Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 4 Review: Ride Along
Lizzy Buczak
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If you ever follow advice picked up from a TV show, let it be the wisdom Antonio imparted wisdom on Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 4: "the cover-up is always worse than the crime."
Antonio's advice played out in the real-world shortly after Burgess took a "hint" from Brennan.
She lied to the review board about having a ride along in the car when she responded to a call.
Apparently, the rule is you cannot engage with a suspect when you have a civilian with you.
The moment Burgess was swayed by Brennan's self-serving advice, we all knew she had made the biggest mistake of her life.
Burgess probably wouldn't have gotten into too much trouble if she came clean because as Platt pointed out later in the episode, no one is looking to take down a cop who caught the guy.
Yet she created the problem when she lied to cover her own ass.
Related: 19 TV Characters Who Are Terrible at their Jobs
I wasn't familiar with ride-along rules before Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 4, but you better believe that I looked them up shortly after because something just didn't sit well with me.
I found that if you agree to be a ride-along passenger, you must first sign a liability waiver.
Another part also states that the rider is a passive observer and "must not take an active part in a police operation."
Therefore, it's safe to assume that cops with civilians in their vehicle will respond to a few dangerous calls.
Burgess followed a call to save a man's life and did her best to keep Kendra safe.
She didn't physically put her in any danger. I'd even argue that Kendra put herself in more danger by disobeying Burgess' orders.
Of course, after one lie, Burgess spiraled, trying to protect her lie with more lies. One lie creates a vicious cycle.
Burgess then had to withhold information about Kendra being a witness because having her testify would place her at the scene and contradict her testimony.
Thankfully, Burgess realized the only way out was to do the right thing and own her mistakes.
I thought Kendra was holding back intel to protect Burgess since she was the one who begged her to respond to the call, but she eventually came forth to identify Trent before he did too much damage to himself or his brother.
I was surprised that he attacked his brother, but it was a satisfying twist. He deserved it for not being observant enough to notice his brother's withdrawal symptoms.
Sad news is, the review board looks at women a little differently. It is what it is.
Brennan
Another key takeaway for Burgess -- not every woman has your best interest at heart.
Let me repeat; not all women are created equal.
Brennan buttered Burgess up by singing her praises and telling her exactly what she wanted to hear.
Then, when the going got tough, she washed her hands of it leaving Burgess to solve her own problem.
The worst kind of person is the one that doesn't own up to what they said.
Even when Brennan asked Burgess to be part of the revamped Explorers Program, she didn't run it by anyone but instead presented it as a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" arrangement.
Her approach should have been a red flag for Burgess.
Related: Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 3 Review: Bad Boys
As a character, I find her tiresome and one-dimensional. Not to mention her tactics are predictable.
She's the type of woman who does things to elevate her own image and platform with absolutely no regard for anyone else.
Throughout all of Chicago PD Season 6, we've seen her handling cases only with ulterior motives in mind.
What she did to Burgess wasn't any different.
Don't run away from a compliment. Gets you nowhere.
Brennan
Voight may be corrupt in his ways, but he never gave Burgess advice that would compromise a case or send her into the dog house.
However, it also wasn't Voight who helped Burgess out of this tight spot.
He may have told Platt that Burgess had a situation, but he didn't pull any strings for her which I found to be very telling.
When he scolded her and told her he'd bury her if she ever compromised another case, I immediately flashed back to when Brennan warned her about women not getting the same treatment as men.
How many times has Voight scolded one of his male counterparts and then cleaned up the mess?
How many times has he covered for his male detectives?
Ruzek disobeyed Antonio on multiple occasions, and though I mostly sided with Ruzek, he still defied someone of a higher rank and got away with it.
When Halstead put the team in danger and jumped in to get revenge for his father's death, Voight pointed his finger and told him "they'd talk about it later."
They never did.
And even when Voight is furious with them, he still offers sympathy.
So why didn't he extend the same courtesy to Burgess?
He should have marched right on over to Brennan's office and told her to leave his unit alone!
Burgess may have made the wrong call, but she selflessly did the right thing in the end and even saved Trent by giving him Narcan.
Feeding the cat, really? That's what you're doing here?
Antonio
If the narrative of a female hero is so groundbreaking because it makes for good publicity, why aren't female cops extended the same protections as their male counterparts?
Elsewhere, Ruzek couldn't keep it in his pants.
I understand that the writers are hoping to continue with the romantic arc for several episodes, but can they stick to Ruzek romancing one woman?
The triangle does not have to be this forced.
Within seconds, Ruzek flopped from trying to hook up with Upton to asking Burgess if he can walk her home.
Based on his jumpy attitude, Burgess should have picked up on something between him and Upton.
I hope Ruzek doesn't play both women, the only two women in the unit, at the same time.
I'd lose all respect for him.
I could say the same thing about Antonio who is on a cringe-worthy pathway to an addiction storyline.
Why? Did the writers run out of ideas?
You say what happened. A cover-up is always worse than a crime.
Antonio
I haven't been a fan of Antonio's "by the book" methods, but if he stuck to them, I would at least have respected him more than I will if they make him a pill popper.
Is there no other option for healing a shoulder than getting addicted to hydrocodone?
Is he not able to sit out and get therapy before jumping back into the ring?
For a moment, it seemed like Ruzek, and Antonio's friendship was on the mend and that they'd both agree to disagree on how they choose to run things.
But now, it almost seems like the writers seek out to ruin every decent quality within each character.
We've all been vocal about characters other than Voight getting more screentime, but if it means that the writers are just going to throw whatever at the wall to see if it sticks, I don't want any part of it.
What did you think of the episode? Remember, watch Chicago PD online and share all of your thoughts in the comments below!
Lizzy Buczak was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in June 2021..
