Another Chicago PD actor is leaving ahead of season 13, and while their exit is disappointing, the thrill of the series’ newest character makes up for the frustration. Like the other One Chicago shows, the police procedural is no stranger to cast departures. Many stars have come and gone over the years, but that hasn’t dulled the sting of a lost character.
Toya Turner’s Kiana Cook Is Leaving Chicago PD After Only 1 Season
Cook Joined The Team In Season 12
Toya Turner joined the cast of Chicago PD as Kiana Cook at the beginning of season 12. After Upton left the Intelligence Unit (and moved out of the city altogether), there was a vacancy on the squad. At first, Detective Emily Martel replaced Upton. However, Martel died during the Chicago PD season 12 premiere when she got shot in the head.
One Chicago PD episode later, the audience met Cook, and she eventually became the next member of Intelligence. She was just an officer, though, so Kim Burgess took the detective’s exam and assumed that missing rank in the team when she passed. As the episodes continued, Cook grew closer to the other characters and quickly became a part of the family.
Sadly, Cook’s time on Chicago PD has come to an end following the season 12 finale. The last episode did not indicate that she was leaving, but NBC later confirmed that Turner would exit the NBC cop show ahead of season 13. Perhaps Cook will find a new job following the Intelligence Unit’s disbandment and decide not to return once they inevitably reunite.
Whatever the case, Chicago PD season 13 starts with Cook already gone. Fans won’t get the chance to say a proper goodbye to the character, which is supremely disappointing and frustrating. She was only around for one season, but Cook still deserves better. On the bright side, Cook’s replacement is the most exciting new character that Chicago PD has had in years.
Arienne Mandi Is Replacing Turner In Season 13
Mandi Is Playing Eva Imani
Following Turner’s exit, Arienne Mandi joins the Chicago PD cast in season 13 as Eva Imani. She is seemingly replacing Cook in the Intelligence Unit (once they reunite, of course). However, Imani will be a lot different from Cook. She isn’t a copy-and-paste character, only meant to fill a vacant spot; instead, Imani brings something new, yet still somewhat familiar to Chicago PD.
Imani has a military background as a former soldier and contractor. Consequently, Chicago PD’s newest character performs well under pressure and reportedly thrives in perilous situations. Imani has also been described as a “fearless outsider who keeps her cards close to the vest” (per Deadline). She is assigned to ATF (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in the NBC series.
As for how Imani enters the picture in Chicago PD season 13, she becomes Hank Voight’s partner when they’re forced to work together to find a killer in the premiere. The two make for an unlikely pair. Nevertheless, Voight and Imani must work well together, given that she will be sticking around and will become a member of the Intelligence Unit.
Imani’s Dynamic With Voight Is Just What Chicago PD Needs
Chicago PD Has Been Missing This Kind Of Relationship
Not only does Imani’s teased personality traits make for Chicago PD’s most intriguing new character in years, but so does her dynamic with Voight. Based on everything we know about the duo, they will surely be interesting to watch. Jason Beghe has described Imani as the “young female version of Voight,” according to TV Insider.
Meanwhile, Mandi called her character “tough” and “rebellious,” and she revealed that she isn’t exactly a team player. So, Imani being the female version of Voight makes sense. Mandi also teased that Imani and Voight wouldn’t see eye-to-eye. Although they’ll butt heads, the two Chicago PD characters have a “common goal,” which is to catch criminals, even if it means crossing a line.
We’ll get to see this unique dynamic on full display during the Chicago PD season 13 premiere when Voight and Imani team up. Then, the show will get to explore their relationship even more once Intelligence reunites and Imani joins the team. Voight and Imani are sure to run into many obstacles as the episodes continue. But that’s what makes their dynamic exciting.
Imani could serve as the next Lindsay or Upton (at least, concerning her relationship with Voight). The new character and Voight could develop a father-daughter/mentor-mentee relationship that the police procedural has been missing since Upton’s exit. If this happens, Chicago PD will surely redeem itself for letting go of Cook.
