Chicago P.D. Season 13: Reid’s Murder Might Finally Force A Voight Arc That’s Been Inevitable Since Season 1
Chicago P.D. season 13 could bring to light a Voight arc that has been part of the character’s growth since season 1. The series has received acclaim for its dark, gritty storytelling, complex, morally gray characters, and unflinching depiction of law enforcement. Throughout its run, Chicago P.D., which recently wrapped season 12, has been anchored by its flawed protagonist, Hank Voight, a man who has always trodden both sides of the law in his pursuit of justice and keeping “his” city safe.
Voight is a very layered character, and combines a tough, no-nonsense persona with a willingness to break the rules in order to solve cases and catch bad guys, though he’s been trying to stay on the straight and narrow in recent years. Chicago P.D. season 12 saw Voight pitted against Reid, one of his most dangerous adversaries. Voight ultimately fell back on his old ways and sanctioned the killing of Reid to protect himself and the IU. In doing so, it has opened up a potential future arc for Hank in Chicago P.D. season 13 that feels as though it has been a long time in the making.
Voight Will Face A Lot Of Scrutiny In Chicago P.D. Season 13
Chapman & The Rest Of IU May Push Hank On Reid’s Death
While Voight taking Reid out of the equation was necessary for self-preservation, it also puts Hank in a tough spot. The questions surrounding the manner of Reid’s death are not just going to go away, and nor is the IA investigation into Intelligence, and Hank’s own crew are bound to have questions, with Ruzek and Burgess both showing in the past that they are not afraid to challenge Voight on moral issues.
Hank has always been prepared to do whatever it takes in the name of Chicago, and his unorthodox ways have seen him break the law and push morality for years in Intelligence. Sanctioning Reid’s death felt more like self-preservation than police justice, and it could set Hank on the path to evolving from antihero to villain. It has always felt like a small push is all it would take for Hank to cross over into becoming a truly irredeemable villain instead of a morally gray (and often corrupt) antihero.
Given the nature of the Intelligence Unit, and the role they play in protecting the city, it is understandable why Hank sometimes reverts to moral ambiguity, or straight-up criminality. The problem is, this seems to be Voight’s default setting. Even when he thinks he’s going to change and steer clear of corruption, something happens, and Voight’s first instinct is always to take the more questionable path.
Even when he thinks he’s going to change and steer clear of corruption, something happens, and Voight’s first instinct is always to take the more questionable path.
