Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 18 Review: The Wicked River
Everybody knows Atwater is a family man, and Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 18, “The Wicked River,” proves that further. His desire to bring Tasha Fox back home from Miami so she can be close when they have the baby is a continuation of the work he has done for his family.
It is clear that even though they are navigating a new relationship (if we can even call it that before the end of the episode), he will not leave her and their baby alone.
Atwater’s conviction and dedication are what make him stand out, and that’s not going to change now.
It even makes sense that he told no one about the pregnancy. When Fox asks him about this, he says it was because he didn’t know what they were. However, we understand that Atwater keeps things close to his chest when he’s trying to protect them and keep them sacred.
There is something that must be said about the episodes that focus on Atwater. While they continue to prove why he’s so good at his job and the kind heart he has, the cases usually fall flat.
Yes, there is a shocking and perfect plot twist in this case, but nothing about it screams memorable. The episode will be remembered for the start (or restart) of his relationship with Fox rather than for the work he does.
Maybe that’s the key to why the show works so well. Maybe the fans have come to love it because, at the end of the day, they get to hold on to the characters and their storylines rather than the gruesome cases they work on.
Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see an important, life-changing, nerve-wracking case take place during one (or more) of Atwater’s episodes.
It’s also very interesting to see Voight and Atwater working together because they are so different. Atwater, unlike everyone Voight has ever mentored, is never willing to get off book.
On the contrary, he plays by the rules even if it means putting himself or his job in danger. We have seen him go against other cops and risk his team because he wouldn’t compromise his integrity. That is one of the things that viewers love about him.
So it’s always entertaining to watch him and Voight collaborate closely on a case. It feels like Voight understands Atwater’s essence and lets him be. He doesn’t second-guess his moves or question what he does because he knows he will get the results they want.
There is an understanding between them that has allowed Atwater to forge his own path while becoming an irreplaceable part of the Intelligence Unit.
There’s a tiny moment on Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 18, “The Wicked River,” that could be labeled as cute and shows the relationships these characters have formed throughout the years.
When Fox helps Atwater bring the suspect down, he gets worried that she may have injured herself. The moment she says the suspect didn’t go near her belly, Ruzek looks at Burgess to confirm he heard right. She nods, and he smiles in recognition to later congratulate Atwater.
None of them is mad that Atwater kept this a secret because they understand. Their relationship goes beyond that, and they will still show up to support him when he’s ready for it.
It’ll be interesting to see how Tasha Fox fits into this dynamic when she’s back in Chicago.
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.