Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 21 Review: New Life

Benjamin Aguilar Levy continues to be a shiny spot and welcome addition to this sequence. It’s at all times thrilling to peel again some layers on this new character.

That stated, Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 21 was a complicated, underwhelming, redundant hour.

I will probably be brutally sincere with you guys; I did not know what was taking place for many of the hour.

It was time for a Torres-centric, and goodness is aware of these can sometimes be nice. He’s not solely an enchanting character, however he is nonetheless new and mysterious, to allow them to discover a treasure trove with him as we and the staff proceed to get to know him higher.

But was this the strongest Torres-centric they’ve produced this season? No. It wasn’t for lack of making an attempt on Aguilar’s half, who’s at all times fascinating to look at no matter what’s taking place.

Yes, I like the man, and it in all probability sounds repetitive at this level, but it surely’s no much less true.

But the case was general a weak one and extremely complicated. Frankly, if not for the same sentiment shared with different viewers whereas live-tweeting, I’d’ve assumed I used to be simply drained, and issues have been going over my head.

The drawback is that they by no means actually laid out what the case was within the first place. We jumped into some motion with Torres discovering a observe on his automotive, which in some way led him to a different car with a dying man in it.

And subsequent factor you recognize, they have been pushing this narrative that Torres had ties to Juan, who died, and we needed to clear up this homicide and perhaps different issues.

They threw so many random names at us, together with referencing the identical character with two completely different ones, which actually did not assist with the convolution.

And someplace alongside the best way, Torres’ ex, or was she his former crush, or no matter, was linked to Navarro, the one that killed Juan for some purpose and likewise a drug vendor or one thing.

Even in case you discover one thing, even in case you make one thing up, I do know you bought a grimy cop in your crew.

Navarro

I do not know. It took many of the installment to understand what the case was purported to be about, and there is an 80% probability a few of us in all probability by no means did.

The hour retreads some issues from Torres’ earlier centrics, including a bit extra background to his historical past and telling us the identical historical past without delay.

At least, it appeared we had already recognized a few of these issues about Torres earlier than, however perhaps we did not. Or was it simply that the staff did not?

Torres’ disturbing connection to the lifeless man that prompted the “dirty cop” claims was that he was an enforcer for this man and did horrible issues and harm many individuals.

Of course, this arose after his time spent in juvie for placing his stepfather in a wheelchair for beating his mom.

It is sensible, and it additionally felt as if we already surmised that Torres had a sordid previous and did some issues of their troubled neighborhood to guard his mom.

They offered this enforcer factor as if it was purported to be this large shocker, but it surely did not really feel that means, maybe as a result of it was in keeping with what we already knew or might learn between the traces about anyway.

We additionally heard this story that he had waterboarded and killed somebody named Paco. But that they had already pulled an identical stunt of feeding us this seemingly disturbing factor that Torres did solely to psych us out when it wasn’t because it appeared.

How lengthy are you able to maintain your breath?

Torres

It’s the identical factor they pulled when Halstead came upon the context behind how Torres went to juvie for assault. And frankly, similar to the primary time, there was zero doubt that Torres was on the up and up.

But it did not cease them from throwing out pink herrings or making issues awkward after we had Torres freaking out that his previous would get uncovered to his unit.

The drawback is that it did not really feel like one thing they would not have already recognized to a point earlier than. It additionally implies that Torres is naive sufficient to not assume that every one the opposite characters have their very own respective pasts.

And on that observe, it makes you marvel if Voight’s personal repute not exists. For many of the sequence, we have recognized that Voight has half town believing that HE’S a grimy cop and the division too.

Hailey: I do know you are still new to us, however in case you want one thing, I’ll be there, okay? Is there the rest I ought to learn about this case?
Dante: No, however thanks.

Is this one thing Torres by no means heard any whispers about earlier than becoming a member of this elite unit with vaguely shady individuals? As somebody who grew up on the opposite aspect of the regulation, did Torres by no means hear the slightest whispers about Voight in any respect?

If Torres knew something about Intelligence and its previous, he in all probability would not have been so paranoid about dropping his job due to his historical past.

And wasn’t the entire purpose he acquired chosen within the first place due to his historical past? So a lot of the idea behind this case and the motivations for Torres collapse in on itself.

They then teased this concept that Torres might be some rendition of a child Voight along with his bordering-on unhinged interrogation ways of Navarro’s henchman.

I beat individuals for him. I did horrible issues, unforgivable issues, however I by no means waterboarded anybody.

Torres

And for a bit, it felt as if we would have one more state of affairs the place two of probably the most dicey characters, Voight and Hailey, can be concerned with protecting up one other felony for certainly one of their very own. By this level, they’re each professionals at being the reason for or being concerned in issues like this.

But as a substitute, we had Voight watching and listening in as Torres did his finest Voight rendition of the cage, utilizing his repute to get the man to speak.

Aguilar delivered some rattling close to Joker-level of maniacal motion in some unspecified time in the future.

It was an uncommon flip for the character in that they are beginning to assign bits and items of the opposite characters to him, as if he is the sponge of the unit, pulling from these round him.

It’s one thing offputting about projecting Voight qualities on Torres. It’s to not say that it’s not entertaining, but it surely’s additionally not the flip for the character that one would want both.

But they tried to drag it again once more by the installment’s finish, notably with the hints of Torres’ religion and this newfound understanding of why he needs to do proper and atone for his previous by serving his neighborhood as a cop.

And there’s good potential and content material in that. The non secular tones aren’t one thing they’ve touched on a lot or in any respect on this sequence or their line of labor, and it is a piece of his id that might be intriguing to cowl in some capability.

They began the hour with Torres attending a christening, the baptism of a child; its sins getting washed away because it begins its new life. And the water was a theme that cropped up once more with the waterboarding.

The worth Torres paid to be free from his legal period was waterboarding. Water was the start of his new life too. And he is atoning for his sins even when he cannot be totally cleansed of them.

And it is also the tactic used throughout the case as he danced along with his former way of life as an enforcer.

But Torres has been making the rounds of bonding in little methods with every staff member, and his first actual reference to Voight is thru this.

Voight sees shades of himself in Torres with a few of his actions, and we will solely think about he is filed away the Enforcer part. One can solely think about how that’ll be utilized in its means… it is one thing that additionally folds into Ruzek’s function within the unit.

We noticed remnants of Hailey’s reference to Torres, which particularly felt appropriate given the bond they’ve constructed and his function in figuring out that she was lacking.

Torres is discovering his means on this household and beginning to perceive what that appears like, together with Voight’s motto of “inform me the reality so I can lie for you (shield you).

But except for Voight, there is a redundancy to Torres’ storyline that mirrors Atwater, too.

We have nearly the very same scenario with a disenfranchised neighborhood resenting and loathing Torres’ involvement in regulation enforcement.

Torres: My staff does not learn about me and Oriza, and once they do, I’ll lose my job.
Mia: I will not say something. I’m not the one who betrays individuals I really like.

We get the identical scenario with a girl not solely concerned in legal issues however discovering themselves on the alternative aspect of the regulation, forcing Torres (like Atwater) to do his diligence as a cop throughout a case jeopardizing the connection.

We get an identical vibe with Torres’ job as an officer costing him a romantic relationship and contributing to points with ladies. It all felt a bit recycled.

And whereas Torres’ previous is compelling and might broaden the scope of storylines and discover new avenues or increase his characterization and supply one thing completely different, it additionally runs the chance of getting too cyclical.

Torres’ particular previous and what they’ll do with that brims with potential, BUT if not completed proper, it errs on the aspect of being a mishmash of stereotypes; they leaned additional into the Latin gangbanger and violent Brown man factor once they did not want to try this.

Torres’ legal previous sprinkled along with his poor child from the hood and disappointment to the individuals and neighborhood factor might turn out to be his rendition of Atwater’s Black vs. Blue storylines they beat to demise.

I hope they’ll reel that in to keep away from falling into that very same sample.

Over to you, Chicago PD Fanatics.

What did you consider this installment? Were you excited that we discovered extra about Torres? Sound off under.

You can watch Chicago PD on-line right here by way of TV Fanatic.

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