Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 10 Review: Buried Pieces

It has become clear that Chicago P.D. takes each episode as an opportunity to highlight one particular unit member. However, there is a tendency to focus on Upton-centered episodes, and Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 10, “Buried Pieces,” is no exception.

Could it be because Tracy Spiridakos is leaving the show at the end of the season? Are all these episodes preparing us for her departure?

Whatever the case, it seems quite a loss for potentially great stories to leave the rest of the cast on the sidelines.

The truth is that on Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 10, “Buried Pieces,” the best scenes involve the entire team. Even the scenes with Petrovic are more interesting than the solo Upton moments.

Scenes with the entire unit involved give characters like Trudy the chance to shine. And isn’t it time she got more screen time?

When Hope walks into the district and is seemingly more open to trusting Trudy first because she is wearing her police uniform, it is the perfect chance to make Trudy the leading officer in the case.

It’s been a long time since we last saw her be the main focus of an episode, and it would be great to give her that role again.

As much as audiences may love Upton, all her episodes are the same. She is lonely, stressed, and sad. Nothing has changed since Jay’s departure.

These are all clear signs that she is going to leave, but do we have to spend so much time on a repetitive storyline?

Petrovic’s character has great potential. Her job, her past, and her alcoholism would make for great storylines.

However, every time she shows up, she becomes a catalyst for Upton’s feelings. On Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 8, “On Paper,” she points out Upton is running away from something, and they’re not too different.

On Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 10, “Buried Pieces,” she pushes Upton to realize everything she does with her is because of her father. That eventually makes Upton say that’s why she chose to become a detective.

Still, there could be so much more to explore with Petrovic’s character. If Dick Wolf’s universe can guarantee something, it is that people love a good SVU detective.

Hopefully, her character will pop up again before the season ends, and we’ll see more of who she is. After all, it is her lead that helps understand the case better.

With Voight’s absence (which can be felt throughout the episode), we become even more aware of how similar Upton is to him.

When Trudy tells her it’s her call what to do with the new case since Voight is out, Upton doesn’t hesitate to take charge. In the same way, she doesn’t hesitate to cover for Jo, which is something Voight would have done.

Less violently, Upton is willing to follow in Voight’s footsteps to get things done, which is probably one of the things that stands out the most from her character.

Even when everything else in her life is falling apart, Upton is still a good cop. Just like Voight, this is all she has now.

Who really is she without the job? It seems she is trying to figure that out herself.

Even though it has been nice to have one-character-centric episodes, it would be even better to continue watching this team work together. They are better when collaborating, and the episodes are far more entertaining.

Hopefully, the remainder of Chicago P.D. Season 11 will allow the Intelligence Unit to shine as one and not as separate individuals.

Maybe then we might get a happy episode with Kim and Adam’s wedding, which has been forgotten ever since his proposal.

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Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.

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