Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 16 Review: Restored
It fits Torres’s character that he is the one working the restorative justice program with a teenager on Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 16, “Restored.” His past and upbringing make him the perfect man for the job because he understands these teenagers.
While working with Malik, he seeks to connect with him and help him improve. But when he finds out what Malik did to Cam’s sister, he does everything in his power to make sure she is okay despite going to juvie.
Because he knows what it’s like to be in juvie, he advises the teenage girl on what to do and how to behave. He also makes himself available to her. He cannot make things go away because he must do what’s right, but he can offer his advice to keep her as safe as possible.
Torres has always worn his heart on his sleeve, making him see the cases and the people involved in a different light. This case is no different as he looks for ways to connect with everyone involved to get justice.
Working this case, Torres is trapped between doing what is right and what he wishes he could do. Like the audience, he understands how unfair everything is because Iyana didn’t get the justice she deserved after being sexually assaulted. Nevertheless, he cannot let her go free when she took matters into her own hands and killed Malik.
That dilemma would have thrown other officers off, but Torres never wavers. He stays the course, works the case like he knows how, and keeps investigating until he gets the correct answers.
Torres has come so far from the man who first joined the Intelligence Unit and worked with Jay Halstead. He is more mature, and he understands how to use his emotions to his advantage. Even though that doesn’t always work, he tries to stay as objective as possible.
A dynamic that is really fun to watch and worth exploring further is the one between Torres and Imani. They seem to understand each other, and there is a potential for their friendship to be as strong as the friendship between Atwater and Burgess.
Imani seems a lot like Torres, and the way she handles cases is quite similar to his. She sees him for exactly who he is, beyond his unofficial uniform of white T-shirt and jeans.
If the time ever comes for Imani’s sister’s case to be investigated by the team, we have a feeling Torres would be the one who understands her best. And there is absolutely no need for that understanding to cross into romantic lines. On the contrary, Imani remains the strongest contender to become the show’s first queer officer.
But even with their dynamic standing out, it is very clear that the team is at its strongest. Their relationships are tight, they understand each other, and know how to work as one. That is why the Intelligence Unit remains one of the best on TV.
What did you think of this episode of Chicago P.D.? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
Critic Rating:
Audience Rating:
Chicago P.D airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.