Warning! Spoilers ahead for Chicago PD season 12, episode 9, “Friends and Family"Midway through the year,Chicago PDseason 12 is already treating Hailey Upton’s Intelligence replacement better than it did Tracy Spiridakos' detective. Joining the NBC and Wolf Entertainment franchise on the heels ofSophia Bush’s exit as Erin Lindsey inChicago PD, she immediately became an important part of Hank Voight’s core team. That said, the last couple of years before her ultimate decision to leave the Windy City was harrowing, to say the least. Almost all members of Intelligence have experienced some kind of trauma, but Upton’s stretch of tragedies was not only heartbreaking, but it’s also frustrating.
Arguably the most infuriating part of Upton’s arc inChicago PDwas her failed marriage with Jay Halstead. Starting as professional partners, the pair eventually fell in love and got married in secret. That said, due toJesse Lee Soffer’s disappointing departure inChicago PDseason 10, the police procedural left Upton alone, lonely, and confused. Wanting a fresh start, she opted to leave Chicago altogether. This created a void in Voight’s team, which forced them to finallybring in a new character as Upton’s replacement in Toya Turner’s Kiana Cook.
Kiana Cook Gets Her Backstory Properly Explored
Cook Comes From Two Very Different Worlds
Cook started out as a patrol officer under Trudy Platt inChicago PDseason 12. Briefly, it seemed like the One Chicago procedural was going to resurrect that aspect of its storytelling, but it became evident that it was only a matter of time before Cook was brought in upstairs, especially after the harrowingmurder of Martel in theChicago PDseason 12 premiere. Wolf Entertainment didn’t waste time making her mark in Intelligence, and in “Friends and Family,” the show delves into her background properly, with the introduction of her father and mother.
Chicago PD Season 12 Highlights The One Lesson It Refuses To Learn That Will Save It (Again)
Despite proof that it’s the best way to handle its storytelling, Chicago PD just refuses to learn the lesson that will save the One Chicago show.
As it turns out, Cook’s lineage is a little bit more complicated and interesting than everything thatChicago PDhas done thus far. She is the product of a one-time thing between her parents, who come from very different social classes. Her dad, William Cook, is middle class, while her mom, Patricia Dixon, is from an affluent family. Cook clearly has a complicated relationship with her maternal side — something thatChicago PDis expected to tackle moving forward, especially since her grandfather supposedly wants to be an alderman.
Hailey Upton’s Backstory Was Only Revealed Through Trauma-Induced Flashbacks
Upton’s History With Platt Was Unexplored
Cook’s family story is an ongoing narrative inChicago PDseason 12, and it’s likely to be part of a bigger storyline down the road. This is a different approach to Upton’s backstory in the show. Over time, certain details about her personal life were revealed, but the majority of it was via trauma-induced flashbacks or through her sharing painful memories while working on a case. It was never a focal point inChicago PD, which is particularly disappointing when one considers her special history with Platt.
Any kind of personal narrative is mostly tied to the relationships within Intelligence, which includes Adam Ruzek and Kim Burgess' romance. Other times, they just so happen to be at the center of a case.
UnlikeChicago Fire, which has made it a point to explore its characters' backstories, its law enforcement counterpart has largely focused on their jobs. Any kind of personal narrative is mostly tied to the relationships within Intelligence, which includes Adam Ruzek and Kim Burgess' romance. Other times, they just so happen to be at the center of a case. Based on what’s revealed about her past, Upton’s narrative had the best potential to be an overarching narrative, as it could relate to Platt’s own backstory. Unfortunately, this wasn’t utilized.
How Kiana Cook’s Backstory Affects Intelligence & Chicago PD
Cook’s Background Offers Chicago PD New Storytelling Opportunities
Cook’s backstory is unique inChicago PD, not just because of how the show is telling it, but also because this is the first time that someone from Intelligence may actually have a pull in Chicago politics. The procedural has yet to introduce his grandfather, but between what’s revealed about his mom and his aspirations to be an alderman, it’s safe to say that he has some kind of influence in the city. This adds toChicago PDreviving Hank playing politics with Deputy Chief Charlie Reid.
Chicago PD Can No Longer Fix Its Worst Character Assassination After Upton’s Exit
After Hailey Upton’s exit, NBC and Wolf Entertainment can never fix Chicago PD’s worst character assassination for an Intelligence member.
Intelligence is not new to going up against bigger adversaries — be it a criminal enterprise or a corrupt member of a governing body. However, Cook having an in with the upper class in Chicago poses new interesting storylines thatChicago PDhasn’t done before — if that is the direction that they are going. As the season goes on, however, NBC and Wolf Entertainment hopefully take advantage of this situation, and not waste it again, just like Upton’s family narrative.
Chicago P.D.
Cast
Chicago P.D.: This police drama, set in Chicago’s District 21, follows the distinct units within the Chicago Police Department—uniformed officers addressing street crimes and an Intelligence Unit tackling major offenses such as organized crime and drug trafficking, capturing the dedication of those who serve and protect their community.
