Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 21 Review: Born or Made
Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 21, “Born or Made,” proves that the show’s formula of focusing on a character per episode does play well in the long run. While there are times the stories aren’t explored as they should, it pays off in cases like Imani’s.
If Shari had died after telling her sister she always belonged to Russ, the story would have been the most disappointing one we’ve seen in a while. The entire buildup of Imani’s storyline would have been pointless.
Instead, the season finale pushes Imani to a place she never imagined for herself. She believed that after finding Shari, they’d go back to being a family, but the reality is not that.
Arienne Mandi delivers her best performance of the season in the first few minutes of the episode. Her facial expressions show the viewers exactly what Imani is feeling as she realizes Shari doesn’t remember her.
There is a clear contrast between the sisters. On the one hand, Imani’s life has been dictated by her sister’s kidnapping. She has spent every breathing moment looking for her.
On the other hand, Shari has been brainwashed to the point that she is willing to kill her sister to keep Russ safe.
While Imani is busy reminiscing and trying to make Shari remember, her sister uses this to manipulate her. Every feeling and emotion Imani displays is immediately used against her to save the man who took her sister.
It is quite interesting to see the team realize how Imani is fooling herself, trying to believe that’s still her sister. They know that nothing they say to her will change her mind.
From the very beginning, Voight can tell there’s something off about Shari. He knows that Imani won’t see it, so they have to protect her. And his choice is the perfect one: have Torres keep an eye on her.
Voight’s gut tells him Shari is more involved in Lila’s murder than they expected. This is confirmed when they discover the stiletto knife belongs to Shari. She isn’t who Imani thinks she is, and they have to protect her.
Hank spends the entire episode trying to protect Imani from the truth. But the mentee who would once have listened to him is long gone and is only focusing on her feelings.
This does give us a chance to see a bit of the “old” Voight when he has the chance to kill Russ. He doesn’t stop, he keeps going until he feels the threat is gone.
Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 21, “Born or Made,” brings Imani face-to-face with her biggest fear. Her sister, the one she remembered, is gone, and she has to come to terms with that.
To keep protecting her, Voight won’t keep things off the record. Instead, Shari will go to prison because that’s the only way they can help her.
However, we’re left wondering what will become of Imani. Where does her story go on Chicago P.D.Season 14?
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!
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Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
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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.