[This story contains spoilers from the May 22 finale of Chicago PD, “More.”]
Chicago PD’s season 11 finale — titled “Extra” — provides its viewers extra than simply an emotional sendoff of longtime fan-favorite character Detective Hailey Upton, performed by Tracy Spiridakos, a younger, loner police officer who spent almost eight seasons coping with deep emotional traumas from her backstory (her father was an alcoholic and bodily abused her mom, Upton and her siblings after they had been kids). However the season’s thirteenth episode additionally offered closure for Jason Beghe’s Sergeant Hank Voight, who, like his protégé Upton, additionally walked a solitary path of loneliness and despair. However, had been they alone?
“Extra” reveals that Upton and Voight might have felt alone, however they really had one another. Subconsciously and consciously, they held each other up of their shattered lives of previous failures, regrets, pains and heartaches. However for the 2 of them to actually see and really feel that bond, it could take violence, blood and each of them to be on the precipice of dying.
The season finale picks up the place episode 12 left off, with the entire Chicago PD Intelligence Unit converging on Voight’s dwelling. Final week, Upton and the squad had confirmed {that a} civilian lockup worker named Frank Matson was the important thing suspect serial killer who had contact with Noah (a teen Voight took in after being tortured in episode seven, and recaptured and murdered in episode eight). The group may now show that Matson was the lone contact with all of the victims who had been discovered tortured and murdered, their mutilated our bodies put them in barrels like Noah’s. However Matson had focused Voight as his subsequent sufferer and slipped a drug in his drink at a bar.
Once we first see Voight within the finale, he’s at an undisclosed location, nonetheless woozy from being drugged, tied to a chair and at last face-to-face with Matson, Noah’s killer. Matson is aware of he doesn’t have a lot time and tells Voight that he shall be his final sacrifice. However earlier than he kills him, he wants the police sergeant to do what he asks of all his victims: name the particular person he loves probably the most, in order that Voight can watch that particular person die first. Voight, in fact, says he’s not calling anybody. Voight additionally believes there isn’t any one to name. However Matson has been finding out Voight. He knew of his relationship with Noah, and he noticed his deeper reference to Upton. He needs the decision to go to Upton. Matson begins the chopping and torture course of to get Voight to bend to his will.
Voight’s will is robust. He gained’t name Upton. In a single occasion, he shifts his physique and causes Matson to provide him a extra mortal chest wound than anticipated. The wound is probably the most shocking scene of the finale.
Hoovering on dying, Voight begins to hallucinate. Out the shadows, he sees somebody sitting and watching him. The digital camera then focuses on Voight’s greatest pal and former companion, Detective Alvin Olinsky performed by Elias Koteas (in season 5, Olinsky took the wrap for killing the assassin of Voight’s son, though Voight really killed the man. He went to jail, and earlier than Voight may get him out, an inmate stabbed him to dying).
“What you get into this time, Hank?” Olinsky asks.
“Is that this what it felt like?” Voight asks his previous pal. “I’m okay to exit like this …” The ghost of Olinsky tells Voight that Upton shouldn’t be okay with it, and it isn’t his time to die. At that second, Voight and viewers can hear that Matson is again. He has tricked Upton, who has been searching for her surrogate father. And sure, she did come!
Upton struggles with Matson and manages to injure him. She breaks away to search out Voight within the basement of an empty home. Voight shouldn’t be happy to see her, as she can be injured whereas fleeing from Matson. “What are you doing right here? Do you ever consider your personal security?” Voight moans. “I’m undeserving! Do you suppose I need this? No dad would need this!” Upton unties Voight and will get him to drag himself collectively. They each overpower Matson, and Voight beats his head into the basement concrete till he’s useless.
Spiridakos, who joined the Dick Wolf police drama in season 4, had introduced that this season can be her final. With the finale marking her anticipated exit, The Hollywood Reporter just lately caught up with Spiridakos and Chicago PD showrunner Gwendolyn Sigan to speak concerning the surprising finale, the connection between Upton and Voight, and if there’s extra life for Upton within the Dick Wolf universe.
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Tracy, what was probably the most troublesome scene so that you can shoot for the finale?
TRACY SPIRIDAKOS The scene I used to be most intimidated to shoot was most likely additionally my favourite. It was the scene with me and Jason [Beghe] when, after the hospital, he and I are sitting in his workplace. And it’s the place he provides her permission to do what she must do for herself. I used to be nervous and intimidated. I simply needed to verify we received it proper. Jason and I all the time have a lot enjoyable working collectively; we had been equally excited however nervous. It turned out to be my favourite scene.
Gwen, we realized from this season that Voight and Hailey’s traumas had been kind of interconnected. They had been loners however on the similar time, perhaps subconsciously, leaned on one another as if in a father-daughter relationship. Am I on the precise path right here?
GWENDOLYN SIGAN Yeah, undoubtedly! Over the seasons they’ve actually grown into that. And, as a author, when you see it on the display — each time we see Tracy and Jason in scenes, you simply wish to write extra of it. So, it finally ends up turning into a giant a part of the present. They understood one another. I feel they’ve loads of the identical fears, this inside turmoil that goes on, and so there’s virtually this kinship. And they’re able to push one another.
Over the seasons, we’ve already seen that Hailey was by no means intimidated to inform him what she thought and the place he was not fulfilling some best. And the identical factor with him. He despatched her away as soon as [in season seven, Voight sent Upton away because she was exhibiting some erratic behavior. Her character popped up on season two, episode 19 of the series FBI on CBS]. He all the time was that particular person. The daddy-daughter of all of it I feel was all the time baked in, however was one thing we actually needed to dig into this season as a result of it’s additionally this gap in Hailey’s life that wanted to be stuffed in order that she may have some readability and therapeutic. And, for Jason too. So, it was a pleasant easy arc there for us.
Tracy, that scene between you and Jason that you just talked about earlier, the goodbye scene, wasn’t jarring, however mild, as if Voight may sense what was coming earlier than you stated it. Are you able to expound on that some extra?
SPIRIDAKOS At the very least from how I felt, it’s like he knew. However there’s additionally a disappointment that comes with that for him too, proper? They’re so shut, and it’s realizing that that is one thing she must do for herself, but additionally meaning you’re going to be saying goodbye, and that could be a troublesome factor to do. The timing of it was so fantastic, the place they’ve come from this loopy factor the place they each virtually died. They’re each in very uncooked locations. And Voight reads folks so effectively, and he is aware of Hailey so effectively. So, when the dialog begins to go in that route, he is aware of earlier than she is aware of, which actually was an exquisite factor.
It’s him giving her the permission to look into issues additional with out feeling responsible, with out feeling like she’s going to lose one thing and him. And saying, “you already know we love you and we’re all the time right here, and the door is all the time open for you.” I feel that allowed her to enter this route in a really totally different approach than we’ve seen Hailey earlier than, in a really completely satisfied sendoff. And I don’t suppose that she would have been capable of get there if not for the entire issues that occurred main as much as that second.
Jason Beghe and Tracy Spiridakos in Chicago PD.
Lori Allen/NBC
Gwen, when did you consider bringing Elias Koteas again to the present for what audiences might discover an equally heart-wrenching scene of Voight close to dying and hallucinating about seeing his former companion, Detective Alvin Olinsky? When I talked to Jason not way back, he spoke about having an precise near-death expertise after a automobile accident some 20 years in the past.
SIGAN That was one thing that Jason, himself, has actually been eager to do for a number of years: discover a strategy to carry him again. And we had this nice alternative to take action with the story, with how weak, and the way bodily weak, he was to have that truly make some sense, and really feel actually fulfilling and satisfying for the viewers. So, it was extremely particular, because it as a bunch of people that missed him, and who actually love seeing him on display and dealing with him. It was so good to carry him again! That scene was stunning. They simply couldn’t have been higher in it.
Tracy, is Upton going to FBI (CBS)? We see her taking a look at these totally different businesses — I noticed you taking a look at that FBI software! And, we all know she made a visitor look in season two.
SPIRIDAKOS (Laughs) No, not that I do know of. No. , I feel the concept of that was simply that she’s exploring what her choices are and she or he’s seeing what else is on the market. However for me, I didn’t fill within the clean. The place I left it was that she is feeling completely satisfied about this resolution for herself, and she or he’s taking her life in a distinct route. And we don’t know what that’s and what that’s going to appear like for her, however I really like that it got here from such a spot of peace, which is the primary time we’ve actually gotten to see that along with her.
What about for you, personally? What are a few of your plans or hopes to do now that you just’re shifting on from the present?
SPIRIDAKOS I don’t know, we solely completed, what, three weeks in the past? So, most likely, undoubtedly going to go go to some household, go to Greece and go see my household. After which that’s it. That’s so far as I received. (Laughs)
Will you come again to go to?
SPIRIDAKOS Completely! Completely! I’ve made such nice nice friendships and relationships in [Chicago] and on the present. I undoubtedly am going to be again in Chicago, and I’m going to run on set and hug each single particular person I see. I can’t wait!
Gwen, did the season accomplish all the pieces you got down to inform?
SIGAN Yeah, it actually did! It actually all got here collectively and I feel this finale has been so good as a result of, creatively, there’s a little bit of all people in it. There’s simply a lot. And so that you take a look at it and I’m very pleased with that component of it, that there’s a bit of all people in that finale.
Chicago PD streams on Peacock.