While the Chicago PD season 12 premiere features Intelligence working on numerous cases before solving one before the hour is up, the episode might have also sneakily introduced the show’s next big antagonist. The NBC police procedural’s 12th season comes on the heels of Tracy Spiridakos’ exit as Hailey Upton during the Chicago PD season 11 finale and Hank Voight’s brush with death. Consequently, the Intelligence Unit is undergoing some changes in the new episodes. While searching for Upton’s replacement, many characters are also under a lot of stress, and one addition to the show likely won’t help matters.
New episodes of
Chicago PD
season 12 air on Wednesdays at 10 pm ET on NBC following new episodes of
Chicago Med
at 8 pm ET and
Chicago Fire
​​​​​ at 9 pm ET.
During the Chicago PD season 12 premiere, the Intelligence Unit takes on more cases than they can handle. Voight is burying himself in his work after Upton’s exit and hallucinating Alvin Olinsky in the Chicago PD season 11 finale, and he’s dragging everyone else down with him. The first episode primarily focuses on Voight’s struggles as others worry about him. However, there is one moment during the premiere that suggests Voight’s life is about to get even more difficult, thanks to one new character.
Chicago PD Season 12 Premiere Introduced Deputy Chief Reid
Shawn Hatosy Stars As Charlie Reid
Adam Ruzek has a throwaway line during the shocking Chicago PD season 12 premiere mentioning that the CPD’s new deputy chief, Charlie Reid, is looking into each unit. Not much thought is given to it until Reid actually appears. He introduces himself to Voight and the rest of Intelligence at the crime scene towards the hour’s end. Although Reid doesn’t say anything outrightly suspicious, Voight’s reaction during the scene implies that there’s more than meets the eye to Shawn Hatosy’s character.
Chicago PD Season 12 Cast | Role |
|---|---|
Jason Beghe | Hank Voight |
Patrick John Flueger | Adam Ruzek |
Marina Squerciati | Kim Burgess |
LaRoyce Hawkins | Kevin Atwater |
Amy Morton | Trudy Platt |
Benjamin Levy Aguilar | Dante Torres |
Toya Turner | Kiana Cook |
Sara Bues | Nina Chapman |
Shawn Hatosy | Charlie Reid |
With Rabbit’s blood still on his hands, Voight is approached by Reid in Chicago PD season 12, episode 1. Reid gives him a handkerchief to clean his hands and explains that he heard the call come over the radio and wanted to meet the Intelligence Unit while in action. The conversation between Voight and Reid doesn’t last long, and it ends with Reid praising Voight’s work on the case. But as Reid leaves Voight to introduce himself to Ruzek, Kevin Atwater, Dante Torres, and Emily Martel, the sergeant watches the new Chicago PD season 12 character with suspicion and apprehension in his eyes.
Deputy Chief Reid Is Well-Positioned To Be Chicago PD’s Next Villain
Voight Is On The Verge Of A Breakdown
It won’t be shocking if Reid is Chicago PD season 12’s Big Bad, given the state of Voight’s mental health. He claims he’s fine, but anyone could see that he’s not. Voight is seemingly on the edge of reverting to his old ways and crossing the line between right and wrong while on the job. So, since Voight’s former self could very easily surface in season 12, it makes sense that the One Chicago TV show‘s next villain would be someone within the CPD (and Voight’s boss).
As mentioned above, the way Reid was introduced during “Ten Ninety-Nine” is suspect. Alarm bells seemed to be going off in Voight’s head while meeting and inspecting Reid. Plus, it’s odd that Reid just so happened to be nearby and thought he would drop by and meet Intelligence while they were still reeling from a difficult case. Voight still had blood on his hands for crying out loud. Hatosy serves as a recurring cast member in Chicago PD season 12, though, meaning the next episodes will likely reveal more about Reid and if he truly is an antagonist.
Reid Is Exactly The Antagonist That Chicago PD Season 12 Needs
Chicago PD Thrives While Dealing With CPD Politics
Some of Chicago PD‘s best seasons revolve around Intelligence facing off against a villain who is supposed to be on their side (like Denny Woods). Unfortunately, the show hasn’t significantly dealt with Chicago politics in a while. If Reid is season 12’s Big Bad, though, the NBC police procedural series has the potential to return to its glory days.
Pitting Voight and the rest of Intelligence against Reid would undoubtedly be the smartest play for the show.
The writers can extensively explore Reid’s character and story, making for a thrilling and tension-filled season. Pitting Voight and the rest of Intelligence against Reid would undoubtedly be the smartest play for the show. Given the surprising way the Chicago PD season 12 premiere ended, perhaps viewers can trust the writers to (hopefully) make this season the best one in a long time, which includes appointing Reid as the villain.
