Chicago P.D. is no stranger to complex character arcs and high-octane drama, but with a decade of storytelling behind it, not every member of the Intelligence Unit has received equal time in the spotlight. In Season 11, one key player continued to fly under the radar, despite their potential to drive some of the show’s most powerful storytelling. Now, in a twist no one saw coming, inspiration may have arrived from an unlikely place: Marvel.
Played by Benjamin Levy Aguilar, Officer Dante Torres officially joined the Intelligence Unit in Season 10. Quiet, intense, and emotionally guarded, Torres has a troubled past that gives him a deep understanding of the city’s most dangerous corners. But while his character was set up to bring a fresh perspective to Voight’s team, he’s rarely been the focus of major story arcs. In Season 11, his screen time was sporadic. Despite his unique background, Torres has yet to receive a fully fleshed-out storyline. Fans have praised his loyalty, sense of justice, and layered performance, but many feel the show hasn’t given him the room to grow like it has with characters like Atwater, Burgess, or even former members like Halstead and Lindsay.
Imagine this: Torres is assigned an undercover case that hits far too close to home. He returns to the very neighborhood he fought to escape — only this time, he’s not the victim, but the cop. As he gets deeper into the operation, old friends, rivals, and family members reappear, forcing him to walk the tightrope between his past and present. Like Moon Knight’s split personalities, Torres would struggle with his dual identity: the tough, quiet cop trying to do right and the streetwise survivor who had to bend the rules to survive. The more time he spends undercover, the more he questions who he really is—and whether he can ever fully leave that old life behind.
With Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) officially exiting at the end of Season 11 and Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) still gone, Chicago P.D. is in a transitional phase. That opens the door for newer characters to step forward and reshape the team’s dynamic. Torres is perfectly positioned to do just that. We’ve already seen glimpses of his complexity: his wariness of Voight’s methods, his emotional flashbacks to life before the badge, and his struggle to fit in with a team that doesn’t fully understand where he comes from. These seeds are ripe for exploration—and the time has come for Chicago P.D. to finally lean in.
Beyond character development, a Torres-led arc would also impact the team around him. Voight, for instance, would be forced to confront the dangers of relying too heavily on his old methods when dealing with someone like Torres, who brings a different moral compass. Atwater could serve as a mentor figure, helping Torres navigate the emotional toll of undercover work—just as he once had to find his voice in a racially charged system. Meanwhile, Burgess and Ruzek, now more stable than ever, could show the importance of finding balance and support outside the job, offering Torres something to aspire toward.
Fans have taken to Reddit and Twitter to push for more Torres content, with posts like “Justice for Torres!” and “Let him shine!” trending among Chicago P.D. hashtags. Many have pointed out how his intensity and mystery feel like the early days of Jay Halstead — but with a darker, more introspective twist. The comparison to Marvel’s Moon Knight isn’t just about tone; it’s about the potential for psychological depth, emotional conflict, and transformative storytelling—something Chicago P.D. has done brilliantly in the past with characters like Olinsky and Lindsay.
Chicago P.D. Season 12 has the chance to chart bold new territory—and Dante Torres might just be the key. With the franchise in flux and its older characters moving on, the time is now to develop the next generation of leaders within Intelligence. If the writers are looking for inspiration, Marvel’s Moon Knight has laid out the perfect emotional blueprint: a man torn between two worlds, trying to hold onto what’s right in a city that often rewards what’s wrong. Torres isn’t just a background player. He’s a ticking time bomb of emotion, loyalty, and inner turmoil—waiting for the moment to explode into a storyline that fans will never forget. If Chicago P.D. is ready to take the leap, Season 12 could finally give him the spotlight he’s earned.
