Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 9 Review: Friends and Family

Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 9, “Friends and Family,” is the perfect balance between Cook’s personal and professional lives. Everything we learn about her in this episode proves that she belongs in the Intelligence Unit.

The contrast between her life with her father and the distance from her mother explains perfectly what her life was like growing up. Even though we are just getting to know her character, this episode opens the door for viewers to better understand who she is.

This formula Chicago P.D. has been following, in which each episode focuses on one member of the unit, allows viewers to connect better with the characters, understand their storylines, and form bonds even with those characters who have been around from the beginning. For Kiana Cook, it is the perfect way to solidify her presence in the team and on the show.

Cook is clearly still learning the ropes and finding her footing within the unit and as an officer. During the episode, the one thing that makes her stand out as a rookie is her promise to the dying father.

What every cop has said on the show is that you cannot promise the victims that you’ll find their family or bring someone home safe. In the heat of the moment, Cook promises him that she will find his family.

Even though both parents die, Cook is the one to find the girls and bring them home. One way or another, the promise is kept, but it is an extra pressure and a burden that Kiana places on herself. Maybe it motivates her to do her job better, but it could eventually backfire on her if she’s unable to keep a promise.

However, it is obvious that her dedication to her job and the case is strong. She goes as far as offering personal cash for the ransom and getting in touch with her mother after three years to make sure that the girls are safe.

Everything she does throughout the episode proves she is willing to do whatever it takes to be good at her job and fit in. Adam’s approval at the end of the episode is that confirmation she needed to know the team is letting her in.

Of course, she doesn’t need Ruzek to tell her she is doing a good job, but it helps keep her motivated and proves she is right where she needs to be.

There is something significant about Ruzek being the one who tells her she is doing a good job. He was the one to work with her first and to vouch for her (the same way Torress did) to join the team.

However, it is even more significant that he is the one who witnesses the interaction with her mom.

Up until that point, Cook’s personal life seemed like a mystery. We knew where she was raised, but that was it. As Ruzek is learning about her family’s wealth and the kind of relationship she has with her mom, so are the viewers.

On Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 2, “Blood Bleeds Blue,” it was through Ruzek’s interactions with her that, as viewers, we got to meet Cook. Now, on Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 9, “Friends and Family,” we also learn a new side of this character through him.

It’ll be interesting to see how this relationship continues to develop, as they seem to be the perfect fit to work together within the unit. This proves the team can blend, share partners, and work together.

Besides Cook’s incredible work, there are two things to be highlighted.

The first is that Voight also makes a rookie mistake by breaking into the house on his own without checking if it is a trap. He does this in the heat of the moment, forgetting that it could be a trap and that the girls could be in danger. Lo and behold, it is a trap.

The second is how Voight turns the tables on the Deputy Chief. If he wants to be friends, the friendship will have to work both ways because Voight always prioritizes the well-being of the victims. The chief probably didn’t expect this when holding Torres’s mistake over Voight’s head.

Chicago P.D. Season 12 is definitely getting interesting, and it’s exciting to think about what could happen next. It is clear the Deputy Chief will stick around and make things more complicated for the unit.

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

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