Reviewer Rating: 4.4/5.0
4.4
The personal touch Chicago PD brings to this season is paying off and is deeply moving.
Initially, the idea of Disco Bob returning to the series caused trouble, as Ruzek’s father often got into trouble or caused problems.
However, Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 10 flipped the script and dealt a devastating blow to the Ruzek brothers.
As Ruzek attempts to solve the case of a horrific serial killer, he has to deal with the news that his father is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
This is a shocking reality check at a certain stage in one’s life when one is caring for one’s own children and parents.
The sandwich period is one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, made worse by Ruzek’s intense job, which saw him see some of the absolute worst that society has to offer.
It doesn’t matter how old we are; we can easily convince ourselves that our parents are infallible and indestructible and that age will never catch up with them.
We tend to take this for granted until life no longer allows us to do so.
It was clear something was going on when Disco Bob suddenly showed up at the precinct for a visit, hopping on a plane from Florida to visit his son and family without warning anyone.
Bob’s move caught Ruzek off guard, but it was no more than he expected from his father.
But then, it’s these little moments that make us realize something is off, like when he recounts Mai’s case as his own as he recalls his days in the army.
Then, there’s a brief moment when Mai calls him grandpa and he seems to have forgotten who she is and her relationship to him.
But the news came to light after he somehow reappeared in the precinct, clashed with another police officer and tried to take the squad car for himself.
On one hand, I hated that Bob had to drop this huge bomb on Ruzek during the middle shift at the station, while Ruzek was working on one of the darkest, most disturbing cases ever.
In many ways, however, you couldn’t think of a better place to break news like this than Bob’s, because the station is everything to them.
A Ruzek’s life is often dedicated to this job, and Bob, as we know him, has to deal with losing himself in a sanctuary-like place.
This kind of news made Ruzek heartbroken, but he had to put the pain and processing aside and focus on working with Zoe on this complex case.
Sadly, he hadn’t yet mustered up enough energy to break the news to Burgess.
Their final scene together, when he learns that Bob’s condition has worsened and that he has gone to an institution, is heartbreaking.
But there’s also something achingly beautiful about seeing Ruzek tenderly shaving his father, probably not unlike what Bob did to Ruzek when he first taught him how to shave.
Ruzek is true to a fault and puts family above all else.
His people are everything to him, so it’s no surprise that he refuses to let Bob into the facility and wants to take care of his father.
This is consistent with Ruzek’s character.
He is firm about this and nothing and no one will change his mind.
However, it is concerning that he made this decision without sufficient discussion with Burgess.
People often underestimate how much work and stress caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can put on a family.
It’s not an easy thing to do, and sometimes people are judgmental of those who place their loved ones in facilities, but sometimes, no matter how difficult it is, it’s what’s best for everyone.
Ruzek and Burgess have demanding and intense jobs, plus they have children to raise.
There’s a lot to deal with, and based on some of the events that have happened to Bob, steps need to be taken to ensure that he doesn’t get lost and get hurt or become a danger to others around him.
It’ll be interesting to see how this all unfolds, but whether it’s an emotional note on Ruzek’s personal arc or an emotional note on the case, Paddy Flueger is, as usual, fantastic and it’s great to see his Scope as an exhibiting actor.
This case is horrific.
The Chicago Police Department doesn’t shy away from getting darker with some cases, and this case is easily one of their worst.
After a simple health check, Ruzek discovered not only the body of a woman, but also that of a two-year-old child who had been violently stabbed.
He could barely stand the sight, and you couldn’t blame him.
What kind of monster brutally murders a two-year-old?
They even said it was intentional because the person did it on purpose.
To make matters worse, young Zoe is in the next room, coloring at the table and talking about butterfly clouds.
You could tell this wasn’t anything unusual for her.
Ruzek contacts Zoe first, which means he’s the best person to get intel from her whenever she’s able to give up a lot.
The gist of it is that her father was a liar and had a lot of connections, and then all these women and their children would “disappear.”
When we learn Thomas’ true identity, he suffocates and kills these women and children. But that doesn’t explain why the latest victim’s death was so violent.
It was a twisted case that led them to the man who gave Thomas a fake ID, revealed his relationship with an underage girl, and many other things.
But it’s not until the team dons that terrifying blackout gear and searches Thomas’ home that they get their most shocking evidence yet.
The graveyard filled with the bodies of the women and children he murdered is one of the most eerie and gruesome sights in the series.
My stomach twisted when the cadaver team discovered all those little bones.
Toddlers and children were buried in mass graves – Thomas was an evil monster and should have been burned!
Looking at his personal life and cases, you can see how many times and how much this hurt Ruzek.
It was as if the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders, and he was the kind of exhausted that even a good night’s sleep couldn’t relieve.
Voight noticed the entire time they were working on the case.
Ruzek’s voice cracks a few times when he talks about certain parts of it.
Now it all hangs over them because they can’t find Thomas and Zoe is out there, a mystery herself.
Zoe is not Thomas’ biological daughter; She has no connection to the other people or bodies featured in the case.
They have no record of her anywhere, and Zoe isn’t even her real name.
Whose child is she?
Does anyone out there miss her? Where is she from and does she have family there?
How did Thomas find and kidnap her?
How long had he had her?
But most importantly, why did Thomas leave her behind after killing everyone else?
The hour left us with a million questions about the case, and they’re not going to be solved anytime soon.
But you know what? I agree.
We don’t get much from the other characters in this installment, but thankfully it shows off the entire team, including Trudy.
The team is cohesive and seems to effortlessly work in sync with each other in a way that’s compelling and feels right. The team has been great this season; even if the series pushes them into the background, it still works.
The hour doesn’t exactly carry over any of the lingering storylines about the tension between Reed, Torres and Cook, Atwater finding balance in his life, or anything else.
However, it’s an important moment, and the focus on Ruzek feels refreshing and a satisfying character exploration rather than an unwelcome distraction.
Over to you, Chicago PD fanatics.
Are you shocked by Bob’s revelations? What is your theory about this case? Turn off the sound below!
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