For years, Chicago P.D. fans have ridden the emotional rollercoaster of Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek’s on-again, off-again relationship. The couple, affectionately known by fans as “Burzek,” have endured trauma, danger, and heartbreak in equal measure. But in Season 12, Episode 20, a long-awaited calm settles over them — or so it seems. While the episode offers fans some relief by showing the couple finally aligned, it also reveals a quiet but looming threat: the comfort zone trap.
After all they’ve been through — Burgess’s kidnapping and near-death experience, Ruzek’s undercover burnout, multiple breakups, and the slow process of building trust again — it’s tempting to believe they’ve reached their “happy ending.” But Chicago P.D. has never been a show to offer fairy-tale conclusions. And more importantly, characters who stop evolving often find themselves either sidelined or spiraling.
What Episode 20 reveals is that while Burgess and Ruzek have rekindled their relationship, they now risk stagnation. Their story has always been compelling because of the obstacles they’ve faced. But with those challenges seemingly resolved, the writers may be tempted to place them in a narrative holding pattern — something fans have seen before, and not just with Burzek. To avoid that fate, Chicago P.D. needs to do what it does best: challenge its characters. Here’s how the show can keep Burzek fresh, exciting, and emotionally engaging moving forward:
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Conflict That Doesn’t Derail Them
Not every challenge has to be a breakup or betrayal. Give them differing opinions on a case, parenting styles, or how to deal with Makayla’s ongoing trauma. Let them argue, reconcile, and grow without tearing each other down. -
Separate but Parallel Growth
Ruzek and Burgess are strongest when they’re not completely defined by each other. Ruzek’s past with the academy, his issues with authority, and his commitment struggles could be further explored. Burgess, who’s come so far as a mother and officer, still has room to confront unresolved PTSD. Their arcs can be individual while still being part of a shared journey. -
External Pressures
Bring in challenges from outside their bubble. A family member returning. A new love interest tempting one of them (not for drama’s sake, but to test their loyalty). Or even Makayla beginning to act out in ways that bring their parenting into question. -
Career Divergence
What if one of them gets promoted, transferred, or offered a new path? Do they support each other? Do they struggle with jealousy or fear of change?
These kinds of storylines are what make long-term couples fascinating. It’s not about if they break up or stay together — it’s how they fight for each other when life throws curveballs.
What makes Burzek such a beloved pair is their history. Fans have seen them at their best and worst. They’ve watched Ruzek fight for a family he never thought he’d have and Burgess overcome unimaginable trauma to become a pillar of strength. Their recent peace is well-earned — but the bar is high. Viewers expect Chicago P.D. to honor that journey with continued character development, not just sweet domestic moments. And Episode 20, though beautifully acted by Marina Squerciati and Patrick John Flueger, quietly signals the need for momentum. If this really is the couple’s final form, it must be a dynamic one — not a narrative dead end.
The final moments of Episode 20 show Ruzek and Burgess putting Makayla to bed, then settling on the couch to decompress. It’s intimate, natural, and beautifully shot. But longtime fans know better than to get too comfortable. Moments like these on Chicago P.D. are often followed by a storm. Could this be a calm before emotional upheaval? Or will the writers resist the urge to break them up again and instead challenge them in new ways? Either way, Season 12 is nearing its end — and if Episode 20 proves anything, it’s that Burzek’s next chapter can’t be one of complacency. For these two to stay compelling and relevant in an ever-evolving show, they must stay in motion, even if the path isn’t always smooth.
