Chicago Fire

*Chicago P.D.* Season 13, Episode 16 Puts Benjamin Levy Aguilar Front and Center — A Strong Showcase for Torres, Even If the Episode Falls Short Elsewhere kn01Yet the plot is another of those that seems like it exists mostly to put the featured character through the wringer. The audience likely won’t want to watch it again, either. That’s because in order to have a case for the team to solve, Chicago PD goes from restorative justice to murder to sexual assault. It’s revealed that the victim wasn’t murdered by the other teenager he had issues with; he was actually killed by the suspect’s younger sister, whom he had previously assaulted. All of the guest characters are painted in pretty unflattering lights here, with Torres trying to navigate through a story that gets worse and worse. There’s also a genuinely cringe-worthy sequence in which Torres talks to the suspect’s girlfriend, who’s recently given birth to their baby. She’s annoyed at being stuck in the interrogation room, and starts complaining about how she’s lactating before she’s provided with a breast pump. There is no reason to be hearing any of this; it doesn’t add anything to the plot. It just feels like the script trying to be edgy. “Restoring” sends a message contrary to its title. It leaves viewers with the feeling that nothing can really be fixed, even as Torres tries to put the same fence back together. It certainly doesn’t do anything with his interest in restorative justice, which is actually a perfect fit for his character with his complicated past. Yet this episode seems to suggest that concept doesn’t work in the Chicago PD world, because everything still ends in the same place. Benjamin Levy Aguilar does everything possible here and should be lauded for it, but the writing lets him down. Chicago PD airs Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Photo Credit: Courtesy of NBC.

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SPOILER ALERT AND WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Chicago PD Season 13, Episode 16. It also contains discussion of sexual assault. Chicago PD Season […]