Power Shift Denied: How Keeping Voight in Charge May Hurt Chicago P.D. Season 13

As Chicago P.D. gears up for Season 13, many longtime fans are questioning the creative choices that kept Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) in power—especially after the introduction of Chapman’s protégé, Reid, who was poised to challenge him.

Deputy Superintendent Samantha Chapman’s rising influence in Season 12 introduced a compelling narrative opportunity: the potential for internal power shift within the Intelligence Unit. With Voight’s increasingly unorthodox methods under scrutiny, many expected Reid to step in as a modern counterforce—representing department policy, accountability, and a break from the old guard.

However, rather than embracing this natural narrative evolution, the series doubled down on its familiar structure: Voight remains in command, largely unchallenged. While this preserves the show’s established dynamic, it also risks stagnation. A loss of control—or even a forced reassignment—could have pushed Voight into unfamiliar emotional territory, forcing growth and vulnerability. More importantly, it would have reshaped the dynamics within the team, offering new conflicts and alliances to explore.

Reid, as a disciplined, by-the-book officer, stood as a direct contrast to Voight’s streetwise, emotionally driven style. The potential tension between the two could have delivered a fresh layer of drama, testing loyalties and revealing hidden fractures within the team.

Instead, Season 13 appears poised to maintain the status quo, a move that may leave viewers feeling underwhelmed. With many cast shakeups already underway, the absence of a bold shift in leadership feels like a missed opportunity to reinvigorate the series.