The Shocking Truth Behind One Chicago PD's Season 10 Failure Revealed!

Summary

Chicago PD season 10 struggled due to weak storytelling, casting changes, and the loss of an original character, but it has been confirmed for an 11th season.

Chicago PD stands out as the most authentic and intense series within the One Chicago franchise, tackling real-life events and frequently venturing beyond the confines of the city. However, the tenth season of the show fell short, lacking engaging narratives, failing to delve into the consequences of characters' choices, and overlooking the strong bond and collaboration within the ensemble. In order to rescue the show, significant improvements must be implemented during the eleventh season.

Chicago PD season 10 faced difficulties connecting with its audience during what was supposed to be a significant year for the show. Despite reaching its 10th season and celebrating its 200th episode, the year was overshadowed by problems in storytelling, changes in the cast, and the departure of Jesse Lee Soffer's Detective Jay Halstead. Fortunately, NBC has announced the show's renewal for an 11th season, providing an opportunity to address these issues. Before moving forward, it is crucial to reflect on season 10 and determine the root causes of its struggles.

Chicago PD Is The Most Grounded One Chicago Show

Similar to the Law & Order franchise, the One Chicago franchise follows the daily lives of civil servants in Chicago, including firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel. Chicago Fire centers around Chief Boden's Firehouse 51, Chicago PD focuses on Hank Voight's Intelligence Unit at District 21, and Chicago Med is centered on Sharon Goodwin's team of doctors and nurses at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Each week, all three shows tackle different challenges, drawing inspiration from real-life events to create relatable storylines for viewers.

Among the shows, Chicago PD stands out as the most realistic and serious, as it deals with cases and suspects of a more serious nature. Unlike Chicago Med, which primarily takes place within the confines of Gaffney Medical, Chicago PD is often set outside. The team gathers at the District for planning and suspect interrogation, but they are usually found on the streets, gathering information or making arrests. The firefighters in Chicago Fire also leave Firehouse 51, but only when there is an emergency call. For the most part, they remain in the firehouse, ready to respond to any emergency.

Chicago PD Joke Shows How Much Its Storytelling Deteriorated In Season 10

LaRoyce Hawkins discussed the teasing that Chicago PD receives from cast members of other One Chicago shows in an interview. The franchise co-stars playfully mock the police procedural for featuring realistic stories. As the most grounded installment in the Wolf-produced franchise, Chicago PD's narratives closely mirror the events happening on the streets of the Windy City. Voight's Intelligence Unit tirelessly pursues drug dealers and gangs causing trouble, often finding themselves entangled in gang wars.

Regrettably, this lighthearted joke draws attention to the lack of authentic and compelling storylines in the tenth season of Chicago PD. While the show still touches upon these subjects, the impact feels minimal as the NBC series rarely dedicates more than one episode to tackle them. Season 10 has seen a dearth of multi-episode story arcs, which is exacerbated by the attempt to connect each narrative to a single member of the Intelligence Unit. As a result, the show feels disjointed, with the squad essentially starting anew every week.

NBC Has Forgotten What Made Chicago PD Great

With the departure of Halstead in Chicago PD season 10, the show fails to properly explore the impact of his abrupt resignation beyond Hailey Upton's perspective. The rest of the Intelligence team moves forward without addressing or coming to terms with the situation. This neglect highlights a significant oversight in the show's storytelling, as it fails to prioritize the aftermath of Halstead's departure, which is an essential aspect of the ensemble's camaraderie, a key appeal of the series.

Additionally, season 10 lacks the political-leaning narratives that typically drive Voight's storyline. As the leader of Intelligence and with his complex image within the Chicago police force, watching Voight navigate the city's influential figures was previously a compelling way to develop his character. Unfortunately, in season 10, Voight's interactions with high-profile players are limited and his engagement with ASA Nina Chapman and the tragic fate of the chief of police are the only notable instances.

Finally, the lack of collaboration among the Intelligence officers is also disheartening. One would expect the show to emphasize this aspect, especially after Halstead's departure and Dante Torres' arrival. However, that is not the case. Rather than showcasing the group as a unified team, season 10 of Chicago PD decides to split them up by assigning cases that have personal connections to each individual. While this concept holds promise, its execution falls short. By focusing primarily on specific characters, the rest of the cast is sidelined, resulting in very few opportunities for the unit to effectively work together.

What Chicago PD Season 11 Can Do To Fix The Series

Chicago PD season 10 has faced setbacks, but there is hope for the show through implementing necessary changes. The main priority should be addressing the aforementioned issues. The backbone of this police procedural lies in its ensemble cast. Many fans have already developed a connection with these characters. However, NBC cannot fully utilize the potential of this talented ensemble if they constantly split them up and have them pursue individual storylines. It is crucial for them to bring the team back together and revive the collaborative dynamic that was prevalent in earlier seasons of Chicago PD.

Due to its procedural format, Chicago PD can only achieve limited success when solely focusing on episodic cases. As it approaches its first decade on air, the show runs the risk of becoming repetitive. To maintain fan engagement, it is crucial to introduce diverse storylines. This entails balancing smaller cases with larger ones. The show has previously utilized this narrative approach, making it a familiar strategy. Moreover, reintroducing patrol officers could enhance the storytelling aspect of the series, while also providing the well-deserved spotlight for Trudy Platt.