"I Don't Think We Could Redeem Him": Why Chicago PD Killed Off Reid, Explained

Sigan Debated Keeping Reid Alive

It Was A Close Call

In an interview with ScreenRant, Sigan discussed developments in the Chicago P.D. season 12 finale and talked about the decision to kill off Reid, revealing it was a tough call. She discussed the talents of actor Shawn Hatosy, noting how he portrayed the character well as an antagonist, but Reid's fate was sealed once the character became irredeemable. Check out the interview below:

ScreenRant: Reid is killed, but Shawn Hatosy is just such a great actor. Was there ever a time when you thought, "Hey, maybe we can keep him around"?

Gwen Sigan: Absolutely. I don't think we ever thought we could redeem him as a character and make him less dark than he is. But we certainly got to a point where we were like, "Are we actually going to kill him? We don't want to kill him. How can we get him back?"

He's such a good antagonist for Voight, and he is just a great actor, such a professional, and was always reliable. We did think about it a lot. We couldn't find the perfect way. It just felt like this is what it was all leading to. But we did think about it, because we like the actor so much as well.

It's clear from her remarks that Sigan had a clear plan to keep Reid in play for the future and possibly even as the primary antagonist for season 13. However, the plan changed, and the decision was made to kill off the character to fit with the narrative of the season, a decision that feels like the right choice.

Sigan also went on to discuss how the fallout from Reid's death and Voight's involvement is set to impact him and Chapman's relationship and the trustworthy bond between them.

Chapman finds out that Voight sanctioned Reid's death. What does this mean for their relationship and the trust between them?Gwen Sigan: It's not good. It's definitely not good. That last scene, to me, is a lot like a breakup. It's messy. It's definitely not definitive. I don't think that there's nothing still there to play with, but he is setting a boundary. He is basically telling her, "I'm not able to. I'm not capable."

He says, "I don't get to have more," but I think it's more so, "I don't know how to do it. I don't think I can do it." Chapman really hears it in that moment. She hears it, understands it, and it's almost like a breakup of something that never really got to come into full fruition anyway. It never really got to be what she would've wanted it to be at some point.

The Choice To Kill Him Off Makes The Most Sense For The Show

Reid Had To Die For The Show To Move Forward

Killing Reid was controversial but necessary for the show to move forward. There's no question he was a formidable foe for Hank, and Reid achieved something no other villain has managed in Chicago P.D., successfully breaking up the Intelligence Unit. He proved to be a continual thorn in their side, and his actions had a serious impact on Voight and the rest of the team.

However, Reid was a casualty who proved necessary for the show to progress, as the matchup with Voight saw the unstoppable force meet the immovable object. By this stage in Chicago P.D., Hank has operated largely ungoverned, systematically removing or blackmailing anyone who's stood against him. Even in earlier seasons, when Internal Affairs contacts Gradigar and later Stillwell to try to bring down the corrupt head of IU, they fail.

Reid succeeded, posing a real threat to the career and livelihood that Voight had created for himself, and came the closest of anyone to take him down. Having Hank and the IU at an impasse for a few episodes is fine, but the narrative of the show needs to breathe and grow organically. Reid was an obstacle to the kind of police work that only Hank and his team were capable of carrying out, so he had to be removed for the show to move forward.

What always made Voight an interesting character is that he's not traditionally heroic, but his morally gray antihero approach makes him necessary in the world he inhabits. As Perry tells him in season 1, "There are about 600 reasons I didn't want you in charge of this unit, but there's one main reason why I did... cases like this." Voight might be a dirty cop, but he is also a necessary one within the world of Chicago P.D., and Reid was certainly impeding this.

What This Means For Chicago PD's Next Season

Voight's Choice Will Have A Lasting Impact On Those Close To Him

The show is in an interesting place heading into Chicago P.D. season 13. An argument could be made that the show underutilized Reid's potential, and he could have become a far more formidable future villain due to his power and influence. However, Chicago P.D. has always been at its best when there is friction within IU and when Voight is at odds with those closest to him, and this is something that Reid's death is going to bring full circle next season.

As Sigan notes, Reid is not a character who is morally redeemable, and, while there is an argument that Voight also falls into this category, the show was not big enough for the two of them. In some ways, Hank's tendency to break the rules in Chicago P.D. makes him both a hero and a villain, and the new season of the show should see him struggling to cover up his involvement in Reid's death, as well as dealing with the fallout of his explosive final interaction with Chapman.

While the Intelligence Unit may be able to operate largely unchallenged once more, there is still the specter of Reid's internal affairs investigation, Voight's tumultuous relationship with his team, and the issue of Otero. What's more, the departure of Reid will leave a chasm that will need to be filled, and this could even set up Chapman as the Chicago P.D. season 13 villain if she turns against Hank.