After 12 successful seasons of Chicago P.D., there have been some major characters who stand out. One of those roles was Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda), who was a part of Intelligence from the beginning. His bad-boy edge was appealing, mainly because it came with boundaries. Antonio was willing to go the extra mile to get the perp, but never as far as Voight (Jason Beghe) would. It’s been five seasons without Antonio alongside Intelligence, and his return is long overdue. He left because of an addiction to painkillers due to an injury. And because he resigned and wasn’t fired, welcoming him back to Intelligence is practical and well-warranted, given the turnover rate within the department. Antonio already has relationships with most of the elite task force members, which would make easing him back into the NBC hit a breeze. Having a familiar face pop up would only enhance the morale that Chicago P.D. seems to be lacking lately.
Antonio Dawson Was an Important Part of ‘Chicago P.D.’ and One Chicago
When Antonio was introduced as part of the Intelligence Unit in 2014, he appeared to be a hard egg to crack. He was very police-focused, which eventually gave way to showing who the real Antonio was. There was also a connection to its sister show, Chicago Fire, as his sister, Gabriela Dawson, was part of the firehouse crew.
His approach to cases was hard, much like Voight’s. The others bonded with him because he was second in command in the unit. However, there was some tension between him and Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger). The tension escalated, but eventually subsided. Antonio was a no-nonsense guy, which added to his distaste for Ruzek after he defied an order when Voight was out, and he was in charge.
Jon Seda left Chicago P.D. during Season 7 in an abrupt manner. Antonio Dawson was in a precarious spot with his mental health, which led to his coping mechanisms being skewed. In the end, he lost his wife and children because of his job as a police officer. That was the beginning of his spiral, leading to his leaving the NBC show altogether.
After suffering an injury, Antonio became addicted to prescription meds, which led him down a dark path. Voight was in the know, but none of the other Intelligence members were any wiser until it was too late. He had to admit to the team that he was at the drug house for a buy, not a bust. Antonio’s daughter was kidnapped because of the dealer’s arrest that night. His relationship with Burgess (Marina Squerciati) changed that day. He had to be honest when Voight called the team to help with Antonio’s daughter’s kidnapping. To say it fractured their trust would be an understatement.
Voight arranged for Antonio’s rehab off the books. That allowed him to resign and potentially return to Intelligence when he got his life back on track. Having Antonio back on the frontline with his squad would be ideal, especially with Season 13 already ordered and filming.
Antonio Dawson Deserves a Redemption Arc
After the way Antonio left Intelligence, the time is right to bring him back. Several other characters and actors have moved on from Chicago P.D., with only a few originals left. Bringing back a familiar face could heighten the anticipation. There is clearly a place for him in Intelligence. Perhaps Antonio got his life back together and wants to return to work after rehab and remain clean for a few years. Someone must keep Voight in check these days, and it surely isn’t Ruzek or Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins).
With all the possibilities of who could return to Chicago P.D. after leaving the long-running Dick Wolf series, Antonio is the only one with an actual shot at making it happen. He didn’t leave for a better job like Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush), and he wasn’t killed off like Olinksy (Elias Koteas); instead, he was sent to work through his issues and get his addiction in check. This could be the perfect redemption arc for Antonio. He was dedicated to the job and life of a police officer, and it nearly cost him everything – including his own life. Thankfully, that didn’t happen, and Voight was able to help him. His actions could serve as a testimony to beating the odds and returning to the job he loved.
Chicago P.D. writers could have a field day writing a return for Antonio and his interactions with Voight, Atwater, Ruzek, and Burgess. A few have left since he was out of the picture, but even Trudy (Amy Morton) still works behind the desk after all these years. Having another member of the old-school Intelligence would bring some nostalgia back to Chicago P.D. After the writers got away from the family unit, throwing Antonio back into the mix and seeing his reaction to how much Voight hasn’t changed and how far he’s gone with some cases would be the ideal starting point. Anything could happen from there, leaving plenty of room for some great storylines.
Antonio had already faced internal affairs because of Voight, which didn’t go well. He had it out with Ruzek over the situation because he refused his orders when Antonio was in charge of Intelligence. Voight dealt with internal affairs, and having Antonio head the unit escalated tension between the members. Things appeared to be worked out between Ruzek and Antonio; it would be interesting to revisit whether all is really forgiven.
Chicago P.D. needs Antonio Dawson back ASAP to help restore order and keep Voight on his toes. There’s been a steady progression downhill with how he’s been acting, and it’s only a matter of time before someone else will have to step in and run Intelligence in the interim, or even worse, permanently. Antonio is the only man for the job, despite Ruzek and Atwater being there from the beginning. Neither can take charge and execute a job from start to finish as easily as Antonio could. If someone has to return to Chicago P.D., the only choice is Jon Seda as Antonio Dawson. He’s everything a good character needs, and everyone loves a redemption arc – especially ones with happy endings like the one Antonio deserves.
