‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 13 Could Be a Game-Changer for the Crime Procedural If It Makes This Key Move

As Season 13 of Chicago P.D. approaches, one big question surrounds the Intelligence Unit. Chicago P.D. has painted the picture of a family unit among the Intelligence members, with the crew sharing drinks after work, friendships growing into romantic pairings on more than one occasion, and members covering for one another despite the blowback that happened. After over a decade of various ups and downs, though, it’s uncertain whether the unit will be the intact family we got used to in earlier years, or if things will continue to break down moving forward.

The latest seasons haven’t seen Intelligence be as tight-knit, and following Reid’s (Shawn Hatosy) death in Season 12, the unit was disbanded, with some forced to hand over their badges and others put on patrol. Chicago P.D. Season 13’s biggest priority should be to get the Intelligence Unit back together.

‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 12 Teased Big Changes for the NBC Crime Procedural

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When Season 12 of NBC’s Chicago P.D. ended, we were left wondering what would happen with Intelligence. Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Torres (Benjamin Levy) were stripped of their badges because of their cover-up for Dante’s relationship with Gloria (Yara Martinez), and Voight (Jason Beghe) was left with a disbanded unit. It was his decision to follow through with the takedown of Reid, and Burgess and Torres chose to keep their secret, but the fallout wasn’t something any Intelligence member could have predicted. With the chaos of not knowing what was next, Season 12 ended with an uncertainty no one had felt before.

‘Chicago P.D.’s Disbanded Intelligence Unit Has the Crime Series Feeling Aimless

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Season 13 of Chicago P.D. has a lot to address. Things haven’t returned to normal since Reid’s death, and Voight is lost without his team intact. The fallout from investigating Reid still affects Burgess and Torres, who were stripped of their badges. The remaining unit members were forced onto patrol duty. Despite no longer working together, they have managed to be there for each other. Burgess and Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) were married at the end of Season 12 and the disbandment will likely affect how things are going between the couple.

Toward the end of Season 12, things seemed disjointed. The storylines slowed down, and the only direction the series was headed was down. With Reid handled and out of the picture for good, there is still another boss that Voight will have to deal with. The only way the show can continue is if the group is reunited, because using the NBC drama as a standalone one-case-per-episode format won’t work. Some layers must be addressed, including more backstories highlighting the Intelligence members and their interconnections within Chicago.

Cracks have been forming in Intelligence since Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) left, and things have deteriorated slowly since. Upton’s leaving only reinforced the trust issues among the unit. It is more important than ever for the remaining members of the once-feared unit to come together and figure out how to pick up the pieces and put them back together.

Plus, without Intelligence working together, the city of Chicago is less safe. The unit has dedicated its efforts to fighting crime in the city, taking down drug dealers who have used children as vessels, and getting justice for those who need it most. Season 13 has the chance to rectify things, but it may not be right away — if at all.

Eva Imani Needs To Bring the Intelligence Unit Back Together on ‘Chicago P.D.’

To say Intelligence is in shambles would be an understatement. Kiana Cook (Toya Turner) is gone, and Eva Imani (Adrienne Mandi) is introduced to Chicago P.D. However, she doesn’t come in looking to join Intelligence; she is working a case alongside Voight. She is billed as a “partner” for Voight and someone coming in with a background in working for the ATF. As she interacts with the disbanded unit, she tells Voight they work together so well, giving off a “Brady Bunch” vibe, but will that continue to be the tone moving forward? Chicago P.D. has the chance to solidify where Intelligence is headed, one way or another.

Putting the team back together and getting Intelligence rolling again is more important than ever. Imani’s arrival seems to be linked to a turning point in the situation, as she will be used as more of a partner for Voight and someone who sees the benefit of the unit he built brick by brick. He won’t like having someone with him regularly, especially someone who hasn’t been part of his unit. However, this may work to his advantage, as she notices how well the now-disbanded team works together, even when they aren’t officially “together.”

‘Chicago P.D.’ Is at Its Best When the Intelligence Unit Works Together

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Intelligence is the anchor that holds the entire show together. Each officer adds something to the unit as a whole, and the storylines built around them have been some of the ones that have stood out over time. The murder of Nadia (Stella Maeve) rocked Intelligence during its early days, which seemed to have pulled everyone even closer. Losing one of their own was a wake-up call, especially for Lindsay. Intelligence was tightest in the earlier days of Chicago P.D., and when Nadia was killed, their bond was highlighted.

During Season 3, the unit was faced with the kidnapping and torture of Halstead. They had to work together to save one of their own while making a decision about whether they give into what the hostage taker wants. Everyone was willing to sacrifice themselves to get Halstead back, proving their family bond was fully intact.

If Chicago P.D. hopes to continue for more seasons ahead, the chance is now to lay the groundwork for what will happen to the Intelligence Unit moving forward. It’s been confirmed that there will be more stories about the individual officers moving forward. The showrunner teased, “It’s been nice to do a psychological deep dive on everybody. There’s still a lot of stories to tell, even 13 years in.” Let’s hope these future stories pull the Intelligence Unit together, and not push them apart.