Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 5 Review: Split Second

The moment Kevin starts screaming “Stay down” on Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 5, “Split Second,” we know something terrible is about to happen. After such a violent shooting and watching the victim die helplessly, it is understandable that Kevin feels guilty for the rest of the episode.

But watching the dead bodies, the blood, and the destruction of every jewelry store helps us understand that no matter what Kevin had done, the victim would have died. Even if the ME speculates he might have survived, nobody really knows.

Sadly, the victim’s family must mourn him while the shooter has a full recovery. It is Kevin’s duty to do his best to keep him alive, but both Teresa and himself feel terrible about the bad guy getting to live while her husband is gone.

Accountability for Everything

When Kevin’s dad shows up during the first scene of Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 5, “Split Second,” it is clear that he is there for a reason. We hadn’t seen him in a while, so his return will definitely help in some way.

Their first interaction mainly focuses on Jordan not wanting to see him and Kevin making excuses for him, which his dad understands. Shortly followed by Lew saying he will start paying rent at the building.

However, he is truly back to help be a voice of reason when Kevin is struggling with his decisions. Lew points out that it’s easier to know what you could or should have done after the fact.

But the most important thing Lew says is that Kevin is constantly wanting to take on the weight of the world and be held accountable for everything. This is something he cannot be accountable for, and he cannot let the regret swallow him whole.

It is nice to see Lew come back into the scene for something good instead of the troubles he has Kevin used to. Kevin is a strong, independent character who we know can take on everything, but it is nice to see him have the support he deserves.

Even though he continues to blame himself after their conversation, we know that now he has the supportive dad he had been missing all along.

Making a Difficult Choice

As a cop, Kevin has to make a decision: who does he go to first? Sadly, this time, his choice ends up in the death of a man.

It is clear that he carries this with him throughout the episode. He does mention it to his father, but he doesn’t talk about it with anyone on the team. This doesn’t mean they don’t notice what’s going on.

During a chase scene, Kevin decides to stay back and let the suspect run away in order to stay with a man who had been shot. Even though Adam confirms the man is okay, the bullet went through and through, and the ambulance is on their way; Kevin stays back.

Once again, he must make a difficult choice.

The hardest choice probably comes when he stops to help the killer inside Teresa’s home and apply pressure to his wound. Teresa refuses to help, wondering why he gets to live when he killed her husband.

As part of his job, Kevin must do everything in his power to keep this man alive. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel remorseful for having been able to save him and not Teresa’s husband.

Voight doesn’t say much at first on Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 5, “Split Second,” but he notices that Kevin is struggling with the case and with his choice.

Instead of directly telling him he sees what’s going on and he shouldn’t beat himself up, Voight mentions the “who do we choose training” in the academy. When Kevin says he doesn’t remember that training, Voight points out that is exactly the problem.

Nothing and no one prepares them for those situations. One must make a fast decision at the moment based on the evidence they have. Kevin did that to the best of his abilities.

Maybe what Voight says to him doesn’t change how he feels, but it does show the sergeant has been paying attention throughout the episode and understands why Kevin is struggling. It’s nice to see that Voight remembers there are more cops under his care besides Upton.

The Key

Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 5, “Split Second,” ends with Kevin going back to the scene of the crime and taking a look at the evidence left there. He finds the key to open the door that he was looking for right after the shooting to help the victim.

It becomes apparent that the key had been shot out of place, and that’s why he hadn’t been able to find it.

Does this mean he did the best he could, but he wouldn’t have been able to get to the victim in time?

Or does it further push the feeling of guilt on him, showing him if he had looked further, he would have been able to help?

Whatever the case may be, we hope Chicago P.D. doesn’t forget the way Kevin is feeling, and we get to see him deal with the aftermath of this case.

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

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