The much-anticipated premiere of Chicago PD Season 12, titled “Ten Ninety-Nine,” kicks off the new season with a pulse-pounding blend of drama, tension, and emotional depth.
One of the key elements of this premiere is the continued evolution of Sergeant Hank Voight’s leadership (Jason Beghe). Voight has long been the moral and emotional center of the team, albeit a complicated one, and Season 12 begins to further explore his internal conflict between adhering to the law and following his gut instincts. Voight’s character, while still as hardened as ever, is starting to reflect more on his decisions, especially as his past begins to haunt him in unexpected ways.
Alongside Voight, we see key members of the Intelligence Unit stepping into more defined roles. Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) is one of the standout characters in this episode. Her recent trauma is still fresh, and we see how it continues to influence her decisions on the job. Burgess remains resilient but noticeably cautious, especially when a high-stakes situation threatens her usual composed demeanor. The episode does a fantastic job of showcasing her vulnerability while maintaining her status as one of the team’s most capable officers.
The absence of Jesse Lee Soffer’s Jay Halstead, who departed from the show last season, leaves a noticeable void. However, the premiere doesn’t shy away from addressing this, using his absence as a point of tension, particularly for Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos), who is still grappling with the emotional fallout of his departure. Upton’s turmoil adds an additional layer of emotional depth to the episode, hinting at a season-long arc that will explore her struggle to find balance without her partner.
One of the show’s strengths has always been its ability to tackle real-world issues, and “Ten Ninety-Nine” continues that tradition. From questions of police reform and accountability to the personal sacrifices officers make, the episode isn’t afraid to reflect the challenges facing modern-day policing. In one particularly intense scene, the Intelligence Unit faces public scrutiny after a controversial arrest, forcing them to navigate the thin line between justice and public opinion.
The gritty realism for which Chicago PD is known is on full display, with tension mounting as the team navigates not just the criminal underworld but the complicated politics of their own department. The show’s depiction of life as a Chicago police officer is as raw and unfiltered as ever, making for a compelling narrative that never shies away from the complexities of law enforcement. The relationship between Voight and Burgess, for example, feels more layered, with Voight subtly stepping into a mentor role. Meanwhile, Upton’s emotional journey provides some of the episode’s most heart-wrenching moments, as she struggles to fill the void left by Halstead’s departure.
As Chicago PD continues to evolve, “Ten Ninety-Nine” proves that the series hasn’t lost any of its grit or heart. This is a show that thrives on the strength of its characters and the world they inhabit, and the Season 12 premiere reminds us why it remains one of the most compelling police dramas on television.
