The Chicago PD season 9 premiere was titled “Closure,” but did Hailey Upton really get any? And what’s next for her after an episode that changed her professional and personal futures?
SPOILER ALERT: The following interview contains spoilers for Chicago PD‘s season 9 premiere.
This week’s episode saw Upton and Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) narrowly escape being incriminated in Roy’s death, but Voight was able to cover everything up. That didn’t make it much easier for Hailey, who struggled with the situation throughout the hour. Not only did she constantly question Voight, she lied to Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) by telling a still-hospitalized Kim that Roy had never been found.
There was a silver lining, though, when her partner and boyfriend Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) accepted Hailey’s marriage proposal. Not only did he say yes, but he turned around and proposed to her, which Upton happily accepted. So at least her personal life has taken a big step forward—but what’s next for Upstead? And where’s Upton’s head at after everything that’s just unfolded?
“She’s not in a very good place at the beginning of this season,” Tracy told me. “She has a lot of guilt over Roy and struggles with keeping it a secret from the team, especially Jay. We’ll see the toll of what’s happened deeply weigh on her.”
That will also bleed into her relationship with Halstead. Where last season Upton had to get used to their dating in relation to their work partnership, in season 9 it’s going to be the other way around. Jay will continue to think something isn’t quite right with his fiancee, creating a new source of tension between the couple.
“I think they both have a really good handle on the work dynamic and don’t think either of them would let their personal life interfere with their work life,” Tracy explained. “However, we will see them go through some growing pains, as Hailey continues to unravel with her guilt and anxiety and Halstead becomes more and more suspicious of her unusual behavior.”
The majority of Upton’s Chicago PD scenes last season were typically with Halstead or Voight, as the writers showed One Chicago fans how she’s connected strongly with each of them. But could season 10 explore other dynamics for Hailey? What about more scenes between her and Burgess, as Kim will need some more support coming back to Intelligence and the show hasn’t done much with that relationship outside of their both having dated Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger)?
“I would also like to have more Upton and Burgess!” Tracy enthused. “Since Burgess thinks Roy is still alive, it will be interesting to see how Upton navigates that secret with Burgess and how it affects their relationship.”
Chicago PD airs Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
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