After Chicago P.D.’s Shocking Season 12 Premiere Ending, Is the Team Really Ready For Upton’s Replacement?

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After Chicago P.D.'s Shocking Season 12 Premiere Ending, Is the Team Really Ready For Upton's Replacement?

As a dedicated fan of Chicago P.D., I must say that the Season 12 premiere left me reeling! After the heart-stopping cliffhanger from the Season 11 finale, I was eagerly awaiting the return to the world of One Chicago’s finest. The introduction of Detective Martel was intriguing, and I was looking forward to seeing her dynamic with Ruzek unfold further. However, the sudden and tragic turn of events left me shocked and saddened.

Spoilers are ahead for the Season 12 premiere of Chicago P.D., called “Ten Ninety-Nine.”

In the 2024 TV lineup, Chicago P.D. resumed for Season 12, continuing from where the Season 11 finale (streamable on Peacock with a subscription) ended in the spring. Since then, a whole month has passed since the grueling case that resulted in Upton‘s decision to depart from the Intelligence Unit. Meanwhile, Voight hasn’t fully come to terms with his brink-of-death experience and the hallucination of Olinsky, though it seems he’s been keeping busy by immersing himself and his team in an abundance of cases.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my astonishment over the unexpected and heart-wrenching ending of the recent episode. Regrettably, it seemed that a team member was fatally shot in an instant, leaving me questioning whether our unit is truly prepared for what lies ahead with Upton’s upcoming replacement. This doubt intensifies after hearing some intriguing insights from showrunner Gwen Sigan.

What Happened In The Season 12 Premiere

For enthusiasts of “Chicago P.D.”, it’s reassuring that the One Chicago police drama didn’t initiate Season 12 by eliminating a familiar figure, although Ruzek nearly met his end with a gun pointed at him in “Ten Ninety-Nine”. A character named Martel stepped into Upton’s vacant position within the team during the offseason, and she shared an intriguing rapport with Ruzek that apparently dates back to their time together at the Academy. The show didn’t delay in presenting her, as a blackboard conveniently displayed the names and call signs of all the squad members.

The blackboard had some delightful nods for devoted viewers, as the call signs for Olinsky (5021 Charlie), Halstead (5021 George), and Upton (5021 Henry) were all present. Regrettably, they must remove 5021 Sam from the board since Detective Martel perished in the same episode that introduced her. Alongside Ruzek, she heard gunfire and exited the car to investigate, but unfortunately, she was hit by a bullet to the head while Ruzek could merely stare in disbelief.

As a devoted fan, I must admit I wasn’t taken aback when Martel was sidelined before the episode ended, given she wasn’t the one revealed as the new Intelligence member in Season 12. However, her shocking demise caught me off guard! It was unexpected, especially considering her exceptional performance within the team, her aptitude for the kind of cases Intelligence handles, and her connection with Ruzek through their shared past.

Given the manner in which showrunner Gwen Sigan portrayed the upcoming team member, I find myself pondering whether the others, particularly Ruzek, will be prepared for her.

What To Expect From Toya Turner’s New Character

During the summer, it was announced that actress Toya Turner, who has previously appeared in New Amsterdam and Chicago Fire, would be joining Chicago P.D. as a regular cast member. At the time, not many details were available about her character, only that she would play a patrol officer for CPD. When I recently spoke with Gwen Sigan regarding the upcoming storyline for Burzek, I also inquired about what unique elements Toya Turner’s character would bring to the show. The showrunner revealed:

I’m really looking forward to Toya’s character in this story. She’s an impressive individual. You should know that Toya’s character is Kiana Cook, a seasoned police officer with several years under her belt. This means she’s not new to the scene. She’s a dependable cop, experienced, but when we first encounter her, she’s a beat cop, handling street duty. Essentially, she’s patrolling the streets. As the story unfolds, we’ll delve into her background, understanding why she remains a patrol officer despite her years of service, and uncovering the events that have transpired within the police system. Yet, Toya is someone who exudes confidence in herself.

The arrival of Kiana Cook at Intelligence could potentially lead to engaging interactions with Platt, as a confident cop joining the team might typically be an exciting addition. However, given that she’s stepping into the unit following a tragic loss, it’s not your average scenario. I’m eager to observe how the team adapts to integrating someone who has recently transitioned from patrol into such high-risk and pressure-filled work. Gwen Sigan continued:

She’s a character that doesn’t think she needs validation, really, and she’s an active cop. She likes to be on the street, she likes to be active and boots on the ground. She’s someone that comes in and is able to fall in love with the Intelligence Unit and what it has to offer in a way that we haven’t gotten to see in a while, probably since Torres got to start out on the show. It’s been really nice, and I think it offers up a lot of new relationships and dynamics in the unit, to have this breath of fresh air come in and be somebody new.

In Season 12, it seems possible that one of the established squad members might guide or mentor the newcomer, Cook, similar to how Torres was initially guided by Halstead and later by Atwater. This interaction played a significant role in Torres’ early integration into the team. However, Gwen Sigan notes that Cook brings unique experiences to Intelligence unlike what Torres had, which could affect this mentorship dynamic.

She’s had more years as an officer than Torres, given that we essentially groomed Torres from the academy, making him quite green. On the other hand, she has been in service for a few years now. Her experience spans working on the streets, various districts, and she also holds expertise as a tactical officer, similar to Chicago’s SWAT team. This specialized unit is summoned for critical situations such as serving warrants or confiscating firearms. Interestingly, her police approach encompasses this tactical experience too.

In essence, we’re eager to observe how Martel’s demise influences the members of the Intelligence Unit on Chicago P.D., given that this show doesn’t typically carry over events from week to week. However, it appears that Ruzek might find it difficult to move past the occurrences of the Season 12 premiere, and I’m particularly intrigued by his response towards Cook rather than anyone else. Don’t forget to catch new episodes of Chicago P.D. every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, following Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. ET and Chicago Med at 8 p.m. ET.

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2024-09-26 06:37