The Season 5 ‘Chicago P.D.’ Episode That Moved Marina Squerciati to Tears—And It Wasn’t About Burgess
In Season 5 of Chicago P.D., there’s one particular episode that deeply affected Marina Squerciati, the actress who portrays Kim Burgess. The episode, titled “The Song of Gregory Williams Yates” (Season 5, Episode 6), brought the actress to tears—but it wasn’t due to any storyline involving her character, Burgess. Instead, it was the emotional intensity of the plot, which revolved around a disturbing case involving a serial killer, that caused Squerciati to be overwhelmed with emotion.
While Chicago P.D. is known for its intense storylines and gritty portrayals of police work, this episode was particularly difficult for the cast, especially Squerciati, who felt deeply moved by the content. The episode focused on the search for Gregory Williams Yates, a notorious serial killer, and the personal toll it took on the officers involved in the investigation. Though Burgess is an integral part of the team, this episode didn’t center on her character’s personal journey; instead, it highlighted the mental and emotional strain of dealing with the horrors of the case.
For Squerciati, the episode was emotionally taxing because of the heavy themes of trauma and violence, which affected not only the characters involved in the investigation but also the actors portraying them. The gravity of the subject matter, along with the heart-wrenching performances from the cast, made it one of the more emotionally impactful episodes for the actress.
Squerciati’s emotional response to this episode demonstrates how deeply she connects with the material and her role. While Chicago P.D. often tackles dark and challenging themes, moments like these remind both the cast and the audience of the emotional weight carried by the show’s storytelling. Even though the episode didn’t focus on Burgess, it was a testament to the emotional range of the actors and the impact the stories have on them.
