adam and Bob haven’t always shared a smooth bond, with their complex past yet to be fully unraveled in the series. This intricate history could unfold as Season 12 progresses, perhaps through recollections before more of Bob’s memories fade away or Adam revealing details about their past. Fingers crossed that Bob’s invitation doesn’t strain Adam and Kim’s close bond this season. I’m hopeful following some hints from the showrunner! Flueger added:

In a more casual sense, I prefer not to use the term “father-son.” Instead, I admire him greatly and value our relationship. His dedication to his work is inspiring, which made it seamless to continue our storyline. It was wonderful reconnecting with him, and he’ll be back in future episodes this season. We look forward to seeing more of him.

Prior to discussing the recent significant episode involving Ruzek with Flueger, I revisited Jack Coleman’s earlier appearances on Chicago P.D., and it caught me off guard to notice that he had only appeared in three episodes before “Zoe.” (All these episodes can currently be streamed with a Peacock subscription.)

It wasn’t unexpected that Bob was away for a while, given his disagreement with his father way back in Season 8. However, it seems they reconciled behind the scenes. I mentioned to Flueger that Coleman makes a big impact on the series despite having fewer initial appearances, and he concurred.

You’re correct – when he arrives or appears, he definitely leaves an impression. I concur. He exudes such charisma, which I believe was perfect for our dynamic in the story. To be honest, I regretted not having a friend introduce my character’s father to the casting director earlier. Looking back now, I’m grateful because I can’t picture anyone else playing that role, even though he would have been excellent. Jack simply embodies goodness, so when his character falls short in certain aspects, like struggles with gambling or excessive drinking, it doesn’t make us dislike him. Instead, we see a man trying his best to cope with his flaws.

From Patrick John Flueger’s remarks, it is confirmed that Jack Coleman will reprise his role as Bob Ruzek in upcoming episodes of Season 12. Given how “Zoe” concluded, this return seems fitting. However, Flueger also provided some insights about his character during this season, leaving me to ponder: could he be implying the return of another beloved character?

Is Chicago P.D. Bringing Back Another Member Of The Ruzek Family?

As a movie critic looking back on the latest season of Chicago P.D., it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen any members of Adam’s family beyond his future wife Kim, daughter Makayla, and now dad Bob. However, a subtle mention from Patrick John Flueger has me pondering if there might be a return for the character of Kate Ruzek, who played a significant role in a Season 5 storyline despite only appearing once. Could she be making a comeback?

While Flueger didn’t directly mention this, it’s clear that he is mindful of the fact that Bob has more children than just Adam. It’s rare for anyone to bring up Bob’s other child, his daughter, in their conversations. In his statement, he simply said:

When people refer to him as Disco Bob, it’s not a compliment. In essence, he reclaimed the term, much like communities do with words intended to hurt them. He transformed Disco Bob into something personal. It’s important to note that Disco Bob wasn’t a bad cop; I believe he simply aimed to raise his children well, and he was doing it alone. Unfortunately, he may not have become the officer he aspired to be, but he was an excellent father, despite occasional missteps. Everyone makes mistakes, after all. He stands out because, even when doing questionable things, you can sense a genuine intent behind them, making him endearing. Jack has made Bob into a good man, I believe.

Could it be that I’m attributing too much significance to Flueger using “kids” instead of “kid”? There might be a reasonable explanation for this, as the actor also pointed out Adam’s sister when I brought up his role as a father. He stated, “I have really embraced fatherhood.

It seems to me that he has a knack for connecting with children, and it’s as if his personal life mirrors his acting roles. I just feel he truly understands. His niece’s son is particularly close to him, suggesting a long-standing bond. I believe this relationship brings him immense joy. He possesses an inner childlike quality himself. Having become a father might have been the catalyst for him to mature slightly.

In simpler terms, it seems Patrick John Flueger hints that his character Adam has a close bond with his nephew, who is specifically mentioned as Kate Ruzek’s son, Sam. Additionally, Bob returns with a serious illness in Season 5, an event that may bring the family together. Given these details, I speculate that Kate and Sam (either young or older, considering the time gap) might make their first appearance in Season 5, possibly with Elise Randall and Brady Sherman reprising their roles as well.

Indeed, they made an appearance in just one episode of Chicago P.D., but their presence created a series of problems for Ruzek at CPD during Season 5. He was coerced by Denny Woods (Mykelti Williamson), who found out that Adam had used his influence to help his sister escape a DUI charge that could have led to her losing custody of her son. Over the past few years, it’s intriguing to envision Burzek having spent quality time with his sister off camera.

We won’t discover the details until a fortnight or so has passed, however, it’s worth noting that the much-anticipated One Chicago crossover is imminent! On January 29th, Chicago P.D. will collaborate with Chicago Fire and Chicago Med, as one actor put it, “resembling the One Chicago equivalent of Avengers: Endgame.” Don’t miss out on a thrilling evening of prime-time entertainment, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Read More

2025-01-23 17:38