Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 1 Review: Ten Ninety-Nine

Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 1, “Ten Ninety-Nine,” makes it very clear everyone in the Intelligence Unit uses work to cover other issues. In the same way Upton worked overtime after her divorce, Voight overworks the team after his near-death experience.

Scene after scene, we see him take on more cases. He lives in the office, changing his shirt without going home and dropping cases on the team’s desks without explanation.

Even though the MO is the same as in the past, this time, Voight’s desire to bury what happened is having repercussions on the entire unit.

Two moments show us he is dealing with some PTSD.

The first one happens at the stash house when he’s watching the man die in front of him. The world around him stops, and one can quickly tell he’s being taken back to his own almost-death.

The second is when Rabbit gets shot, and Voight keeps telling him to fight it. The room turns blue until the paramedics walk in, making viewers feel the fear he is feeling in that moment and when he was kidnapped.

The overworking and these two moments make us wonder if Voight is genuinely ready to be back at work. He is definitely still working through something, and that’s affecting the way he leads the unit.

He didn’t like it when Upton did that, so why would he allow himself to do the same? It’s always easier said than done, which becomes evident as the episode continues.

It is true, however, that it’s not rare to see Voight go off the rails. He’s always beaten to the rhythm of his own drum, and that’s how he’s always led the team.

This time feels different because his drum beats faster and without a pause.

The difference lies in his actions. Yes, he enters a home without a warrant, but the usual violence isn’t there. He is working at a pace no one can keep up with, but he’s doing it more by the book than before (still not entirely legal).

The usual Voight would act violently when lied to, but this one doesn’t. This one gives suspects an option, almost like a way out.

At first, one may think this is because he doesn’t want to experience death again. His encounter left him soft if that’s a word we could ever use to describe Hank Voight.

But by the end of the episode, we understand he’s doing it to honor an unspoken promise made to Olinsky.

Throughout Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 1, “Ten Ninety-Nine,” it becomes obvious that the team is tired and overworked, but no one can confront Voight. In the past, Lindsay, Halstead, or Upton would have done it, but none of them are around.

Ruzek tries to do it but has no success. Trudy is the only other possible option, but she knows better.

It is only Chapman who dares say something. Does it work? Absolutely not. No one can really stop Hank Voight.

However, it gives us a better understanding of what is happening.

Like Chapman, we may think he is escaping death. He survived but never wants that to catch up with him again. No.

When he mentions Alvin, we may think it’s a case of survivor’s guilt. He is still here, and Olinsky isn’t, so he’s struggling. No.

The truth is he’s honoring the fact that it was Alvin (hallucination or not) who kept him alive. “There’s more” is the thing that’s keeping him going. More to do with the life he earned.

But as much as the ending helps us better understand Voight, it comes after spending Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 1, “Ten Ninety-Nine,” wondering why he doesn’t realize his actions are affecting the people around him.

The first one is Adam when he gets a gun pulled at him. Maybe that wouldn’t have happened if they had done things more carefully.

The second one is Rabbit getting shot. He might have never gotten shot if they had had another plan or had been able to plan at all.

The third one is Martel dying. Does her getting shot have anything to do with the million cases he worked the last few weeks? Or is it the wrong place at the wrong time?

Hopefully, the upcoming episode will explore that. Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 1, “Ten Ninety-Nine,” doesn’t give viewers enough time with Martel to care about her death. However, viewers care about who it affects: Ruzek.

Will he feel guilty for her death?

After Chicago P.D. Season 11 focused on a character per episode, it might seem like Chicago P.D. Season 12 is following the same formula. Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 1, “Ten Ninety-Nine,” is about Voight.

Martel’s death at the end makes the audience feel like the next episode will focus on Ruzek.

This formula only works if the team still works together. After a decade on the air, Chicago P.D. must remember the show works because every piece of the unit fits perfectly.

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

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