In the gritty world of Chicago P.D., Detective Hank Voight has long been the unshakable cornerstone of the Intelligence Unit — tough, unyielding, and often walking the fine line between justice and vengeance. But after 12 seasons of Voight almost always getting his way, Season 13 was positioned to offer something radically different: a true reckoning.
And if there’s one storyline that could have delivered that seismic shift, it would have been Voight losing to ASA Chapman’s trusted investigator, Ramirez “Reid.” It’s the twist that should have happened — not just for shock value, but to reinvigorate a series that desperately needs to evolve.
Let’s break down why Voight taking an “L” would’ve been the boldest — and best — move Chicago P.D. could make going forward.
Voight Always Wins — And That’s the Problem
Since Chicago P.D.’s debut, Voight has operated in his own moral universe. Whether bending the rules, intimidating suspects, or making backdoor deals, he’s always come out on top. While that made for gripping early seasons, the formula is starting to wear thin.
Season 13 needed to raise the stakes — not just in terms of new criminals, but in challenging the internal power dynamics. Enter Assistant State’s Attorney Nina Chapman and her sharp, calculating investigator, Reid.
This duo came in with real authority — not just another IA threat or bureaucratic obstacle. They represented a system that wasn’t afraid of Voight, and more importantly, one that could expose his greatest weakness: his inability to play by the rules when emotions run high.
Reid Was Built to Be Voight’s Intellectual Equal
In his limited screen time, Reid emerged as someone completely different from the usual revolving-door adversaries. He was cool, calm, by-the-book — but also deadly efficient. He didn’t need to raise his voice or slam a suspect into a wall. His quiet confidence was a direct contrast to Voight’s volatility.
That difference alone made him dangerous — and compelling.
Fans quickly noticed the tension building between the two. Reid wasn’t intimidated by Voight, and that rattled the veteran cop in ways we hadn’t seen since early run-ins with Internal Affairs. It set up what could have been a season-long game of cat-and-mouse — Voight’s gut instincts versus Reid’s meticulous precision.
A Loss for Voight Would Have Opened Up the Story
Had Reid managed to outmaneuver Voight — whether by uncovering misconduct, exposing a cover-up, or forcing the Intelligence Unit to make a choice — it would’ve created a new, thrilling direction for the show.
Imagine it: Voight being suspended, or publicly challenged, or even sidelined for an episode arc while someone else takes the reins. It would’ve allowed for deeper character development, particularly for team members like Halstead (had he still been around), Burgess, or Atwater, to question their loyalty and find their own voices.
It also would have shifted the show’s stale “Voight is always right” narrative and added nuance to the moral dilemmas the show claims to explore.
Chapman’s Rise Could Signal a New Era
Let’s not forget the power of Chapman in this storyline. She wasn’t just a political pawn — she was confident, capable, and willing to go toe-to-toe with Voight. Her partnership with Reid could’ve been the start of a long-needed restructuring of how law and order operate in Chicago P.D..
Chapman and Reid represent an accountability arc. They see a city where backroom justice isn’t sustainable. And while the show has flirted with that theme before, it always ends with Voight proving them wrong.
That shift could have modernized the series and shown a willingness to reflect the real-world debates around police power, oversight, and reform — without losing the high-stakes drama fans love.
Voight is many things: tough, loyal, emotionally raw. But he’s rarely allowed to be wrong. A real, lasting loss would humble him — and make him far more compelling. What happens when Voight’s tactics finally fail him? How does he rebuild? How does he lead?
The show has shown flashes of this before — his grief over Olinsky, his mentorship of Halstead, his protective instincts toward Burgess and Ruzek. But those were personal. This would be professional. Institutional. Public.
It would have given actor Jason Beghe new material to work with and allowed fans to see Voight truly evolve. As of now, Chicago P.D. hasn’t fully leaned into the Voight vs. Chapman/Reid storyline — but that doesn’t mean it’s too late. Reid could return. Chapman could gain more influence. And Voight’s grip on the unit could finally be tested in a meaningful way.
In fact, Season 13 would benefit from Reid becoming a recurring foil — not a villain, but an equal. Someone who operates on a different frequency, pushing Voight to face the consequences of his decisions. Voight losing to Reid wouldn’t have made him weak — it would’ve made the show stronger. It would’ve opened doors for narrative innovation, character growth, and emotional depth. It would’ve shown fans that Chicago P.D. isn’t afraid to challenge its legacy in order to stay relevant.
