Chicago PD: Season 1 - Episode Ten - "At Least It's Justice"

“At Least It’s Justice”
Written By: Craig Gore & Tim Walsh
Directed By: Michael Slovis

The Plot: As foreshadowed at the end of the last episode, Halstead is front and centre in the frame for the murder of Lonnie Rodiger, and is suspended by Voight and Commander Perry when they are made aware that he was following Rodiger hours before the murder. Voight is upset with Dawson, who vouched for Halstead. Lindsay is worried for her partner.

Whilst Halstead waits for the outcome of the murder investigation, the Unit investigates the murder of a prolific doctor, whose testimony has put many big-time criminals behind bars. His corpse is discovered by Kelly Severide and some of the Chicago Fire team after a collision between two cars. The driver of the car who carried the doctor’s mangled body is later discovered dead, basically melted in a vat of hydrochloric acid.

Halstead’s suspension means Voight must – very reluctantly – bring Detective Sumner properly into the field. He obviously still thinks that she’s a mole for the slimy Stillwell over at Internal Affairs. A sting operation at a local gun show is laid on, because the gang leader responsible is supposed to be there. Unfortunately, local police spoil the operation and one is killed in a wild parking lot shootout. The suspect gets away. Burgess experiences her first shootout.

Later, the team find a homemade sex tape featuring their target and the lawyer of the second man he killed. Sumner’s informant gives up that the guy has a meth lab in a trucking yard, which naturally becomes the focal point for Voight’s team. They raid the place and during the melee, Ruzek is shot in his vest and Voight shoots the gang leader down to stop him from escaping. Sumner isn’t impressed, and is told by Voight to leave that part out of her report. 

Halstead, with some help from Antonio and Olinsky, manages to discovered that Phil Rodiger, Lonnie’s father, is the murderer. Mr Rodiger had realised that his son was a sexual predator and killed Lonnie to make sure he didn’t harm any other children. Reassigned to Voight’s unit, Halstead visits the grave of the young boy Rodiger killed years before. 

After the stress of the day, Burgess and Ruzek kiss, despite Ruzek’s engagement, and almost immediately decide it was a mistake. Severide visits Lindsay’s apartment under the auspices of returning her ornamental grenade, which he’d deliberately taken, just to get into her apartment. They share a long kiss before Severide departs, leaving Lindsay to watch him disappear. 

My Thoughts: The Rodiger saga comes to an end, and I had a sneaking suspicion as the episode went on that it was Mr Rodiger who had put an end to his son’s life. I knew it wasn’t Halstead. The episode at least showed how loyal to Halstead the rest of the squad it, especially Lindsay and Dawson.

Another week, another grizzly murder and this time there’s a dude decomposing in a tub of acid. Chicago PD isn’t afraid to include some pretty gruesome scenes, which gives a nice edge to the show – and sets it apart from Chicago Fire.

Jury’s out on Sumner. She might yet be the mole, but she definitely doesn’t seem to be a fan of Voight’s tactics. Surely that means she won’t last long in his unit?

Called the Burgess/Ruzek thing a while back, and despite them both agreeing it was a mistake, I have a feeling this is going to be a solid coupling for a while. Earlier, Voight wasn’t happy about the idea of Halstead and Lindsay having a thing, so it’ll be interesting to see how he reacts when he finds out – if he finds out – about Ruzek and Burgess.