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Chicago PD Review Adrift Season 9 Episode 17 Chicago PD Review Adrift Season 9 Episode 17

Chicago P.D

Chicago PD Review – Adrift (9×17)

CHICAGO P.D. -- "Adrift" Episode 917 -- Pictured: Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek -- (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

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Adam Ruzek took a hit on Chicago PD Season 9 Episode 17 both physically and emotionally. 

It’s been a while since we’ve had a standalone Ruzek episode that didn’t directly involve Burgess and Makayla, and I’ve forgotten how much I like him as a character on his own. 

It was also one of the first times we’ve seen an officer go into an undercover situation blindly without any backup, which made for a tense and unexpected episode. 

Ruzek’s fight with Burgess at the beginning of the episode was the catalyst for him taking on Mr. P’s case. He didn’t want to be at home, so he peeled off to play poker, which in turn led to his former English teacher reaching out for help to find his missing daughter.

Of course, this hit home to Ruzek who recently spent a day searching for Mack after she was abducted from her apartment. 

When Mr. P said “we just need our daughter back,” Ruzek understood his plea more than anyone. He knew what it was like to be the scared and concerned father who has no idea where his child is. He’s been there, so he felt personally compelled to help him out. 

Little did he know, his small favor would blow open a full narcotics operation with Olivia at the center of the sting. 

Ruzek wanted to protect Olivia from possibly getting life in prison, so he flipped her to become his informant and his “in” with Wade, a dealer who has built his empire on college campuses. You know, the scummiest of scum. Wade doesn’t care that his product, which is laced with fentanyl, is causing overdoses and killing young adults who have their whole life ahead of him.

But he does know that a lot of other people care, including the cops, which is why Wade never let anyone in until they were fully vetted. 

If a paranoid drug dealer sounds like a slice of hell, well, you’re not wrong. And Ruzek can attest to it. 

He created a whole new life for himself, complete with a car and apartment near campus, and then he went to sell it to Wade, who was definitely skeptical. 

There were several times when Ruzek was close to blowing his cover to get Olivia medical care as she tried some “new product” and was tripping hard. 

There’s nothing scarier than you’re informant and sidekick being so strung out that you have no idea if they’ll be able to follow through and keep up the facade. 

However, Olivia’s tolerance was frighteningly high. And she knew how to handle herself, so at every step of the way, she informed Ruzek that she was good to continue. 

Chicago PD always puts up a lens on the dangers of drug use, but I don’t think it’s ever been displayed as drastically as it was with Olivia and then again with Ruzek once he was forced to take a bump to protect her. 

Wade and Ruzek agreed on a drop location, but before Intelligence was able to get to him, Wade switched it up and took Adam’s phone so that he had no way of communicating with his team. 

Intelligence searched high and low for Ruzek, but it truly is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Especially when you have no idea where someone might have gone. 

I’ll be frank that there were definitely some missteps during this operation. Since they knew how paranoid and careful Wade was, they likely should’ve anticipated that he would move the location and been close enough so that they could see where Ruzek sped off to.

The other moment that made me throw my hands in the air was when Olivia ran to Ruzek’s truck to find the narcan and Wade spotted a police vest. If you’re trying to keep up the cover, why would you ever have a police vest in your truck? Again, if the man is as paranoid as they say he is, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that he would search the truck or something.

It was infuriating to see these missteps on a case that should’ve been airtight. 

At the undisclosed location, Wade put a gun to Ruzek’s head and informed him that he thought he was a cop. Honestly, I’m not surprised Wade is as paranoid as he is because his gut was absolutely correct. 

When Ruzek refused to do a line, he threatened to shoot Olivia, which left our beloved detective without a choice. 

The dose was so strong that it literally knocked Ruzek off his feet. And that should tell you a lot as to why there are OD’s popping up all across the city. 

Olivia knew that Ruzek likely wouldn’t be able to handle it, so she went for the Narcan as poor Ruzek stayed back and tried his best to fight it. 

In his downward spiral, he activated his beacon and gave the most heartbreaking speech to Burgess and Mack because even in what could’ve been his last moments, those two ladies are the only thing he ever cared about. 

He loves them so much, and I was certain that this moment and this situation would be a turning point for Burgess and Ruzek’s relationship. 

Sadly, I was wrong. 

Burgess was definitely worried and arrived on the scene in the knick of time. When she administered the Narcan, Ruzek was jolted back to life, thankfully. 

Unfortunately, back at home, Burgess informed Ruzek that Mack was doing really well without him around, which is honestly the last thing you ever want to hear when you come from a week undercover that results in a near overdose. Timing, woman. 

Ruzek understood that this was the final straw, and informed Burgess that they needed to do what was best for Mack. 

It was heartbreaking. I refuse to believe that not having Adam in her life is the best thing for Mack as she was so attached to him. 

And honestly, Burgess needs to open her eyes and recognize how devoted and dedicated Ruzek has always been to making this work. He would move mountains for them!

I hated seeing Ruzek slink back to the apartment he rented as a cover. The place could not have had a colder atmosphere, and it was definitely not conducive to helping someone thrive. 

I almost got the feeling that Ruzek was going to use again, but I’m sincerely hoping that’s not a storyline they are even thinking of pursuing. 

At this point, Ruzek and Burgess are done. She’s pushed him away plenty of times, this time under the guise that it’s what Mack wants, and I don’t want him to ever crawl back to her again. 

They need to move on and find new healthy and meaningful relationships. 

It’s time. 

Ruzek has such a big heart and it’s time he found someone that is appreciative of it. 

Also, Olivia survived the tussle with Wade. She may have taken a bullet, but she came out of it stronger and with a new outlook on life as she realized she was worthy of life so she was finally going to reconnect with her parents. 

Ruzek delivered on his promise through and through. 

What did you think of the episode? Were you scared for Ruzek’s life?

Do you think he’s better off without Burgess?

Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think!

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    Lizzy Buczak is the founder of CraveYouTV. What started off as a silly blog in her sophomore year at Columbia College Chicago turned her passion for watching TV into an opportunity! She has been in charge of CraveYou since 2011, writing reviews and news content for a wide variety of shows. Lizzy is a Music Business and Journalism major who has written for RADIO.COM, TV Fanatic, Time Out Chicago, Innerview, Pop’stache and Family Time.

    Chicago P.D

    Is Adam Ruzek Leaving ‘Chicago PD’?

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    Following Chicago PD Season 5’s finale, it’s understandable that fans are worried about Adam Ruzek’s fate as it hangs in the balance. 

    Questions and concerns immediately began popping up, with many wondering if Patrick Flueger is leaving the series. 

    For now, it’s unclear as the episode that ended the season left things on a bit of a cliffhanger in terms of Ruzek’s health. 

    During the episode, Ruzek, who was working undercover for months to thwart Richard’s, a white supremacist’s deadly terrorist plan, blew his own cover to Richard’s daughter, Sam, who was trying to skip town after her dad moved up the date for his attack. 

    Ruzek and the Intelligence team then convinced Sam to inform on her dad and his crew in exchange for immunity for herself and her son, Callum, which she did. 

    He then advised them to pack up their things and head over to a safe house, which she proposed as a little getaway to Callum. Unfortunately, Cal was so brainwashed by his grandfather that he immediately called him to let him know that his mom was trying to leave. 

    When Ruzek approached him and saw him on the phone, Cal pulled out a gun. Ruzek tried to diffuse the situation but Cal pulled the trigger, hitting Ruzek in the abdomen. He immediately started bleeding out and collapsed to the ground. Once Sam realized what was happening, she grabbed her son and made a run for it, leaving Ruzek alone to die. Thankfully, he was able to reach Kim Burgess and within minutes, he was in an ambo on his way to Med. 

    CHICAGO P.D. — “A Better Place” Episode 1022 — Pictured: Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

    Unfortunately, once he went into surgery, the doctors provided no additional updates, though Platt assured a very concerned Burgess that they got to him quickly. 

    It’s tough to say if Ruzek will survive, especially with so many Chicago PD and Chicago Med exits happening this year, however, Ruzek is one of the fan-favorite characters, so I can’t see him leaving the series anytime soon. He’s strong and he’s a fighter, and he has a lot to live for—he just made things official with Burgess, he’s a father to Makayla, and he’s an integral part of Intelligence. 

    My guess is that he will survive the surgery, but he’ll be sidelined for a bit and will likely have to go through some rehab and therapy in the same way Burgess did after her near-death experience. 

    This seems to be a still from an upcoming episode that shows Ruzek still alive post-surgery—though unconscious—with Burgess by his side, which is promising.

    CHICAGO P.D. — “A Better Place” Episode 1022 — Pictured: (l-r) Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek, Marina Squerciati as Kim Burgess — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

    While I can’t say anything definitively, I firmly believe that Adam Ruzek is not leaving Chicago PD just yet. And we likely won’t know more until Chicago PD Season 9 returns in the fall.

    You can read our Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 22 review right here

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    Chicago P.D

    Chicago PD Season Finale Review – A Better Place (1022)

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    Chicago PD Season 10 Finale Review Episode 22 Better Place

    That was a heavy episode of Chicago PD—and it was a heavy case for the Intelligence unit, one that has been building to this point all season. 

    Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 22 did not play out as I thought it would, but I think it’s safe to say that it didn’t pan out the way any of the officers thought it would, including Adam Ruzek.

    Ruzek was working this undercover case for months—and it was grueling, taking a toll on his mental health and wellbeing.

    He dedicated so much of his time, spending day in and day out with Richard, Sam and her son, Callum, and away from his own family, only to have absolutely no new information or details about this “plan.” 

    All he really knew was that Richard was a white supremacist who was trying to push his views onto his grandson, and he was orchestrating some kind of massive plan that would include multiple targets and casualties—it was later revealed the targets were Black elementary school children. 

    And it was all going to be set into motion one morning when Sam frantically called to tell him she was skipping town because her father moved up the date to that morning. I think Ruzek should’ve realized that it was strange that Richard didn’t call him since he was supposed to be running point on the plan, but he was also so invested that he was desperate to get any information. He knew that this man was dangerous and he needed to stop him at any cost. 

    So, when Sam threatened to go rogue, he jumped in and blew his cover, which wasn’t ideal, but it was the only option he had at that moment. If he let Sam go, so would his shot at getting any information. 

    The unfortunate thing is that Ruzek wasn’t paying attention to Callum, or, rather, he underestimated him because he was just a child. He knew Richard was trying to influence Callum, but he didn’t realize the hold he had or how deeply manipulative Richard actually was. Richard also seemingly didn’t trust Ruzek as much as Ruzek thought he did, so there were a lot of hiccups that may have been eliminated if he just kept a closer eye on them. That being said, I can’t imagine living two lives and trying to make sense of all of it in the limited downtime you have left. Ruzek was pulling double duty and he was feeling the pressure of it all.

    The only thing that convinced Sam to talk was immunity for her and her son, but again, she was also naive to what was going on with her son when it came to her father. She wanted to protect Callum and do what was best for him, but she didn’t realize that her father had already dug his claws into that boy in a way that was not going to end well. 

    Sam was suspicious of everyone except her own child, who was the easiest target for Richard as he had his undivided attention and trust and could brainwash him without even lifting a finger.

    When they proposed going away for a trip, it was my first thought to follow Callum upstairs to make sure he wasn’t making contact with his grandfather. Why did that not occur to Ruzek? Again, I think he just underestimated that boy because he’s a child, but as Sam mentioned, hate is a thing that’s taught. Callum was taught all these ideologies that his grandfather truly believed, and he didn’t know any better, so he believed them as well. 

    And when confronted by Ruzek, he sensed danger and took the shot. It was the hardest thing to watch because Ruzek was genuinely trying to help that boy. 

    He believed in them, he believed in Sam—he stood up for her when everyone suggested that she needs to be punished for her role the plan—and when it came down to it, not only did her son shoot him, but she turned her back on Ruzek and left him there to die. 

    I was convinced that maybe there was a redemption arc here for Sam, but while she knew what her father was doing was wrong, there was no hope for her. She was already a monster. Her intentions were to protect her kid, but she went about it the wrong way. She made an enemy out of the people that were doing her a huge favor. 

    Chicago PD Season 10 Finale Review Episode 22 Better Place

    CHICAGO P.D. — “A Better Place” Episode 1022 — Pictured: Jason Beghe as Hank Voight — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

    It’s true that Adam lied to her, but if she put those feelings of betrayal aside, she’d realize that leaving him there to potentially bleed out would not end well for her, nor was it the way to keep her son safe. 

    And the real enemy, her father, was out there and on his way to claim her son, the son that Ruzek vowed to protect above anything else. Why in the world would she ever think she could outrun the truth and that it would somehow make this already terrible situation better?

    Thankfully, Adam was able to wipe the blood off of his fingers and reach Kim, though it was tense there for a second and I was, admittedly, very worried about him. 

    Ruzek went into surgery immediately, and while there’s no word on his condition, I’m of the mindset that if Burgess survived her near-death experience, he will too. And now, they’ll be able to bond over this as I’m sure the trauma of what happened will stick around with him for a while. Kim has already done all the work, so she’ll be able to be a source of support. 

    Before losing consciousness, Ruzek made Burgess promise that she’d get to Callum before Richard, and she made sure to do right by that promise. 

    Ruzek has a big heart, and honestly, it’s his Achilles Heel sometimes. That being said, it’s also the reason we love him—Ruzek extends so much care and concern for the children in his life. He bonded with Callum, he saw how special he was, and he couldn’t let anything happen to him. 

    Unfortunately, the situation got messy rather quickly as Sam took way too long to surrender, and by that time, Richard already found them. Again, I don’t know what lead to such poor decision-making on her part and why she wasted so much time when her father was a constant imminent threat. 

    Voight arrived in the knick of time to stop Richard from escaping with Callum, but it was clear that this wouldn’t be an easy win for the cops. Usually, when someone is being held hostage, they don’t actually want to go with the person, but Callum did want to go with his grandfather. We saw the extent of how effective Richard’s brainwashing was as Callum agreed that he was ready to die for the cause and had pure hatred in his eyes while staring down the cops who were threatening his grandfather. 

    And then it happened—the final blow, a shot taken by Atwater. It was a necessary and valid shot, but unfortunately, it also cemented all of Richard’s beliefs right in front of Callum’s eyes. 

    His grandfather was shot, with no remorse, by a Black police officer. It reinforced everything he’s been taught because all he saw was race. It lit a hatred inside Callum unlike any other. And it was eerie because you could see all of it happening through sheer glances. If looks could kill, Callum’s would burn a hole through Atwater. 

    It’s going to be hard to reset Callum’s way of thinking now, which is unfortunate. I could see him restarting his grandfather’s operation and finishing what he started, and that’s a terrifying thought. 

    It’s unclear if this is the last we’ve seen of them, but I hope it isn’t. I hope we see what happens to Sam. Will they walk back the immunity deal? And how will they handle Callum since he did shoot a cop intentionally? The “he’s a child” excuse can only go so far, but it’s evident that this might not be a one-off behavior. Will therapy be able to reverse the damage? I doubt Ruzek would ever press charges, but it’s also a security issue if Callum is simply let go to let all that hatred fester. And where will he go if his mom is arrested? There are a lot of lingering questions. 

    As for Ruzek, well, I genuinely hope he pulls through. This is not the way to go out, especially after he just made things official with Burgess. 

    I do, however, think this moment will inspire Burgess to get married to Ruzek when he finally gets better. It’s not only the “life is short” realization (though that surely comes into play), but since she wasn’t his wife, she wasn’t given any information nor was she allowed to go any further. You could see that really took a toll on her considering the strength of their bond. 

    What did you think of the episode? Are you surprised with how things ended with Richard? Do you think Ruzek will survive?

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    Chicago P.D

    Chicago PD Review – New Life (1021)

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    Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 21 New Life

    Dante Torres (played by Benjamin Levy Aguilar) had a lot of important decisions to make when his old life of crime bled in with his new life as an Intelligence officer. 

    On Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 21, things got personal for Torres, and it allowed audiences to get to know him on a deeper level.

    We might feel like he’s been around for a while, but the truth is, he’s still very much the new guy so there’s a lot to explore with his storylines and background. 

    This one was particularly interesting because it lifted the veil on his past life working for Aritza, a well-known dealer in the neighborhood. 

    People change, they grow up, and they get their priorities straight—the man that Torres is now and the young man he was back then are not the same. However, the reason he’s a cop is still very much the same as why he agreed to work for Aritza in the first place: to protect his people. 

    When Torres got the note on his car, he acted immediately and called for backup to help Aritza even if it threatened his new gig. He tried to keep his connection and relationship with Aritza a secret, but he still pursued the case because it was the right thing to do. 

    Again, Torres is new, so there isn’t that established trust between him and Voight just yet. Torres was sure that he would be fired once they found out about his past—he never considered that Voight would understand and help him keep it in the past. 

    Voight also wasn’t sure if he could completely trust Torres. When Torres was threatening Vega, Voight stood back and watched to see how he would handle it or if he’d cross a line. It was all new territory for them, but the one thing that was evident is that Voight wanted to believe in Torres. He also saw himself in Torres’ tactics as it felt like something right out of the Voight-playbook. 

    The moment, tense and nerve-wracking as it may have been for everyone (including Torres, who didn’t know if it would be enough to get Vega to crack), established an understanding between them. Voight realized that Torres was a man he could rely on, who never actually killed anyone and only understood how waterboarding works because he endured the trauma to get out from under Aritza’s grasp. And, in turn, Torres realized that Voight would always have his back when it mattered. 

    Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 21 New Life

    CHICAGO P.D. — “New Life” Episode 1021 — Pictured: Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Dante Torres — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

    The episode also explored Torres’ fractured relationship with Mia. If you’ll recall, Torres was previously responsible for putting her brother, Quico, behind bars, which meant that they were no longer on speaking terms despite knowing each other all of their lives. It underlined just how much Torres has sacrificed to pursue a career with the Chicago police department. His neighborhood and the people in it have all basically turned their backs on him, though he explains that there are some people who respect and trust him; he’s either the hero or the enemy— there is no in-between.  

    Torres is basically going through the same situation that Atwater faces time and time again with his community thinking of him as a traitor rather than someone who simply wants to serve and protect and prove that not all cops are bad cops. 

    Mia ended up being the one who sent Torres the note as she felt guilty for inadvertently causing Aritza’s death. She explained that she needed money so she took a job for a rival leader, Sergio Navarro, and thought that all she had to do was flirt with Aritza. Instead, she ended up luring him to his death. 

    Thankfully, by cooperating with the cops, she was able to avoid any charges, which was honestly kind of surprising since she still played a role in the murder.

    While Torres vowed to protect her and keep her safe, she made the smart decision to leave Illinois as she was staring down a life of crime. There was nothing good waiting for her here and she would likely benefit from a fresh start. And though Torres didn’t want to let go, it was for the best. Sometimes, you can’t reconcile two parts of your life—and that’s why so many people date their co-workers on this show!

    We’re learning so much more about Torres, and though I liked him from the get-go, I appreciate him even more now. He’s also a welcome shake-up to the team and someone that offers a different perspective on things. 

    He was the reason that they found out that Upton was missing in the previous episode, and she made sure that he understood that she was there for him if he ever needed it. Everyone on that team has gone through it in some way or another, so they understand what this job can do to a person if they don’t have the proper support. I’m glad that there’s a team camaraderie here that extends to the new guy!

    The upcoming episode is the season finale, and we’ll finally get closure on the undercover gig that Ruzek has been working! How do you think it will all go down?

    Did you enjoy the Torres-centric episode? 

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