Chicago P.D. Season 10 Episode 8 Review: Under the Skin
Chicago P.D. Season 10 Episode 8, “Under the Skin,” allows us to see Kim Burgess’s full potential while Marina Squerciati proves once more the immense range of her acting talent.
The title of the episode makes sense to us viewers immediately as it starts by showing the scars on Kim’s skin. This is a huge tell on how the episode will develop and what it will mean for Burgess.
Even though everything seemed to be going just fine for this cop, “Under the Skin” shows us Chicago P.D. will always have an unexpected turn that will make us want to keep watching.
For a long time now, Chicago P.D.‘s focus has been on Hailey Upton’s storyline. Her story became a bit more entertaining with the introduction of Sean O’Neil, but other than that it was becoming tiresome to focus only on one detective.
To make the episode work and allow Burgess to shine, Chicago P.D. shows us how Voight sends Upton on vacation telling her to spend her time however she wants to. Now, the rest of the team gets to be front and center.
Sadly, this front and center means Kim must revisit her trauma and deal with the aftermath of her shooting. We begin to notice that it isn’t just the scars that haunt her.
Choosing to show flashbacks from the episode in which Kim was shot is the perfect choice to remind fans of her pain and showcase her current struggle.
The truth is that Chicago P.D. never gave Kim the opportunity to have closure. She doesn’t know Hailey killed the man who shot her. According to Burgess, the man is still a fugitive.
So, it makes sense that after all this time she is still struggling to come to terms with what happened to her. She was alone, losing hope, and feeling death taking over, and now has no one to bring to justice for the crimes done to her.
I believe the scene between Kim and the victim in the suspect’s basement was perfect to try and tie up a few loose ends. Burgess is telling the woman everything she wished someone would have told her when she was shot.
It is this precise moment on Chicago P.D. that shows us the kind of cop and woman she is. Those personal experiences that may have been traumatizing make her better at her job. Kim adds a personal twist to everything she does.
There are several things that Chicago P.D. does right on this episode. Trudy breaking into the squad room with new relevant information is one of them. It is her presence that breaks with the monotony and routine of the Intelligence Unit.
In the same realm of breaking with the routine, it helps the audience understand the case better when the team begins listing all types of serial killers and describing them. Usually, Chicago P.D. doesn’t give us that many details.
The detectives focus on the suspects and the victims, at times forgetting it is important for the fans to gather more information. This change of pace is nice and helps make sense of the serial killer they are now after.
Last but not least, the show does a great job at highlighting Kim’s mood when she forgets her gun. There is this cop who is always organized and is sure of herself but now forgets her gun during one of the tensest moments of the episode.
These are the details that captivate us as viewers and make us connect with the show and the characters better.
During the first minutes of “Under the Skin,” Chief O’Neal threatens to remove Voight from his current role if he doesn’t take the case he is being assigned. This is an obvious move to get the Intelligence Unit distracted from investigating his son.
However, because we know the team never backs down, it doesn’t surprise us to see Hailey is still investigating. But the best part is that it is Kim who makes the biggest revelation towards the end of the episode.
Chicago P.D. gives this woman the opportunity to prove to herself that even though she may be struggling, she is still incredibly good at her job. Everything she has gone through has prepared her to be the best at what she does.
Now, it will be interesting to see what happens with Sean and how they continue to go after him when his father is creating every barrier possible.
Stray Observations
- It is nice to see more of Kim and Adam’s relationship at home with their daughter. Their relationship has been explored every season and a happy ending seems to be getting closer and closer.
- The conversation between Kevin and Torres about his mom driving him to work is a nice touch. It helps to learn more about the personal lives of these characters and how they all bond.
- Kim making questions towards the end of the episode as to why people do certain things looks like another way for her to get the closure she needs.
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What did you think of this episode of Chicago P.D.? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9 on NBC.
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.