Hailey Upton’s exit officially ends Chicago PD‘s opportunity to make up for its worst character assassination. Intelligence is known for many things. Its proficiency and dedication to solving a case are some of them, and that’s thanks to its small but capable team led by Hank Voight. Each member of the squad brings something to the table, which is why it can function even when it’s understaffed, which has been the case for the last few years. Still, it isn’t easy when Chicago PD loses a character, especially one as pivotal as Tracy Spiridakos’ Hailey Upton.
Much has been said about the drawbacks of Upton’s exit. That includes Intelligence getting much smaller and Voight losing his right-hand person. One Chicago was secretly building up her departure for a while. Although she only talked to Voight about it in the Chicago PD season 11 finale, which saw the return of Alvin Olisnky, she had been itching for a new start ever since it became clear that her marriage was over. She will be missed, but as she left, she also took away the series’ ability to make up for ruining one of its best characters — Jay Halstead.
Intelligence needs to replace Upton in season 12, and her best replacement is a forgotten Chicago PD original character last seen five years ago.
How Chicago PD Ruined Jay Halstead Before His Exit
Halstead’s Exit Was Rushed And Puzzling
As an original cast member, Jesse Lee Soffer played an integral role in the earliest years of the One Chicago series. Known for being principled, he butt heads with Voit early on because of the Intelligence leader’s penchant for toeing the line between legal and illegal when working on a case. Halstead functioned as the team’s moral compass. He was also loyal and committed both to his personal and professional relationships. Somehow, however, he significantly changed just before he left. Most of his actions then were uncharacteristic, that’s why Halstead’s Chicago PD season 10 exit was so disappointing.
Chicago PD Fails To Redeem Jay Halstead Before Upton’s Exit
Halstead Didn’t Even Get To Properly Apologize To Upton For Abandoning Her
Beyond his impulsive decision to leave Chicago, arguably the worst thing that Halstead did in Chicago PD was abandoning his wife. Before he left, he promised that he would come back after 8 months. At this point, Halstead and Upton had just been married for a short period. His wife waited, but he didn’t return. Halstead just ghosted her, which was arguably worse because it was continued torture for Upton until they decided to get a divorce. Even after that, there was hope that Halstead could come to his senses and come back to her. That, too, didn’t happen.
While seeking out Upton wouldn’t have erased all the hurt that he inflicted upon her, at least it would have been proof that he realized that he made a big mistake, and he was remorseful about it.
With Upton no longer in Chicago PD, the police procedural no longer has the chance to fully make up for destroying Halstead’s character. He hasn’t even properly apologized for the way he treated her. For long-time viewers of the procedural, it was difficult to watch Halstead act like a total jerk. While seeking out Upton wouldn’t have erased all the hurt that he inflicted upon her, at least it would have been proof that he realized that he made a big mistake, and he was remorseful about it. Sadly, none of that can’t happen now in Chicago PD season 12.