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Chicago PD Season 12 brings new, high-stakes cases into the world of the Intelligence Unit. Created by Dick Wolf and Matt Olmstead, the show continues to captivate viewers with enthralling plots involving crime-fighting excitement, as well as a stronger focus on character development.
One of the bigger franchises is the overall One Chicago franchise, which counts Chicago Fire and Chicago Med among its ranks. Chicago PD is also a big player in the NBC lineup. While working to solve the big, nasty cases, the Intelligence Unit's personal lives are also being dealt with.
In the episode titled Ten Ninety-Nine, Kim Burgess, played by Marina Squerciati, is at a professional conference for NAWLEE (National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives). She's attending it to build on her skills and think through a recent case.
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Although viewers might feel she is missing, Kim's fiancé Adam Ruzek reassures the team that they can get by just fine without her. Burgesses' time away is only temporary, and viewers can expect to see her back soon.
"Thinking about coming home early" — Kim Burgess' fiancé says in the Chicago PD season 12 premiere
While Burgess doesn't feature in the premiere episode of Chicago PD season 12, her absence won't be for long. It is because conferences don't last long in general and in the first episode, Adam Ruzek tells officer Kevin Atwater:
"She [Kim Burgess] said the conference is good, learning a lot. She's disturbed by her case though, thinking about coming home early."
Meanwhile, caseloads for Intelligence Unit continue to increase and there is also the aftermath of Detective Martel's shocking death. So it comes as no surprise that Burgess will return to help bolster the team.
In an interview with TV Insider on September 18, 2024, showrunner Gwen Sigan discussed the ongoing character development:
"Someone's getting promoted, and it's somebody I think who's wanted it for a while and that it made a lot of sense for us."
Sigan continued:
"In the [writers'] room, we've talked about that storyline for so long, but how do you make it a story? How do you make it interesting? How do you make it something that really reveals something about who this person is and is not just a piece of paper?"
Read More: What happened to Detective Jay Halstead in Chicago PD? Explained
How will Burgess’ relationship with Ruzek evolve in Chicago PD?
Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek have faced some ups and downs throughout the seasons but are now engaged. This confirms them to be in a very stable union.
Since their understated yet heartfelt proposal in season 11, the couple has grown mature. However, Burgess' short absence and Martel's death might become a challenge for Ruzek. Since they appeared to have a really great bond, the loss of a good friend will definitely bring some new emotional challenges for Ruzek, and probably Burgess will play a significant role there.
Fans may also catch some further planning of their wedding, as the new showrunner Sigan has already marked it as one of the big storylines for the couple this season during her interview.
Read More: Chicago P.D. season 11 recap: All to remember before season 12 arrives
How does Burgess' absence impact the Chicago PD team?
Burgess is out of the Intelligence Unit for several episodes of Chicago PD Season 12. The team feels at least partially missing; she is an older veteran police officer, often a good source of critical insight during investigations, and provides support to colleagues when needed during investigations.
With Burgess temporarily gone, Ruzek, and Atwater, among others, end up carrying more cases than usual. This puts a little more strain on the unit, especially with the devastating twist of events that happen at the end of the episode.
This notwithstanding, the team is determined to push ahead with their proposals without her. Ruzek keeps communicating with Burgess through frequent reports on the cases that are coming up even as he appeals to her to stay focused on the conference.
The addition of Detective Emily Martel replacing Detective Hailey Upton does give the team some temporary respite. But Martel's sudden death in the end means that the tragedy sends the situation a tragic dimension. Burgess is going to be needed more than ever to help Ruzek and the team cope with the emotional intensity.
Interested viewers can watch Chicago PD Season 12 on NBC every Wednesday at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT or can stream episodes on Peacock.
Read More:
1) Why did Ruzek leave Chicago P.D. in season 4? Explained
2) What happened to Hank Voight in Chicago PD? Character's absence in the latest episode explained
