Chicago P.D. Premiere Recap: Did Antonio’s ‘Goodbye’ Satisfy?
Fans of Chicago P.D.‘s Antonio can breathe a slight sigh of relief following Wednesday’s Season 7 premiere. Although the detective is not out of the woods — he did fall off the wagon and use drugs — he is alive. (Exiting series regular Jon Seda, however, did not make an appearance, as his storyline was wrapped up offscreen.)
At the start of the episode, Burgess becomes increasingly concerned when Antonio doesn’t respond to her texts and phone calls. Then when Ruzek — who made bail, but has been stripped of his police powers as he awaits trial — goes to Antonio’s apartment, he finds the place ransacked. His car isn’t in much better shape, with pill bottles all over the seat. Ruzek runs into Antonio’s sponsor, who says he and Antonio talked all night, but in the morning, he was gone.
Meanwhile, Halstead starts to question whether Voight had something to do with Kelton’s murder. Homicide is also building a case against the Sergeant, who is their lead suspect. They’ve got his fingerprints on a glass in Kelton’s home and a gun that connects back to a raid Voight was involved with. Halstead refuses to cooperate with Homicide and insists that Voight is innocent, even though he has his doubts. He then relays the info to Upton, Burgess and Atwater and informs them that they all could be charged with obstruction. Despite that, the four of them side with Voight.
That leaves Halstead with only one option: to confront Voight. “Watch yourself. You don’t want to say something you can’t walk back,” Voight warns him. When Halstead brings up all the evidence, Voight explains that he was at Kelton’s the night before the murder, hence the fingerprints. As for what he was doing at the time of the murder, well, the truth about that could cost Antonio his job: He was taking the detective to an off-the-books clinic. Voight then swears on his son that he didn’t kill Kelton. “I had to ask you,” Halstead says, to which Voight replies, “No, you didn’t.”
So who did murder Kelton? That would be — surprise, surprise — Kate Brennan! “He was going to ruin Chicago. I did what I had to do,” she explains to Voight. He doesn’t arrest her, though, promising to give her an hour to get her affairs in order. Halstead, however, ignores his boss’ instructions to stand down and storms Brennan’s apartment.
“If you don’t trust me, Jay, if the way I do business concerns you, then get the hell out,” Voight exclaims after Halstead brings in Brennan.
P.D. fans, what did you think of the season premiere and Antonio’s exit? Grade it below, then hit the comments!
From the perspective of an Antonio Dawson/Jon Seda fan (and the reason I became a CPD viewer):
ME: Oh great! A spin-off with the Voight and Dawson yin yang dynamic. . .
CPD: Well, actually most of the focus will go to Lindsey and Lindstead, and also Voight will slap a lot of people.
ME: Antonio wears dog tags. We’ll learn about his military service. . .
CPD: Nah, we’re giving that to Halstead.
ME: At least Antonio gets to drive a nice truck. . .
CPD: Nope, giving that to Halstead too.
ME: Antonio is now primarily used to point to a whiteboard?
CPD: Yep, but he does it so well.
ME: You’re asking him to move to Chicago Justice to launch another spin-off?? Well, maybe more story lines leading his team?
CJ: Nah, focus mostly on Stone and the courtroom.
ME: Well, thank goodness he’s back on CPD!!
CPD: Welcome back! But really we’ve run out of stories for him (even though he IS the only Latino and the only one with living children).
ME: He’s dating Sylvie Brett from Chicago Fire. So cute together!!
CF: Yeah, we were really surprised so many fans liked Brettonio. Don’t get attached; won’t last!
ME: You’re destroying his character? Making him a villain like CF did to his sister? WHY?
CPD: The Dawson siblings must be destroyed! There are others who need our love and attention.
ME: You’re kicking him to the curb?? NO!!! I have lost all interest in watching.
CPD: Buh-Bye Sucker!!!
THE END (literally)
Were you reading my mind? I started CPD for the Voight/Antonio dynamic that they never really dealt with. Antonio arrested the man for murder and then was blackmailed into working for him. Seriously, a ton of juicy character stories right there and instead they completely dropped the ball. Nope. I’m done.
The worst part people think he’s this pure white knight. But he’s honestly just a hypocrite who preaches about right and wrong then he goes off book when he’s in a mood. Voight’s never made illusions about what he’s done neither was Antonio. Just a testament to Rick Eid’s incompetence. If Jay doesn’t trust Voight after six years why is he even still there?
Said it so much better than I could. Antonio annoyed me at times but damn they did him dirty.
I lost all respect for Antonio after he let Ruzek take the fall for the guy he killed. He should have manned up and turned himself in.
NO, not that simple. While Ruzek’s intentions may have been good, he actually made matters much worse by covering for Antonio. And Antonio DID want to confess and even asked for advice from his lawyer friend about the consequences. He was told that all three would lose their jobs. Even Voight told him that it’s too late when Antonio again wanted to go clean. That’s why Voight was so angry with Ruzek about disobeying his orders to stay quiet. They were all between a rock and a hard place. But now with Kelton’s murder, it will probably all go away.
agree so hard, they straight up ruined the Dawsons, left turns for their characters
It’s funny to me because they were the best part of Chicago Fire and then PD. I don’t understand.
To each their own. I couldn’t stand Gabby. She was the reason I almost stopped watching Fire and rejoiced when she left!
Sounds like you don’t like the show due to them only showing 1 Latino as a main character that be like me saying the show sucked because they made Lindsay a total bitch to anyone and everyone including people who only tried to help her. Next I’m kinda glad they killed off his Dudley Do-Right ass how he was up everyone’s ass for 6 seasons about their mistakes or bad doings just to turn on his team/ family when it can’t to trouble hence why ruzek did what he did to help him in season 6 and took the fall for his murder. Because Antonio should of did the same for Hank instead I didn’t see anything I got their after the fact. So yeah won’t mind him being killed off at all if you ask me its karma. Next I thought only white trash were racist I started watching the show because the plot kinda matched up with real life. And hits with current events in America right now. Not because their are white or black or brown actors on it.
Chicago Med: Good bye Dr. Connor Rhodes!! You are terrific! We love you and will miss you!
Chicago Fire: Good bye Otis! We love you and will miss you forever! We even dedicated a memorial!
Chicago PD: Good bye Antonio Dawson? Yeah, we are going to spit on you, stomp you to the ground and grind you into the dirt . . . I HATE this show!
The stuff that memes are made of (often badly).
I love the show and everyone in it i will truly miss Antonio if u dont like the show dont watch it but hey its your loss
Why do agitated, bossy types always feel the need to make ridiculous comments like this? When viewers don’t like something, they DO stop watching. That is the problem. How many once-popular series have alienated a large number of fans like this and then ended up getting cancelled? Viewers want to watch, They just do NOT want their favorite shows to get poorly managed and run into the ground.
Damn right.
100% correct, Alex!
I agree completely on the exits. Those actors put in seasons on their shows and got graceful, memorable exits while Jon/Antonio got disgraced, a one line mention of a rehab, really?
His exit isn’t entirely finished. The powers that be have said the next two shall contain Antonio updates.
Antonio’s exit was a major copout. Okay, so he’s in a hush-hush rehab facility. Are they just going to leave him there and forget about him?
As for Halsttad, I don’t know who I loathe more, him or Sanctimonious Sally. Upton acts like her sh*t don’t stink and Halstead thinks he’s God. I wish they’d throw them both off the show.
If I remember correctly, he left the facility and went to his sponsor’s house. So – he just went off the grid. at this point – yeah, they’ll mention him once or twice in the next few episodes, and then … ***poof*** never existed.
I totally agree!!!
It’s…not a goodbye? I thought it was mentioned since the finale that he would appear at some point – but that yes, he’s obviously done as a regular.
He might leave a note he doesn’t understand the job anymore and he’s burnt-out, it happens to a lot of cops, might leave to go on sabatical.
Well, I had Brennan that killed Kelton but not impressed with how they are writing of Antonio
They need to transfer Halstead to Internal Affairs where he can investigate and snitch on other cops. That’s about all he’s good for.
Yep him and his goody goody brother
I don’t mind Will so much, but I want to slap Jay upside the head.
I don’t get why folks are upset with Halstead.. For once he wasnt boring.. He was assertive and thoughtful… In fact I wish he woulda stood up to Voight even more… Voight acts like he’s in charge of babies.. He never tells them anything. Halstead was right to go in and stop brennan from doing what she was trying to… She doesnt get to just end it all because she got caught… Had one of those gangbangers been caught instead she woulda been just fine enjoying her life… Naw.. She killed the guy.. He was a scumbag… But still and she got caught… But Voight with his “code” wanted to Let her take the cowards way out
If she wanted to take the coward’s way out, that was her choice. Halstead doesn’t get to make that choice for her.
Um, yes he does. He’s a cop. It’s his job to bring people in who break the law, which she did.
Halstead wasn’t playing cop, he was playing God. Not to mention he directly circumvented his boss’s order to stay out of that house. Voight was right, if Jay can’t get with the program, he should get the hell out. I doubt anyone would miss him except Hailey.
Letting Brendan eat her gun isn’t some noble gesture.. Even putting aside the fact that it would be letting a murderer escape justice.. It also doesn’t allow for a trial and for other details about an especially corrupt man to come out… Jay did the right thing and like I said earlier if anything shoulda been more forceful with Voight who isn’t as in control as he let’s on
Well said. When did cops ‘ allow’ people to commit dioxide as a noble way out. Especially cops who have committed murder. Lol. The back bends some of these fans are doing. He ignored a direct order? It wasn’t logical or lawful. The idea you can walk away from someone to let them choose how they go out. Lol no. Hell no.
Where in hell does Jay get off, thinking he has a right to decide that woman’s fate? If she doesn’t commit suicide she will die in prison. Hank offered her a way out. Jay needs to stop acting so high and mighty and mind his own damn business. Hank should have canned him on the spot.
Voight is the one with the God complex. He has become a caricature. His acting involves screaming in someone’s face and threatening to throw them out of Intelligence.
Thank you Mary Rose! I can’t be the only one who remembers how Voight was introduced on Fire. Granted, Casey is my favorire character on Fire, but Voight isn’t infallable. He needs someone to check him.
Bottom line: Voight is running Intelligence, not Halstead. If Halstead doesn’t like the way Hank is running it, he should do as Voight said and get the hell out. Transfer to Traffic Patrol or IAD or someplace where he won’t be continually second-guessing his boss. I wouldn’t put up with a subordinate as disrespectful as Halstead for five minutes. I was surprised Voight didn’t fire him on the spot.
You’re right! I can’t stand that little dirty murderer who sends other people to prison for doing the same stuff he does or excuses for his family and friends, including Erin’s gold-digging scumbag of a mother.
What a short memory all of you Voight lovers have, he is a murderer and a criminal. He was on the take and only got out of jail because he made a deal with internal affairs to bust others, then he was lucky enough to turn the tables and get out of that. Additionally you say Jay is playing god? How about the fact that Voight murdered his sons killer? Making him the one playing god, and a murderer! All Jay did was ensure that the people of Chicago get to decide her fate as it should be, while Voight was being judge, jury, and executioner of his son’s killer. You have an answer for that???
I surely do have an answer to that. Who’s running Intelligence, Voight or Halstead? If Halstead doesn’t like the way Voight runs the unit, he should take Voight’s advice and get the hell out before he’s thrown out. End of subject.
Well it’s clear you never served in uniform, Military or Police, neather like dirtbags or dirty cops. You are loyal to the uniform and the people you serve and protect. YOU want a criminal with a badge will that says quite a bit about your character. I will say it again, Voight was dirt and on the take (his street tax), was busted, jailed, and then released to work for internal affairs. He wormed his way out of that in season 1. Then at the end of season 3 he was judge, jury and executioner of the guy who killed his son. Later Al took the fall for it and Voight stood by and let it happen. If he had ANY character at all he would have turned himself it together Al off, but he thinks everyone around him is expendable as long as he stays safe. He will NEVER take responsibility for his own actions or take a bullet for another person, it’s just not in his character. In fact when Al asked Voight for some of the protection money that Voight collected from drug dealers over the years so that Al could hire himself a good lawyer, Voight said it was gone. He put it all into a trust fund for his grandson. Voight is a gutless dirtbag and murderer who got away with it at the expense of his own best friend. Hell, he even tried to talk Atwater into killing an unarmed man because it would protect Alwaters brother & sister. He is no better than the criminals he chases. Halstead has honor and integrity and even Voight could see that when he told Jay at the end of last season that he will one day run the unit, and he told him to be better than me, do it the right way. The series should end with Voight finally back in prison where he belongs. If you don’t get that Voight is a scumbag, than you don’t get what it means to wear the uniform. Cops are and should be held to a higher standard, period!
exactly. and people are saying he was playing “God,” by doing his job?!?! His job isn’t to be a studge for Voight, as much as a group of fans seem to want, it’s to be a cop.
*stooge, boy, I really wish this site had an edit button.
Exactly. Voight is the one who abused his shield, not Halstead. People are ranting about “He works for Voight! Voight is the boss!” on and on repeatedly. However, it doesn’t work that way. What Voight did was abuse of his powers. It doesn’t mean Halstead has to, in turn, abuse his position. Not sure what walks of life other people are going through, but I understand that if my boss did something that abused his position and I ignored it, which in turn would make me complicit, the boss wouldn’t be the only one in trouble, I would too. This is more of the same.
Exactly. The mental gymnastics people are doing to crucify Halstead is astounding. They talk about trust and loyality to Voight, but it goes both dang ways. He didn’t trust his team and apparantly doesn’t even know them (to spin some comments in another direction, he’s known his team memebers for years, he should know how they react.) Since when is it ok for someone being given a choice to either get her affairs in order and/or commit suicide before being arrested. Whether she was a victim or such, she still committed a horrific crime. Though, I’m saying this as a fan who doesn’t haven’t Voight rose-colored glasses on, never liked the character from his introduction on Fire. Though I give him credit when it’s due. It’s not due in this situation. He could have protected Anthonio and not left his team in the dark (as well as letting a suspect decide her fate).
“have,” where “haven’t” is. good grief.
Thoroughly enjoyed Jay is all j is always being a do-gooder goodrthoroughly enjoyed it we’ll miss Antonio
I was disappointed in the whole show. Especially the fact that Antonio was dropped. And the way they left it unresolved. To my way of thinking anyway.
He was my favorite character.
Not sure I will keep watching.
John Seda wanted to leave the show. No doubt, he has another gig.
I wish they bring Antonio back. After his Rehab treatment. Thats why I watched Chicago PD because of Antonio.Fan of Jon Seda
I can’t even watch this sh*t…oops, I mean show anymore. I started watching it for Voight, Antonio, and Al. I liked the old school, then slightly more modern, and newbies mix. Now the older more seasoned cops other than Voight are gone and we got a bunch kids. I’m bored now.
I STILL DON’T UNDER WHAT HAPPEN TO ANTONIO
After Antonio talked to his sponser, Bought took him to a tucked away Rehab.
I thought it was Brennan. It’s not a surprise after all he made her do.
They should have gave him a better send-off. He was once a great cop and upstanding guy then the writers made him into a loser. Not liking it. Don’t care to much for all the characters anymore, they aren’t as likeable like before.
It was good,except Antonio. We didn’t need to see him in rehab, but something. I had the thought that Kate had done it. I did like the involved investigation. It might help with Kate’s charges. Skelton was slime.
Come on the music was louder then the actors Turn it down or better yet -you don’t need it at all.
Chicago Fire also went overboard on the music.
That’s NBC in general. The worst is the end of Jimmy Fallon-start of Seth Meyers. I have to turn the remote way down for that transition every night.
I have trouble hearing some of the character comments. Al was the hardest for me to hear because he spoke softly. I miss a lot of the conversations. I still don’t understand all of the dirty deals Kelton made with people. I think I might start using Closed Caption.
Yes, definitely, I always use close-captioning to keep up with all the dialogue. Otherwise, I’d be lost!!
Greetings to the writers of my favorite show. Too many of the original cast is gone, I am sad, al, Erin, Antonio and Roman . I love voight. I will continue to watch but can you bring someone back who is alive.
Roman was not an original cast member. He joined for two seasons (which is all he signed up for) after Atwater joined Intelligence at the end of season 1 and Burgess needed a new partner.
To me ‘Erin” aka Sophia Bush was the most annoying of the early cast. Her guttural whispering was exasperating. The only time we could understand what she was saying was when she opened her mouth up when upset or yelling. The rest of the cast was A-one. Think there will be some real surprises in the new 2019-20 season.
I wish Jon would have stayed on as a regular. I miss Elias so much.
I still miss Elias; he did a marvelous job with Al, whose character was complex and compelling. I hated Seda when he joined the cast of Homicide: LOTS; he was more relatable as Antonio. I love this show, especially the edgy characters struggling to negotiate their way through the corruption and violence rampant in their city. None of them is entirely good or entirely evil, which always makes characters much more interesting.
Who are the people voting 3% bad WTF PEOPLE it’s the best show yet. I honestly thought voight did it. But he didn’t. It surprised me with who did.
Halstead the Hypocrite I want to see his head Blown Off. Burgess the Airhead Always making the Wrong Choices she’s Dumb. Kevin is Badass with a Heart & Voight is Awesome. The show was Better with Al, Antonio & Roman. Voight really is a Babysitter. Too bad. Ruzeck 50/50.
Wow, you’re a real piece of crap. I know this is a fictional show but I’m betting you’d say the same thing about a real person.
I♥️this show! CPD! I don’t watch nothing else! It comes on at 9:00am till like 2:00-3:00pm I have lost count of how many times I’ve Cried! It’s Crazy, Exciting!Don’t get me started on the Action! Wow! I hate missing any part of the show my Husband tells me” Honey I’m hungry”! So I run to the freezer and give him a frozen meal! he’s like ” what’s this? Food! He just leaves it on the table! He knows Not to Bug me while I’m watching my#1 show that I♥️ okaay!!
The episode was good. I love this show but it was disappointing about Jon Seda I still say they could have used the fact that he is in rehab and stumbles on a drug operation. They did his fans me wrong. Otherwise it was good. Couldve been better. And I am a really big fan
That sounds like a reasonable storyline to me.
Chicago PD continues to be the most boring of the three Chicago shows.
I watch Chicago Med and Chicago Fire and I’m glued to my seat and interested in what’s going on. Med is full of the silly drama that makes the genre so fun and captivating. It also really makes you care about these characters. You see Natalie with amnesia being tricked by that psychopath and you’re screaming at the TV that he’s got to go. I see this new doctor and he actually seems like a cool dude. I’m excited to see more of him.
Then we have Chicago Fire, in it’s 8th season, and it’s still edge of your seat stuff. Every big fire these characters go to has you pumped. They know how to build drama, and they’ve developed these characters so well that you’re interested in and worried for all of them, even though nothing bad is likely going to happen. Otis dying was a legit shock, as he wasn’t part of the public round of firings that we heard about at the end of last season. The actors all portray their grief and anger wonderfully, while also continuing to bring the charm and laughs that we’re all used to. The whole subplot with the Sylvie’s replacement was fun, and the payoff that he’s a model and is full of himself was even better. I’m sure he’s not sticking around, but it was a fun time none the less.
Then we have Chicago PD. The show honestly feels like all the air was let out of it after season four. Maybe Sophia Bush was really important to the heart of this show. Losing Al in season five was another big blow that likely took with it whatever small bit of soul this series had left. Now it’s just the same thing every week with these characters. Nothing they do is interesting, nothing that happens to them feels like it has any consequence to the character or the viewers. The whole arc where Ruzek takes the blame for Antonio murdering a suspect feels lifeless. We know the show isn’t going to do anything to him in the end. We know Hank will come out spotless as well. And with them firing John Seda, we know there will be no consequence for Antonio either. It was an entirely pointless arc that they’ll probably continue until the winter break. Chicago PD has nothing left to it. It lost it’s heart when Sophia Bush left, and lost it’s soul when Elias Koteas left.
Another issue I’ve had is the continued like of a B plot in the episodes since the end of season four. The whole point of a B plot in any show is to break up the main plot, so the viewer doesn’t get bored, tired, or overwhelmed. Sometimes they can connect the two, but they don’t have to. They’re just there to give us a break from the often heavy subject matter of the main plot. But without that we just get 43 minutes of Hank being overly-aggressive. It’s just not fun. While I do believe moving Kim to Hank’s unit was the right choice, and maybe should have happened sooner, they should have added new patrol cops to replace her and her partner, or prepared even further so she had a partner to leave behind that we could follow around.
The gripping, exciting show that had once been the example of how to make a good police procedural in the mid-2010s has now lost itself. SVU in it’s 21st season has more heart behind it, and they basically just draft out scripts based on headlines at this point. Chicago PD needs to change this season, or it should just end. Make room for another Chicago series maybe, or just bring it down to two shows.
I completely agree with everything you said!!!
Sophia and Al leaving took the life out of the show and now Antonio. Boring
He should have made another appearance and bought did it then loves Chicago pd
I liked the episode, but I would have liked to see Antonio for the last time.