Demons Unleashed: Season 12’s Game-Changing Voight Transformation

The introduction of Deputy Chief Charlie Reid (powerfully portrayed by Shawn Hatosy) acts as a dark mirror to Voight. Reid embodies a level of corruption and manipulation that even makes Voight, a character known for bending the rules, appear almost righteous in comparison. This dynamic forces both Voight and the audience to examine his methods and motivations through a new lens. As CBR’s review of “Demons” astutely points out, Reid’s blatant villainy serves to make the audience “look at Voight a little differently (and maybe for him to do the same).”

Episode 18, “Demons,” is pivotal in this potential transformation. The official synopsis reveals that Voight and ASA Nina Chapman team up to uncover Reid’s “shadow dealings” while Reid assigns Intelligence to a carjacking case. This collaboration with Chapman, a character who often represents the more by-the-book approach to justice and has a personal connection with Voight, suggests a potential shift in his methods. Chapman’s plea for Voight to promise they’ll get Reid “the right way” highlights this tension and the potential for Voight to reconsider his go-to tactics. His response, as noted in the CBR review, initially sounds like the “old Voight,” leaving the ultimate direction of his transformation uncertain.

While a complete 180-degree turn for Voight seems unlikely and would arguably betray the core of his character, Season 12 appears to be setting the stage for a more nuanced and perhaps even a slightly more restrained Voight. The experience of facing someone even more corrupt than himself, coupled with the influence of characters like Chapman and the struggles of Torres, could lead to a subtle but significant shift in his approach to policing and justice.

The remaining episodes of Season 12 will be crucial in determining the extent of this “game-changing” transformation. Will Voight fully confront his demons and seek a different path, or will he ultimately succumb to the darkness that has always been a part of him? One thing is certain: Season 12 is poised to deliver a compelling and potentially transformative arc for one of television’s most captivating and complex characters.