Summary
Chicago PD’s newest character is exciting because her presence will finally give Amy Morton’s Trudy Platt something to do after she has been sidelined for far too long.Chicago P.D.is arguably the bestOne Chicagoshow, but in recent years, its focus has shifted. Initially, it featured both patrol officers and members of the Intelligence Unit, but after Kim Burgess was promoted during season 4, the patrol aspect was eliminated as a main throughline of the series.
Patrol officers are still necessary for plot purposes, but recent episodes have used guest stars as needed rather than having any such officers as regular characters. However,Chicago PDseason 12promises a change, as a patrol officer will again become part of the main cast. The police procedural is set to introduceKiara Cook (Toya Turner) as a new patrol officer in the 21st District.
Every Show In One Chicago’s Shared Universe Explained
One Chicago is only one of three Dick Wolf franchises on TV, but all of his other shows are connected to the franchise in various ways.
Chicago PD Has Sidelined Trudy Platt In Recent Years
She Has Little To Do Now That Burgess Is No Longer On Patrol
WhenChicago PDbegan, Platt had a somewhat antagonistic relationship with Burgess and Kevin Atwater, who were both patrol officers. She was especially tough on Burgess, getting annoyed any time she didn’t follow procedure or made a rookie mistake. This tough attitude came from Platt’s desire to mentor her contemporaries in a way that properly prepared them to eventually be part of Hank Voight’s specialized Intelligence crew.
Platt was also instrumental as a mentor in other ways, such as when she spoke with a group of kids who were participating in the Explorer program. However,afterChicago PD’s focus shifted to Intelligence, Platt’s role was minimized. Rather than being a major part of the series, she was mostly relegated to being a receptionist, informing the detectives of visitors waiting for them in the lobby. She was part of the effort to find Voight during the season 11 finale, but she could have done more than being a supporting character.
Patrol Officer Stories' Return Gives Platt A Bigger Role In Chicago PD Season 12
Platt’s Relationship With Cook Will Give Her More To Do
Platt’s role should expand again now thatTurner is joining theChicago PDcastas Cook. The only piece of information that has been released about the new character so far is that she is a patrol officer, which indicates a change in direction back toward having Patrol be as important a part of One Chicago. Since Platt’s main function is to mentor patrol officers, Cook’s inclusion automatically gives Platt more to do than she has in the last several years.
Platt’s relationship with Cook doesn’t have to completely mirror her previous one with Burgess, which would be redundant and boring to that segment of the audience that has been watching since the series' beginning. However, her tough love mentorship style should be a primary focus, regardless of how Cook responds to it. This would establish a new dynamic between Platt and Cook that would make both characters more interesting moving forward inChicago PD.
Interacting with a fresh new face who could someday become a detective might stir up resentment or disappointment that Platt can no longer be a detective herself…
Another aspect of Platt’s character that has not been explored much in recent years is her history.Platt was once a detectiveand is working a desk job now because her injuries after being shot on the job made it impossible for her to remain in the field. Interacting with a fresh new face who could someday become a detective might stir up resentment or disappointment that Platt can no longer be a detective herself, leading to new self-discovery. This would be a compelling angle after Platt’s inclusion inChicago PDhas been minimized for so long.
Platt is also married toChicago Fire’s Randall McHolland, which could become part of her story again.
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Why Chicago PD Season 12 Needs To Focus More On Platt
She Is A Rich Character Played By A Talented Actress
Chicago PDhas been missing out on rich stories by minimizing Platt over the last several seasons. Her quick wit, dedication to the team, and strong backstory make her an invaluable part of the series, yet she has been pushed into the background so that the series can focus on the members of the Intelligence Unit. It’s beyond time for her to have a story of her own again.Platt deserves to have both a professional and personal storylinelike all the other main characters.
Although One Chicago hasn’t been right by Platt in the last several years, that will hopefully change now that there is a new patrol officer in the cast that Platt can mentor effectively.
Morton is a talented actress who adds something unique toChicago PD, considering the composition of its cast.Although One Chicago hasn’t been right by Platt in the last several years, that will hopefully change now that there is a new patrol officer in the cast that Platt can mentor effectively. This new dynamic will again elevate Platt from an administrative assistant type of role to an invaluable member of the team.
Chicago P.D.
Cast
Chicago P.D.: This police drama, set in Chicago’s District 21, follows the distinct units within the Chicago Police Department—uniformed officers addressing street crimes and an Intelligence Unit tackling major offenses such as organized crime and drug trafficking, capturing the dedication of those who serve and protect their community.
