Chicago P.D.: Here’s Why Halstead Didn’t Appear in the Season 11 Finale
Chicago P.D. vet Jesse Lee Soffer previously said “never say never” to the idea of returning as Det. Jay Halstead and has since directed two episodes: Season 10’s “Deadlocked” and Season 11’s penultimate installment “Inventory.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s finale, the actor shared an Instagram photo of him with former co-star Tracy Spiridakos on set, noting that he’d watched her final episode. So, why didn’t Halstead appear on screen in the season ender? As showrunner Gwen Sigan explains, the hour just wasn’t about him.
“We definitely considered it. We talked about it a lot,” the Chicago P.D. boss tells TVLine. “We wanted to go through all the different choices of where this character would go, and it really came down to I wanted it to be about [Upton].”
The episode bade farewell to Spiridakos’ Hailey Upton, who turned in her gun and badge after six seasons with Intelligence. She ended the hour riding off to Chicago O’Hare International Airport — though it’s unclear if she took a new job with the FBI, DEA, FEMA or somewhere else. (Get the full scoop on how she left here.)
The character struggled throughout the season in the wake of her divorce from Halstead, who’d stopped returning her calls after dashing off to Bolivia to chase cartel targets in Season 10. The finale found her looking for a fresh start elsewhere with much needed encouragement from her mentor and father figure, Voight.
“I just wanted this to be her, and I wanted it to be a choice that she is making and that it’s such an internal thing and it’s such a piece of what she needs, and it’s not really related to really anybody else,” Sigan notes.
Voight serves as the mouthpiece for much of it “because storytelling-wise, you need somebody to talk to so you can get those things out,” the EP adds. “But it’s about her, and it was important because that’s what she needed — just to know that it’s OK to make it about you. That’s why it shook out the way that it did.”
I’m glad that Halstead didn’t make an appearance. Look, I know Upton and Halstead are “characters” being played, but I was invested (as were many) in the portrayed relationship. I don’t like how Halstead was written out. It wasn’t authentic to how he had been portrayed throughout the show. Halstead had a moral compass that was rock solid, but then, he becomes cold, distant, selfish, and emotionally abusive? No. That did a disservice to Halstead, and as a result, Upton became collateral damage. I’m glad that Upton’s final episode was all about HER! She deserved to finally put herself first, and that couldn’t have happened had Halstead returned.
I agree with your comment about not liking how Halstead was written out because it was a joke and like you said, not realistic to the character he portrayed for 10 years! But that’s 100% on the writers. So really this whole article interviewing Gwen who is the head writer and show runner is a joke. Because of course he couldn’t return, you annihilated his character and as a result their relationship for some unknown reason (for the sake of drama I guess?). What a slap in the face to fans of Jay.
That’s a great take….I was so pissed the way Jay just left…poor writing for a character that was all about the team being “family”… I don’t know what the writers were thinking..glad Upton got a good Closed chapter. Hope the drunk detective doesn’t screw up team chemistry next season.
This is the best cop show that I seen in a long time. If I could give it a 10+ I 100% would. I wish the show could go on. Now I have to look for another cop show to watch and I know nothing can come close to this show. All the actors are GREAT. Oh yeah by the way you’re using my last name in the show just to let you know
It hasn’t been cancelled.
It wouldn’t have made sense for him to show up. They split up & she’s moving on. She’s on to bigger & better things. It was a great episode.
Yes! I’m glad to know the writers had some sense. Her exit should’ve been on her terms and it be solely her decision. When Jay left he had no consideration for his newlywed wife and he doesn’t get to come back like everything is okay. I stopped watching the show once Jesse left but I’m glad that Haley got the ending that she deserved.
Good. He was another of my least favorite characters he was a smug self righteous pain blinded by his hubris and hypocrisy always felt he was better than everyone always liked to preach morality that he broke when it suited him and always ran crying to Voight whenever he need a mess cleaned up could never even thank the man for it. Not to mention leaving his supposed true love and then not talking to her for a year before divorcing her look at the premiere he signed the papers first.
Well the truth of the matter is Halstead returning wouldn’t have made any sense because Gwen decided to destroy Jay’s entire character after the actor left the show. Something I’ve never seen in any other show honestly. I’ve never seen another TV character written so wildly out of character like what Gwen did to Jay post-departure.
The absolute truth. It was a terrible creative choice. But in the Dick Wolf Universe stupid storyline decisions are made about characters all the time. Halstead, the solid moral compass, was turned into a complete flake for no reason and, as a result, Upton was put into a mental health crisis. No wonder Tracy decided to leave.
Sorry but they did that with Antonio too. The most ridículos thing. Of all the characters of the entire franchise Antônio was the moral reference of PD to the point that hhe used to clash with Voight for his constant violence and bad decisions. In the Chicago Fire’s First Season Antonio even arrested Voight for being corrupt cop. And then they wrote him out because of drug abuse (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and to go to help Gabi Dawson to make humanitarian job in Guatemala??????????? R-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s . Bring Antonio back along with Bryan Gerharty (officer Sean Roman) and put him back in Patrol with Burgess (who’s been looking like a depressed housewife for six seasons now). Ah and they did the same with Chief Hawkins on CFD they literally killed him off out of nothing.
Grey’s Anatomy did it to Alex. And General Hospital has done it to several characters over the years. It’s lazy writing.
Beautiful ending for her.
LOVE ALL CHICAGO SHOWS BUT P.D. IS MY FAVORITE. VOIGHT, & UPTON MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS. MY FAMILY &I WILL N MISS TRACEY, MY WIFE IS GREEK SO SHE’S HOPING FOR ANOTHER GREEK ACTOR. ITS WELL WRITEN ALL THE ACTORS PUT MORE THAN 100%.
IT TAKES A GREAT CREW TO PUT THIS SHOW ON. GREAT JOB N THANKS
Considering they’ve been dating in real life for several years, of course he would be on set to support her.
I really hoped Halsted would come back for Haley. She clearly loves him. She would have went with him. I didn’t like the ending. No goodbyes to the team.
Here’s why: Money.
THAT WAS THE BEST OF THE BEST ENDING. REALLY ENJOY THE ENDING. THANKS
Good writers could have made it about her and still included him. How many other shows have been in this situation and still found a way to give something to the fans of one of their most popular pairings. And don’t get me started on that “father figure” nonsense. Talk about rewriting history! From how Halstead was written out to Upton’s, it was just lazy writing and the character, actors, and fans deserved better.
Chicago PD finale had a beautiful ending with Haley Upton riding into the sunset looking for a new start. A new start for her should be excellent, she is deserving of it. As for Hank Voight a very special mentor and a courageous actor who knows how to keep his team together. I salute you always, Hank forever 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️ 100% I wish Chicago PD excellence for Season 12 and beyond, The Best show ever and the best actors ever.
I wanted him to come back and be a man..thevway he left her was cowardly. He could have come back and apologize for treating her like garbage
Very disappointed that Haley left the series.
What happens next? There have been so many changes – this show is losing its flavor!
I agree. Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos were dynamic actors. They played major roles in the series success. Same with Elias Koteas. They’ve lost so many strong actors over the years. I don’t see any of the remaining cast members , except Jason Beghe of course ,carrying the show at the previous level we’ve seen for the past 11 seasons.
I just wish your show wouldn’t start to be so gruesome. It’s my favorite of all shows but the writing has always been so good without being so graphic! Please just depend on your great writing because we know what’s going on without you having to show it. Thank you
Didn’t Jay marry his first wife on a whim & then disappear on her. Then he bailed on Erin pretty quick too? I don’t get the OOC comments. I do understand that his exit was rushed though & needed more time to develop, that part wasn’t done well. From his exit they needed to give Upton a story. Having her just happily talking to him every week & bouncing into work wouldn’t be at all interesting.
I totally understand the creative process behind the storyline. They have to focus on giving stories the the characters who are still on the show, not those that left & it made sense considering Upton’s history.
To have him come back at the end & them to ride off into the sunset together would’ve made zero sense considering the story that was written. So he turns up & all is forgiven. “Whoops sorry, I didn’t mean to ghost you or sign the divorce papers. We good now?”
Hmm do you watch the show? He married Abby (met in the rangers) when they were both drunk in Vegas after a fellow rangers funeral. And Erin left him for New York without saying goodbye when he was about to propose to her, leaving him heartbroken. We saw and heard his declarations of love for Hailey countless times and in his last episode he called her the love of his life and that they’d get thru this. Then he all of a sudden ghosts her and won’t take her calls after the actor leaves the show (what a joke of a storyline). Anyone who won’t admit that is completely OOC writing is just a Jay-hater. Break them up if you want, so many ways they could have done it, say the long distance is too hard and make it mutual but the ghosting with no reason is incredibly insulting to any long-time viewer of PD.
And all of them seem to have more baggage than him that he ends up having to ‘save’ add his brief stints with Gabby Dawson and that undercover DEA agent from season 5 it’s clear Halstead wasn’t all that picky of type he professed his ‘love’ to. As for Upton she only used him as a safety net when she crumbled over Roy Walton when a year before she had no issue doing the exact same thing to Darrius Walker.
You do realise that people can see the same thing & form different opinions don’t you?
He married his first wife as a trauma response to their time in the rangers… sounds familiar to me.
Even if the ‘story’ isn’t precisely the same, the over-arching theme can be. Yes Erin left him for NewYork, after he’d already packed & walked out of their apartment & didn’t talk to her. See the similarities?
He also told Erin he loved her…. I saw a pattern on behaviour & you didn’t. Everything is open to interpretation because that’s the beauty in life, we all see things differently. But it’s either one or the other with your mob. If you dare criticise or point out a flaw in your precious ship, you are a hater. Your hater card has been well overplayed.
Did you miss the point where I said the storyline was rushed, but the hints had been there for a while. It wasn’t well done, doesn’t make it completely OCC though.
Lots of things are & have been insulting to Long term viewers of PD. How do you think Antonio fans felt about him getting a random drug addiction, murdering a man & then just disappearing? Insulted? How do you think Atwater fans feel about him being constantly ignored? How do you think Burzek fans felt about the years of trauma that Eid put them through.
Honestly, thanks for sharing your opinion… mine still remains the same, no matter how may times you call me a hater because I see things differently.
Have a lovely day.
See the problem with your criticism is I’m not a fan of the ship, I’m a fan of Jay. How would you feel if your favorite character was written to be an heartless a**hole after the actor leaves the show? And you kind of proved my point so thanks. Because Jay hasn’t been the only one who has been written out of character. Find a group of writers who know how to write the characters of these amazing actors in-character. It shouldn’t be hard for professional writers.
And you proved my point. That anyone who doesn’t slobber all over your fave is obviously just a hater.
I don’t think he was written OOC, that’s my point. The story was rushed, but the same concept stands. Jay ran when things got hard for him. This wasn’t the first time he did it, he has done it from the start.
the best cop show 100%
You know we become part of these actors and actress, and when they leave,as they should for other things in life,it’s hard to transition to others when they become part of the new series. One thing I ( which is my opinion) there isn’t any need in my TV viewing for sexual connotation s. I will see if I can adjust. I really love the show and people on it. Thank MJ
When Sigan says “we considered” bringing Halstead back for the finale, I think that is a lie. This was only a 13 episode season so they knew from the beginning the direction that they were going to go in her exit and Halstead wasn’t a part of it. The moment that they were divorced, I knew we weren’t going to see Jay again. If he had been in the finale episode how would that have gone? Does he say “I’m sorry” and all is forgiven? I’m glad they didn’t do that because it would have been worse than what they did and what they did wasn’t good in my opinion. There were a lot of ways that they could have put them back together if they choose to do so and having them get a divorce at the beginning of the season wasn’t the way to do it.
My husband and I are die hard Chicago night on Wednesday fans I’m glad Haley left on a good note and wish her well. My husband wants to know when is Kevin ever going to get his chance at a serious relationship without it blowing up ? Great show can’t wait for next season
When Haley was first on the scene I didn’t care for her character, but as time went on she grew on me. I hate that she left. Chicago PD is really going to miss her character.
That was an incredibly poor explanation given for not having Haldstead returning. I am not buying it. Someone needs to try again. 🤦♀️🙄😡
Upton, seems to just quietly walk away. So sad. No one got to say goodbye.