Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 3 Review: Off Switch

Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 3, “Off Switch,” is an excellent reminder of the kind of cop Kevin Atwater is. He has a tenderness about himself that comes from raising his siblings, which helps him connect with victims of heinous crimes. This is what gets the witness to trust him after witnessing the worst massacre of her life.

But even with this side of him, he never lets anyone around him forget his dedication to the job. No matter what’s been going on, he always shows up and gives his best in every case. This may also include standing up against the blue wall; he won’t ever back down.

However, even the strongest and most dedicated men may get overwhelmed. Kevin is experiencing this as he deals with things at home, the chaos of the building he is renting out, and a new co-worker who pushes him to go against his gut.

If we are honest, the case in which the Intelligence Unit works on this episode isn’t groundbreaking or innovative. On the contrary, it feels very repetitive, as does Kevin’s involvement.

Once again, there is a burglary that involves dead people. The only witness is quite unreliable, and in the end, they discover she is connected to one of the robbers. She gets hurt protecting him and asks the police not to hurt him. Sounds familiar, right?

Not too long ago, Atwater was the first person on the scene of an armed robbery in a jewelry store. He watched people die and felt responsible for the death of one of the men. That is almost exactly what happens on “Off Switch.”

The big difference is that Kevin doesn’t feel guilty because he cannot save the woman on the scene, but because he doesn’t listen to his instinct, he sends her home when he knows she has more information.

It is very obvious the moment the witness sees the photo of one of the offenders that she knows who robbed the store and killed the employees. Kevin notices that at the same time the audience does, but while we’re screaming for him to ask more questions, he is listening to the forensic psychologist. This mistake is shortly proven as such.

Throughout the episode, one can completely sympathize with Atwater and what he is going through. It is realistic to become overwhelmed while handling several things in life.

However, we definitely cannot sympathize with and disagree with Kevin’s showing up at Val’s door to apologize for blaming her and the way he spoke to her. Granted, it is understandable that he wants to apologize for the tone in which he talked to her, but that’s all he should do.

There is no reason for him to apologize for telling her the truth. If Val hadn’t pushed for the witness to go home, she wouldn’t have been attacked. Kevin should have paid attention to his experience and listened to his gut.

This apology only pushes Kevin and Val into a sexual interaction that has been building up since the beginning of the episode. They meet at a bar and start flirting, but it all gets cut short because Kevin must leave. The end of the episode and his apology are just an excuse for that encounter to end in something.

It will only mean something if Val sticks around and we finally see Atwater have a meaningful romantic relationship that won’t be based on lies and end in heartbreak.

Even though there have so far been three episodes of Chicago P.D. Season 12, as viewers, we begin to wonder if the show’s answer to Upton’s departure is introducing a different woman per episode.

First, it was Mantel, then Officer Cook, and now Val. Could it be that no other woman can occupy a spot in the Intelligence Unit?

If that is the case, we are lucky Kim Burgess makes it back on “Off Switch.” As disappointing as it was not to see her be part of Ruzek’s episode, it makes sense that the show didn’t take away from him by bringing her back.

However, it also makes sense that she returns for an Atwater-centric episode. Their friendship is the longest relationship (outside of his family) that we’ve seen Atwater in. She is the most loyal person he has by his side.

It’ll be interesting to see if Val sticks around, whether Atwater opens up to Kim about what is going on or keeps it a secret until it’s inevitable, like in his last relationship.

Chicago P.D. Season 12 is off to a good start, but the show must introduce more innovative cases for viewers to stay engaged. Repeating storylines only pushes viewers to wander off during the episode.

Hopefully, the revolving door of new women will finally lead to someone worthy of the spot left open by Upton. Whether one liked that character or not, she left big shoes to fill, and it doesn’t seem anyone will fill them soon.

Luckily, the female representation will always be in good hands with Burgess and Platt.

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

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