By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
The following contains major spoilers from Chicago P.D.’s Season 11 finale. Proceed accordingly.
Chicago P.D.’s Season 11 finale put Voight through the wringer — so much so, that he wound up seeing dead people. Well, one dead person.
Wednesday’s season ender placed the sergeant in a rarely vulnerable position: brutalized, bleeding and barely awake while being held captive in a basement by Matson (Dennis Flanagan), the serial killer Intelligence had been after for months. Voight refused to crack under torture, but while alone and near death, found strength in a hallucination of his old partner Alvin Olinksy (special guest star Elias Koteas), who was killed at the end of Season 5.
As Voight faded out of consciousness, virtually accepting his fate, a vision of his beanie-loving friend urged him to get up — “You don’t get to die yet” — and that was enough for him to hold on until Upton came to his rescue.
Intelligence’s head honcho has seen his fair share off loss over the years, including his son Justin and wife Camille, but showrunner Gwen Sigan tells TVLine that Olinksy was the only fitting choice for that scene.
“I think for where [Voight] was and what he was thinking about, the perfect person was his old partner,” she shares. “He needed someone to basically tell him, ‘You’re not done. Wake the f—k up,’ and they had to be Olinsky.”
“In my mind, there’s so much there between the two of them — so much that never got closure, never got resolved,” the Chicago P.D. boss continues. “But I think Voight carries it around every day, that this person he loved, and that he was responsible for in some element, ended up dying. He feels guilt and he feels shame and he feels responsible for that.”
Olinksy’s piercing words, though a figment of his imagination, pushed Voight to continue fighting for his life. It also cleared the way for his later conversation with Upton, where the seasoned cop questioned whether he was good for his figurative daughter and encouraged her to do what makes her happy no matter what that would mean for him. (Read our interview with Sigan about that emotional scene here.)
“It allowed for him to be a bit more introspective than he ever is, to be able to ask those questions,” Sigan explains. “All that came out of, I think, seeing Olinsky, even if subconsciously.”
Olinksy’s cameo was years in the making, and we have Jason Beghe to thank for it. The actor pitched an idea “a while ago,” and it was discussed over the years before it finally came to fruition in Wednesday’s finale.
“[The finale] finally seemed like a perfect fit because the stories aligned and also, just logistically, you’ve got to get him in a place where he’s vulnerable enough physically to have some sort of hallucination,” Sigan notes. “For years, we’ve been talking about how nice it would be to bring [Olinksky] back in some way. As soon as we knew it was going to happen, Elias was down, which I’m so grateful for.
“It was really special for him to come back and to see everybody,” she adds. “Everyone was very emotional on set to have him back there.”
How are you feeling about Olinksy’s surprise appearance in Chicago P.D.’s Season 11 finale?
That was such a nice surprise. I missed him and Voight friendship
The second he showed up was when the episode got interesting seeing Alvin ‘poker face’ Olinsky in his all his longcoat glory was the biggest surprise of the show in years. There were only ever two cops on the show that Voight truly saw as his equal Olinsky was one of them.
I wish there was a way they could bring AL back. Like say his “death” was staged and he was placed in witness protection. No one knew, not even Hank. Loved him on the show.
I keep thinking the same thing. He was in witness protection. Everyone would be happy. Think about it
I think I woke up the neighbors because I shouted “Alvin” at the top of my lungs the second I recognized him. There might have been tears too.
I’ve always loved Elias Koteas and it was so nice to see him as Al again.
It was nice to se Olinsky. Didn’t like the way Hailey left. Didn’t say goodbye to anyone but Voight. I thought Jay would come to get her
I love Chicago PD TO see Alivin back was great but I was looking for Antonio tosavboth of them Love Love Love Chicago PD But I hate if anymore people leave I’ll have tostop watching it LOVE YOu Hank Get Better
Excellent show. Very ,very good. Dick Wolfe and company comes thru.!!!!
Don’t want it to end!!!
Wish they would bring al back and his death was a cover up but thought Dawson would show up I heard he was returning
I wish someway they could bring Olinsky back. They could be creative and write him back in. If not what about bringing Jon Seda back they need another great detective since they are losing Tracy and Jesse left? hope someone on Dick Wolf team looks at these comments and suggestions.
I really wanted Jay to come back for Haley. After directing last week ‘s show I had hope Jay would come back for her. It was a great surprise to see Al. I like the new detective.
I really hate to see Hailey leave. I love the way she left the show to search and find healing, peace, joy and happiness and to be whole. I love how they brought Alvin back! I love his character. I love all the characters on PD. It was emotional and sad and kinda a happy ending to see Upton go find her peace and happiness. I love Upton saved Voight. I hope no one else leaves this show I get attached to the characters love them so. Upton get out that cage and go live your life be happy and yes you deserve more Haliey
His death left such a hole in the show that they’ve never been able to replace. I’m glad we got to see him again.
Thank you Elias for bringing him back to life, even just for a moment.
Kevin should have been lead in Voight’s absence not Hailey. Kevin should be more prominent. Is there a problem with the Black man?
Was he even in this episode? I don’t remember seeing him.
I love Kevin, but he is not a detective, and Hailey has been Voight’s number 2 ever since Jay left so it makes sense that she was in charge.
As far as ranks go, only Hailey and Petrovic are detectives. The rest are still officers. They’re just not patrol officers. I have no idea why Kevin, Burgess, and Ruzek haven’t been promoted yet, but hopefully some time soon!
Bring Al back, let him be Voights “crazy” little secret.
What a wonderful treat to see Alvin back. His character was one of my favorites.