Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 7 Review: The Living and The Dead

One thing all Dick Wolf shows have in common is that the main character will always go off on their own, thinking they’re invincible. We believe Voight is doing that on Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 7, “The Living and The Dead.”

However, we are surprised for the better when (in one of the best shots we’ve seen on the show) dozens of flashlights follow his footsteps, looking for Noah. It looks like he put Noah’s safety first instead of simply trying to play the hero.

Sadly, it doesn’t pay off, and we know Voight will spend as many episodes as needed trying to catch the killer.

Voight’s Involvement

Throughout “The Living and The Dead,” there are signs of how much this case affects Voight. Some of them are explicit, like when he sits down to talk to Noah and tells him about Justin.

Voight tells Noah he reminds him of his son, which is the main reason this case becomes so personal to him. He connects his past to Noah’s story, and trying to save him is his way of wishing he could have saved Justin.

By the time he reaches the woods, it becomes clear to Voight that he won’t be able to save Noah, the same way he wasn’t able to save Justin.

However, this isn’t the only sign. Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 7, “The Living and The Dead,” starts with a recap of Chicago P.D. Season 11 Episode 6, “Survival,” showing us Voight’s involvement and why he took Noah back to his house.

With Noah’s screams and nightmares and the photos of the case spread out on his desk, the case is haunting him both at home and work. But we know this is what is driving him to catch the killer.

We rarely see scenes in the morgue and the team talking to the ME on Chicago P.D., but this time, Voight stays with the ME for the entire autopsy. Hearing what the doctor says isn’t enough; he has to watch the autopsy to ensure he gets all the evidence possible.

After that, there is one final hint that is extremely telling. In the 11 seasons Chicago P.D. has been on the air, few are the times we have seen Voight cuffing someone.

Even though he faces a judge and the consequences will be huge if they are mistaken, he does not hesitate to arrest the suspect and take him in for questioning.

The only reason he steps away from the interrogation is because of Noah’s call, knowing he is in danger. Once again, his parental side and the need to protect Noah win and push him to leave his job behind.

A Profiler

It is never easy to introduce new characters on a show that has been on for a long time, particularly when those characters are only on the show for an episode or we don’t know if they will stick around.

However, Chicago P.D. does a great job introducing Jo, the SVU detective and unofficial profiler Voight turns to when he realizes they need help.

Jo seems to be an odd character. It is clear she prefers working alone and being undisturbed, something that wouldn’t usually work in sync with the Intelligence Unit, where they all rely on one another.

It is because of her odd personality that Voight goes to her. Her reputation tells him she is the one who will help him solve the case. His reputation might have made her hesitant to take him up on his offer, but she does it regardless of that.

“The Living and The Dead” proves why Voight asks for Jo’s help and tells us the team should have listened to her a bit closer.

After finding out one of the other two victims was a prostitute, the team begins to work with a theory that points to the killer hunting the victims because of their line of work. This is something they believe to be confirmed when they find out Paul was also a prostitute.

However, Jo’s theory tells us the victims are being chosen because they have someone they love. The squad ignores this and ends up going after the wrong suspect.

Maybe Noah would have survived if they had listened to Jo. Will Voight wonder this himself as they continue to work the case?

The case is far from over, and if history tells us anything, Voight’s close involvement will probably lead him down some dark paths.

With more cases being left open on Chicago P.D. Season 11, we wonder how the show will manage to tie every loose end by the end of the season.

However, we hope the rest of the season follows this episode’s formula in which everyone on the team is involved. Every single one of them is an important part of the team’s success, and that’s the only way these cases will be closed.

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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 10/9c on NBC.

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