Chicago PD wastes no time diving into its emotional core with the season premiere, “Ten Ninety-Nine.” At its heart, this episode isn’t just about the drug case driving the plot forward it’s about Voight’s unraveling grief and the team’s struggle to keep pace with the man who usually keeps them steady. Here's my recap and review.
Voight’s Unraveling
Jason Beghe delivers another powerhouse performance as Voight, but this time with subtlety rather than brute force. We watch him wrestle with the aftermath of Upton’s departure, and it’s the small choices that sting the most: the repeated shirt changes, the sudden freezes at crime scenes, the moments where saving a victim feels like reliving his own brush with death. These aren’t just visual beats; they’re a haunting reminder of a leader fraying at the edges.
Chapman as Anchor
The only person who notices Voight’s spiral is A.S.A. Chapman. Their growing connection has been one of the quieter arcs on the show, but here it takes center stage. Chapman doesn’t just provide legal counsel, she offers grounding, even borrowing Upton’s own calming techniques to try and reach him. It’s a smart narrative move: Chapman isn’t a replacement for Upton, but she’s a mirror for the audience, giving us someone to process Voight’s unraveling alongside. Whether their relationship deepens into romance remains to be seen, but their bond already adds a necessary emotional counterweight.
A Shocking Cliffhanger
Of course, Chicago PD wouldn’t be itself without a late-episode adrenaline spike. Just as things begin to settle, Ruzek (or “Ruzkie,” as fans might start calling him) and Detective Martel come under fire in a shocking drive-by. The sequence is quick and brutal, leaving Martel shot and the team and viewers reeling. The cliffhanger smartly ties back to the show’s pilot episode, reminding us that danger on the streets of Chicago is always just around the corner.
Final Thoughts
“Ten Ninety-Nine” is a confident, emotionally layered start to the season. Instead of leaning solely on action, it digs into grief, leadership, and the cost of carrying too much pain for too long. Beghe’s performance is awards-worthy, Chapman continues to be one of the best additions to the ensemble, and the cliffhanger ensures fans will be counting the days until the next episode.
Rating: 9.5/10
Chicago PD airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
What did you think of the premiere? Do you see Chapman becoming more central to Voight’s story this season? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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