The Chicago PD Season 12 finale had a lot of drama for the squad and a huge shakeup for the Voight/Chapman relationship. What does it mean for the future?
Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for the Chicago PD Season 12 finale.
As the Chicago PD season 12 finale opened, things were not looking good for our heroic cops. The previous episode ended with Reid finally coming down on the Intelligence Unit, arresting Torres for his relationship with a CI, suspending Burgess for covering it up, and disbanding the Unit. Reid even had a press conference announcing the Unit was under investigation for corruption.
Naturally, Voight wasn't taking this lying down as the rest of the Unit worked to find proof of Reid's corruption. That included letting the son of crime lord Ortero know it was Reid behind his father's murder.
Chapman tried to tell Voight he couldn't cross the lines even as he needed more evidence. When a key witness was killed, it looked like Reid was going to win, with Voight seemingly ready to fall on his sword and quit before a hearing was held.
As Voight and Reid arrived for the hearing, Reid was shot down by Ortero's son, dying in Voight's arms. The youth confessed not just to the murder but seeing his father dealing with Reid, thus exposing his corruption and saving the Unit.
That had the final scene of everyone attending the long-awaited Burgess/Ruzek wedding. But during the ceremony, Chapman confronted Voight on how he was the one who gave Reid's location to Ortero's son and basically orchestrated the murder of a fellow cop. The season ended with Chapman in tears while Voight was silent.
It was a jarring finale as it looks like Voight saved the Unit at the cost of a relationship.
What's next for Voight and Chapman in Chicago PD?
Speaking to ScreenRant, showrunner Gwen Sigan revealed they had played with a plotline of Reid exposed yet still out there as a possible threat. In the end, they felt that having Voight orchestrate the man's end fit the character best.
As for the Chapman and Voight confrontation, Sigan notes this is basically a breakup as Chapman is horrified at Voight setting up Reid's end and crossing a line she can't justify.
"It's not good. It's definitely not good. That last scene, to me, is a lot like a breakup. It's messy. It's definitely not definitive. I don't think that there's nothing still there to play with, but he is setting a boundary. He is basically telling her, "I'm not able to. I'm not capable." He says, "I don't get to have more," but I think it's more so, "I don't know how to do it. I don't think I can do it." Chapman really hears it in that moment. She hears it, understands it, and it's almost like a breakup of something that never really got to come into full fruition anyway. It never really got to be what she would've wanted it to be at some point."
We all know Voight likes to play fast and loose with the rules and bend things to see justice done. This isn't the first time he's ended a case with blood on his hands. However, Chapman had hoped Voight could resist those old urges and try to bring Reid down through legal means or at least in a way that had him arrested.
For Voight to deliberately set Reid up to be killed, leaving Oreteo's son's own life ruined by going to jail, is something Chapman can never forgive. It's uncertain how she'll deal with this, as exposing Hank can also endanger her own career for being complicit in his actions. At the same time, Chapman isn't going to be back on good terms with Voight after this.
It's a shame that this potential romance seems to be over before it ever truly begins. Chapman tried to reach Voight's warmer side and encourage him to do things the right way, but Voight had to resort to his usual drastic measures. This sets up some fun drama for Chicago PD season 13 and the finale's actions will shake up Voight for a while.
Chicago PD Season 12 is now streaming in full on Peacock.
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