In February 2025, LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Officer Kevin Atwater on Chicago P.D., touched fans’ hearts with a moving story about his real-life friendship with co-star Patrick John Flueger, who portrays Officer Adam Ruzek. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hawkins revealed how Flueger’s family in Red Wing, Minnesota, has welcomed him as their “only Black child” for Thanksgiving celebrations since the show’s early days, cementing a brotherly bond that mirrors the Intelligence Unit’s unity in Season 12, Episode 18, “Demons.” This episode, aired on April 16, 2025, and praised as “powerful” on X, saw Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) learn to trust his team, a theme echoed in Hawkins and Flueger’s off-screen camaraderie. Drawing parallels to Gordon Ramsay’s authentic family moments, like his October 2024 Instagram post of sons Oscar and Jesse, this essay explores Hawkins’ touching story, its resonance with Chicago P.D. fans, and how their friendship strengthens the show’s emotional core in a competitive TV landscape.
Parallels with Gordon Ramsay’s Authenticity
Hawkins and Flueger’s friendship shares a striking parallel with Gordon Ramsay’s heartfelt family moments, such as his October 2024 Instagram post of sons Oscar and Jesse in matching pajamas, captioned “New PJ’s.” Fans buzzed over Jesse’s resemblance to Gordon, reflecting the chef’s genuine warmth beneath his Hell’s Kitchen intensity, as reported by HELLO!. Ramsay’s seven 2025 Fox shows thrive on this authenticity, blending tough mentorship with care, much like Hawkins and Flueger infuse Chicago P.D. with real emotion. Just as Ramsay’s family posts humanize his larger-than-life persona, Hawkins’ story of Flueger’s family welcoming him grounds the show’s gritty drama, resonating with fans who see the cast as a chosen family. This emotional depth, seen in X posts praising “Demons” for its “team vibes,” elevates Chicago P.D.’s appeal, much like Ramsay’s shows captivate through personal connection.
The Impact on Chicago P.D.’s Narrative
Hawkins’ Atwater, a moral compass, and Flueger’s Ruzek, a street-smart cop, have shared pivotal moments since season 1, from partnering on cases to navigating personal struggles, like their season 8 rift over a police shooting, which Flueger called “really not fun” to film due to their closeness. Their ability to work through fictional tension, as Flueger told Outsider, reflects their real trust, seen in Hawkins’ Thanksgiving story. In “Demons,” Atwater’s stability and Ruzek’s loyalty shine, with Flueger’s TV Insider comment—“Somebody very deserving gets it”—hinting at Burgess’ promotion, supported by both actors’ characters. This unity, rooted in Hawkins and Flueger’s friendship, makes the episode’s climax, where the team ambushes Voight with support, a fan favorite, as Collider reports.
Fan Reactions and Emotional Resonance
Fans rallied around Hawkins’ story and “Demons,” with X posts lauding the cast’s “family” dynamic. One user wrote, “LaRoyce’s story about Patrick’s family adopting him is so sweet—makes me love Chicago P.D. even more!” Another praised, “Episode 18 was powerful, and knowing LaRoyce and Patrick are brothers IRL hits different.” The story’s emotional weight, paired with the episode’s focus on trust, amplified its impact, with Fangirlish noting the “team vibes” as a highlight. Hawkins’ openness about his bond with Flueger, echoed in his emotional NBC Insider interview about Tracy Spiridakos’ exit—“She’s like a sister”—deepens fans’ connection to the cast, making their on-screen chemistry believable.
The episode’s broader themes—trust, resilience, and ethics in policing—resonate in a polarized climate, with Reid’s corruption contrasting Voight’s gray morality, sparking X discussions about justice. Fans also celebrated romantic arcs, like Atwater’s new love interest Val Soto (Natalee Linez) and the Burgess-Ruzek wedding, with Hawkins teasing to Us Weekly that Atwater respects their “union” too much to rush double dates, reflecting his real-life admiration for Flueger. Hawkins’ story, tying personal warmth to professional grit, makes Chicago P.D. a standout, as GameRant notes its edge over Law & Order: SVU.
Navigating a Challenging TV Landscape
Chicago P.D. thrives despite declining live viewership, with season 12 ratings dipping, per ScreenRant. The 2023 Hollywood strikes raised costs, but NBC’s Peacock streaming and weekly airings, despite a week-long April 9 hiatus for the Opry 100 special, keep it accessible, akin to Ramsay’s Hulu-streamed shows. Hawkins’ story, paired with “Demons,” fuels fan engagement, with X buzz countering the hiatus’ impact, as TheDirect reported. Flueger’s Hollywood Reporter quote—“Our crew works so hard… if we didn’t goof around, I don’t know how it would be survivable”—underscores the cast’s resilience, mirroring Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global efficiency. Like Ramsay’s year-round presence, Chicago P.D.’s character-driven drama, rooted in Hawkins and Flueger’s bond, ensures relevance.
