The Chicago PD Season 12 premiere reminded us that tomorrow isn't guaranteed

The Chicago PD Season 12 premiere did not fail to disappoint. Not only did it catch us up with where everyone is now, but it also delivered on an important reminder.

Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for Chicago PD Season 12, Episode 1.

We expected the Chicago PD Season 12 premiere to introduce us to the new permanent Intelligence team member. In the episode, that was Emily Martel played by Victori Cartagena, who seemed to be the perfect fit for the team. As a detective, she also held rank, and we had said how there were no longer any detectives on the team with Upton’s exit.

Martel came in with a big backstory. She had come off medical leave, something that she had gone on due to the death of her partner right in front of her. That loss hit her hard, and she questioned a lot, especially with survivor’s guilt setting in.

It was foreshadowing of things to come. Things aren’t looking good for Ruzek now.

What happened to Emily Martel in Chicago PD Season 12?

Martel wasn’t long for the series, and that was done on purpose. We got this reminder that death happens to everyone, and it can happen any second. This job is a dangerous one. With all the way that characters have been saved over the years, it’s something that needs to be reminded off now and then.

Martel and Ruzez, who encouraged Martel to join the team, were driving back to the precinct when shots broke out in the neighborhood. As any cop would, they stopped to check out what was going on. As Ruzek’s back was turned, Martel was suddenly shot in the head and killed on sight.

This is sure to be a driving force at least in the next episode. Ruzek will have a lot of feelings, both for his own safety and for the loss of life in front of him. There’s fear, guilt, anger, and confusion. At least, that’s how I’d likely feel if I was in his situation.

I do hope that we don’t see Ruzek go down too much of a rabbit hole, but we also need to see what a death like this does to the other cop on the scene. Chicago PD has a chance to go deep with this storyline.

Chicago PD airs on Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC. Catch up the following day on Peacock.

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