Let Hailey Move On From Jay, Like He Moved On From Erin On Chicago PD
Chicago PD has officially ended Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) and Jay Halstead’s (Jesse Lee Soffer) relationship, and now the show needs to let Hailey move on as Jay previously did from Erin (Sophia Bush). Chicago PD is no stranger to romantic entanglements, with the relationship dynamics within and surrounding the Intelligence Unit being one of the show’s greatest features to help character the squad beyond their job descriptions. With this, Chicago PD has developed several season-long romances that have garnered both drama and cult followings. Chicago PD can sustain this level of intrigue by seeing its characters move on from grieving over their lost loves — before it gets stale and tired.
Jay’s evolution with Hailey is not his first pitched relationship, as he experienced something similar with Erin before her departure from Chicago PD. Much in the way that he and Hailey grew closer, Jay and Erin helped each other through trauma and pain before Erin moved to New York, leaving Jay to pick up the pieces with Hailey. As Erin was departing, Haley joined the Intelligence Unit as Halstead’s new partner, and they grew from professional partners to romantic ones as well, with Hailey seeing Jay through his grieving process from Erin. In a very cyclical way, Haley has now swapped places with Jay, due to his departure in season 10.’
Since Jay’s exit from Chicago PD, the show has seen how Hailey’s coping mechanisms have actually exacerbated some of her most dangerous qualities, especially her obsessive and reckless behaviors. Not only did she throw herself into capturing Sean O’Neal (Jefferson White), so much so that Upton exhibited some very uncharacteristic moves, but she put herself at risk in the process by using herself as bait and tailing him when it wasn’t safe to do so. Narratively, this behavior isn’t sustainable for Hailey or the Intelligence Unit, and it’s clear that Upton reached a breaking point in Chicago PD season 10, episode 12 when she realized Jay wasn’t coming back.
