Chicago P.D. Recap: Dark Secrets Finally Come to Light in a Pivotal Episode
Ever since Upton was forced to kill Roy in Chicago P.D.‘s Season 8 finale, she hasn’t quite been herself. Although Voight urged the Intelligence cop to learn how to cope with the guilt, having to lie to everyone — including her fiancé — has been eating away at her, and Halstead has begun noticing. This week’s episode, titled “In the Dark,” finally brought that painful secret to light as the team took on a disturbing case that also pushed Upton to her emotional limits.
THE CASE | It’s always refreshing to see Chicago P.D. switch up the pairings, and Wednesday’s episode gave us an Upton and Ruzek team-up. However, the unique pairing occurred under awful circumstances: the brutal discovery that a child was tortured and abused while being held captive in a basement. It was unclear whether he escaped or was killed, and Intelligence immediately went to work on figuring out what happened.
The team eventually found the boy, only to uncover more disturbing details: He was one of eight boys who’d been abducted — the other seven were murdered. Plus, another boy was still alive and needed help. The case forced Upton to work throughout night, and the signs of wear and tear on her conscience were starting to show. Her eyes were gaunt, she had trouble remembering things and seemed unsure of herself. She angrily interrogated the real estate agent in charge of the house and explained the real reason they needed his help.
After stepping away to wash her face and hopefully pull herself together, she returned to find that said agent attempted suicide. The brutal scene proved to be the final straw for Upton, who broke down and blamed herself for not adequately searching him for weapons. Halstead helped her through the panic attack, assuring her she did nothing wrong. (Platt did confirm they searched the guy, but Upton’s memory had been foggy.)
The team eventually identified their main suspect as the real estate agent’s brother. They found the boy alive and relatively unharmed, and Upton was forced to kill the culprit during a brief scuffle.
THE AFTERMATH | Halstead already had his suspicions about what really happened with Roy, and Voight’s concerned look during Upton’s panic attack only seemed to confirm they hadn’t told him everything. Following up on his request for GPS coordinates, he learned that they were sent through “police mail,” but he somehow never received them. He tracked the coordinates to the field where Voight buried Roy’s body, half knowing the inquiry would probably alert his Intelligence boss. When Voight pulled up in his truck, it was finally time to get to the truth.
Voight explained that Upton saved his life when Roy reached for his gun, and that he never wanted her there. “Jay, you can be mad at me,” he tells Halstead. “You can be as angry as you want, but now you know, so help her.”
Halstead was not having it. “You did this to her! You dragged her down with you!” he hit back. When Voight told him, “I don’t think you know the woman you’re sleeping next to,” Halstead responded with a hard punch to the face. JAY!!!!
Halstead reminded Voight that he and Atwater found Burgess without crossing a line — just good police work. Meanwhile, Voight went the opposite route and failed. Halstead stormed off, leaving Voight to contemplate that thought alone in the field.
The episode ended with Upton waking up in bed and finding Halstead staring back at her from the door. She knows he knows, and now there is a big conversation to be had. It’s going down.
How did you feel about this week’s episode? What do you think will happen now that Halstead knows the truth about Roy? Sound off in the comments below!
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s toll-free number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
A unique pairing would’ve been Atwater and Upton… Have they ever partnered up?… Also did he ever partner up with Erin? Ruzek and Upton dated.. Nothing unique there…
Jay is such a simp! I wish he was off the team, due to his sanctimonious temper tantrums. And don’t get me started on Hailey because she is the worst. First, she wanted to be like Voight. And when things got all too real for her, she crumbles like the weakling she really is. Both characters can go for all I care.
I AGREE totally! I am so done with both Haley and Halsted and always Burgess near death there are other members of this team!!!
Burgess can’t take another bullet.
I wanted to reach through the screen and slap Jay. He’s always strutting around trying to play God. Who does he think he is? He needs to get off the show and take Sanctimonious Sally with him. Replace them with two new detectives who aren’t always acting like their 💩 don’t stink.
And yet he’s almost crossed the line a few times? And then gets all sanctimonious when Voight does it? Please……I’m also tired of Burgess hooking up with every other person on the show and then getting beat up or shot. It’s sad and worse yet, it’s boring! I miss Al and Dawson!
totally agree
It must be so awesome to be Jay, you can pick and choose when it’s ok to break the law. Jay knew and had the confession of a Dad that murdered a drug dealer to avenge his son’s death. Jay had no problem making sure the murder weapon wouldn’t be found and coaching him to keep his mouth shut. There are certainly other instances, and nothing pisses me of more than a self righteous prick. If he had never done anything wrong or crossed the line before it might be easier to swallow but that’s not the case. Voight should have beat that punk down.
Jay has crossed many a line, now let’s see what happens tonight, will he have Upton’s back? Will he apologize to Voight…..hmmm, let’s see 😉
Yes! You expressed exactly what I’m feeling.
I have never warmed to the Upton character and still REALLY miss Sophia Bush.
OMG, I wish she would come back.
Sophia Bush was the best! Jay Halstead doesn’t look at Hailey the way he looked at Erin! Ha!
Jason Begh needed to be dumped after 1st season and Bush would have stayed.. Sexual harresment.
Well said!
Well said, Donovan 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
On Jay’s worst day, he’s still not even half as annoying as his brother on Chicago Med.
I like both characters, but you’re right, I don’t get Hailey being upset about Roy after all the stuff she did on her own last season.
I just couldn’t believe the terrible writing of this episode. I am totally done with Halstead – He truly thinks everything he does, feels and expressed is Truth. This character has got to go. As for Hailey and feeling guilty after all the things she has done – I can’t buy it. If this show continues down this poor writing avenue – off my recorder is goes!
Shooting Roy was clean, I don’t know why Voight buried him like that.
Thank you.
So true.
Bravo!
Totally Agree with you – they need to remove Jay from the show. He is a righteous know-it-all. His smirking face really gets under my skin. He needs to go!!
Halstead’s the worst. Needs to be knocked off his high horse. Being a little too sanctimonious.
People seem to forget or want to forget he got all impulsive and got an innocent man like Marcus West killed and he’s pissed because Voight did the same to the guy who shot Kim like a dog. If anyone is least qualified to be moral its Halstead.
Remember when Halstead slept with the drug dealer?
He’s only slightly better than his brother on Chicago Med. He annoys the crap out of me too!
Not a fan of Halstead. Needs to be put in his place. Always second guessing Voight ; example: last year’s incident with Anne Hech character.
I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying watching Hailey fall apart. That woman is more FOS than an overflowing commode. She had no problem setting up Darius to be killed or planting 2 kilos of heroin in that drug dealer’s car. She has no problem with crossing lines as long as she doesn’t get caught. Now she comes unglued because she thinks this time she might be in trouble. Voight should throw her out of the unit and send her back where she came from. And as for Goody Two Shoes Halstead, he’s as obnoxious as she is, acting all saintly and sanctimonious. If he has a problem with Voight, he should do like Voight told him and get the hell out.
Cannot believe he slugged Voight…
I can’t believe Voight let him do it.
I wanted to reach into the TV and return the favor 🤬
I love this take. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Absolutely THIS!
She crying over killing the white guy, but didn’t have a problem getting Darius killed….miss me with the bull💩
I love Hailey. I love Jay. But I love Hank Voight most of all. I have an imaginary list of IRL people I wish he would take to the silos…
Why is Halstead still in Intelligence?? He can transfer to a new team! Always acting like he’s so high and mighty and judging Voight. Uhm you have a few shady moments too, buddy! If the show runners see these comments, Halstead has nothing to offer. He can go!
Ooh but this episode was great!! Love Upton. A great pairing to “talk it out” would be Upton and Atwater. I wish a new female joins the squad.
The episode was awesome but Casey can’t leave!! And it’s time for Jay to step up and help Hailey without being all judgmental and upity about it. She’s not handling what happened so Jay needs to step up and help her!!
I’m not a Upton fan but Voight set her up to make sure she would kill that guy, He leaned into that perp to make sure he grabbed his gun, Upton had no choice but to shoot him. After saying that, the squad with the leadership of Voight is crooked as the day is long and I don’t like it. He gets away with too much and it’s frustrating.
That’s what makes him so good. He told Upton to leave the scene, by the way.
I thought that too!!! Voight didn’t want you here but since you are…. I’m gonna make sure my weapons is easily accessible to the bad guy so you’ll be forced to shoot!! Done this before LOL
Voight is only what he has to be. A career in Chicago, a city that averages 2+ murders a day and has the most crooked politicians of any city in the United States has molded him into someone who gets results in a city and department where everything is stacked against you.
What? I’ve seen every Chicago PD episode at least 3 times. Saying voight set her up to shoot him is ridiculous. She showed up on her own cause of her sanctimonious hypocrisy. Upton had no choice but to shoot because of voight tricking her? What? She pulled the trigger not voight. Seriously I don’t understand your logic at all
Get rid of halstead and Upton. Jay is to nosey and needs to know everything. Upton tries to be tough and she is not and she can hardheaded. Sometimes think is above everybody else when it comes certain situations.
Jay needs to get pissed at Upton. I wonder how he’s going to feel when he finds out the whole truth on how he shot the guy who saw Upton and Voight so he wouldn’t tattle on them. Jay needs to dump her and she needs to leave . She is ruining Jay and this show. She is toxic
How can Voight keep Halstead on team after he punched him. Is he leaving show?
Does my memory deceive me didn’t Voight help Jay out of a messy situation early on in this series???
He sure did….many situations.
The above comments are brilliant & spot on!!
I totally agree that Halstead & Upton should leave the show – they are nauseatingly phony,self – righteous, sanctimonious narcissists & should ride off into the sunset on their high horse
The show can only get better with new detectives in their place under Vought’s leadership!!
I get what they’re trying to establish with Jay, as being the polar opposite of Voight, these wee Voights on words on numerous occasions when he’s tried to explain how he “needs” Jay to be Jay. My only issue is that Jay has innumerable occasions when he has compromised his values in his way. Remember him getting sexually involved with the sister of a suspect, who turned out to be the real drug dealer. It was Haley, his partner, who caught on, knew he was sleeping with her and covered for him while trying to get him to keep his focus on the case and make the arrest. They’ve made Jay the “moral” representative and the opposite of Voight, but I think Atwater fits that role better. I’d say just bring Jay down off of his superior horse for a second, have him work it out with Haley, and for christ’s sake, give brother Atwater a little friggin love!!! He needs a girlfriend for once! JS
Ditto. What worked with Antonio was that Antonio never judged Voight for doing shady stuff and he even knew if it was Voight doing it then it was it good hands and Voight always trusted Antonio to be the one to be the moral one. Given all the crap Jay has pulled he lost the right to be the paragon of morality long ago he comes off as a hypocrite.
I’m tired of it being the Haley Upton show.
Tracy really knocked it out of the park. Her acting is always great, and the scene where Hailey had the panic attack just felt so raw and brought me to tears. Seeing Voight get punched… that was satisfying.
I am a Chicago P.D die-hard STAN, but I don’t like the writer’s making Upton all soft and pink….I mean Hailey. Halstead is another story, personally, if he doesn’t want to be in Intelligence, he can kindly leave…he’s starting to get on my nerve.
O.T: I don’t like the character, Deputy Miller.
What did Deputy Miller do to you haha? She’s literally done nothing wrong and we barely see her. Didn’t even use Voight’s advice about finding her kid and look what happened. I want more of her though!! :D
😁 well, I’m currently watching season 8 episode when we first meet Dep. Miller…she just rubbed me wrong the way she came off, maybe it’s her wig…IDK 🤷🏾♀️
I’m an Upton superfan. Wow she’s a great actress!
I’m a 76 year old great grandmother, and I LOVE Chicago PD. I love Voight, Upton, Ruzek and Atwater. We can’t forget Platt. Great show! Great cast!
I see what they’re trying to do with Halstead. They’re trying to make him the new “Antonio” of the show (still wish they kept him and/or Al). However; it would be best of they add another character whose senior, knows Voight beforehand, and already “by the book.” That type of character is what they’re really missing now. Antonio and Al had to ability to communicate with Voight, in ways that rest of the cast can’t. Unlike Hailey they weren’t allured by how Voight polices. As far as the story line, I forsee Voight telling the team what truly transpired, Jay helps Hailey cope, and the Feds getting more involved with Roy’s disappearance.
STOP trying to make Upton a victim, she’s not, she’s got form, she walked away from shooting a guy knowing Voight was going to dispose of the body & then covered it up for weeks just to save her own ass.
The writers, however have done a great job of diminishing the trauma of victims of crime by completely ignoring Burgess, to focus on poor little victim Upton. Give me a break.
A story about kids being kidnapped, tortured, abused and Burgess does not even raise an eyebrow, nobody checks in to see if she’s okay? Must be that magic medicine they hand out over at Chicago Med. Yet this season so far has had three out of four episodes dedicated to the showrunner’s obsession who can’t cross the street without having a crisis.
*🎤 drop*
If Jay has a job, it will be a miracle
TV Line: “Ever since Upton was forced to kill Roy…”
Uh, no. Hailey had agency in that decision, and Jay’s conclusion that what happened was *all* Voight’s fault didn’t sit well with me. Hailey has made morally questionable choices before (I.e., setting up Darius to be killed), and I don’t like the idea that Voight “dragged her down” as if she were an innocent child.
That said, Tracy Spiridakos was phenomenal and really made you feel Hailey’s crushing guilt and downward spiral. The case was incredibly sad and affecting, as well. Great episode overall, IMO.
Halstead needs to suck it up and;help his woman get back to herself and then do his job.You can’t win all the time without some how stepping over the line.g
I am not a fan of Halstead and Upton together. So if they split or Upton leaves, the show will be better.
I did like Upton but her weepy, unwarranted and I believe “wanted” kill is just a little bit to swallow. She is more like Voight than she realizes but she does not she wants to be another him! I can’t buy her feeling guilty – it was a good shot – a great kill! Her know-it-all, purer than God boyfriend Jay has got to be taken off the show. His character is unbearable. You don’t join a unit like this, work for a great man like Hank Voight and be a “good” person. If this is the road this show is going down – it is going to come off my recorder no matter how much I like the show and other characters.