Brotherhood.

The Bro code.

The idea of "all for one and one for all" takes on an entirely different meaning on Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 10.

Personally, I'm not fond of how the series portrays brotherhood and loyalty because it's wishy-washy.

Everyone should learn from Olinksy's mistake.

He was loyal to his longtime friend Voight on Chicago PD Season 5 Episode 21 by taking the fall in a murder investigation, and while it was a noble gesture, it also cost him his life.

Voight wasn't joking when he said this kind of loyalty comes with a price.

Voight: Who the hell do you think you are? You don't protect me. I protect you. That's my job. I'm the one who allowed Antonio to be there. This is on me. From this point on, you don't say another word about this, you get me?
Ruzek: Yes, sir.

Permalink: Who the hell do you think you are?

This time, Ruzek is the one willing to give it all up in the name of loyalty.

Up until now, we haven't seen where Ruzek stands or what his ethics are, but I was slightly surprised he was willing to put his neck on the line considering his rocky relationship with Antonio.

I would have expected Ruzek just to tell the truth and throw Antonio under the bus (some might say that's well-deserved) to protect his boss.

Related: Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 9 Review: Descent

Antonio is the one who got them in this mess in the first place. He didn't think twice about how it would affect the squad!

And while I'm sure Antonio wouldn't want anyone taking the fall for him, he let it happen. That's not only upsetting but hypocritical on his part as he's always preaching about playing by the rules.

Will he come clean once he finds out about Ruzek's sacrifice?

I understand that Ruzek is just trying to save everyone, but why wouldn't the person who put them in the tight spot have to be held accountable?

There were many other times the bro code took precedence over logic on this series; however, Ruzek ignoring all reason was the one that did it for me.

It's one thing to be loyal to your boss, but it's another thing to go above his orders deliberately.

So many people were trying to talk Ruzek out of taking the fall, and Platt had probably the most convincing argument: Voight would find a way out of this.

He always does.

Ruzek? Not so much.

Sure, corporal would attempt to dig up all incriminating evidence on Voight, but he's also Voight.

He can handle his own battles, he has friends in high places, his name carries weight, and he knows how to make deals and negotiate. That's how he's gotten so far despite his unconventional tactics.

The one thing everyone in Intelligence needs to realize is that Voight is untouchable; he does not need his team to take one for him.

So, as Platt pointed out, yes, it would be a hit for Voight, but it wouldn't be nearly as damaging as it would be for Ruzek.

However, Ruzek made up his mind, and there was no changing it, which will make for some interesting storylines down the line.

I see where Ruzek is coming from -- he finally fits in somewhere, feels like he owes them, and is grateful -- and most importantly, he doesn't think Intelligence could soldier on without Voight.

But as we've seen time and time again, it can.

Ruzek is dealing with an officer-involved death investigation. And that's the last this team will discuss it. You never have to explain something you didn't say or hear.
Voight

Permalink: Ruzek is dealing with an officer-involved death investigation. And that's the last this team...

Ruzek's connection to the carjackings felt underused and stuffy.

He was already dealing with so much it didn't make a difference if he knew the perps or not.

Though, maybe it did explain why he felt so passionately about being part of a team and protecting said team.

There were a thousand ways Ruzek's statement could have been discredited, but it was the damn fresh blood.

He's so lucky the area didn't have cameras!

I could see Voight pulling some strings and making sure the "blood samples" get swapped out. You heard the man -- his job is to take care of the team.

Did anyone else find it odd that the moment there was an officer-related death, the higher-ups immediately assumed there was something fishy going on?

It seemed like it was common to discredit the officer instead of assuming they did everything by the book to protect themselves.

While most of the Intelligence team was staying back and not getting involved, Upton couldn't just stand by idly and let her man take the fall for something he didn't do.

It's a new year, and something weird happened -- I kind of fell for Upton and Ruzek as a couple.

Their first fight illuminated the genuine feelings they have for each other.

Upton: Are you insane? There are a thousand ways this goes wrong. A thousand ways you end up on the wrong end of this. If IRT came to question you that means there's discrepancies in your story. You are risking your career, jail time.
Ruzek: I know.
Upton: Your life. For what? Some half-ass notion of loyalty?
Ruzek: It is not a notion. It's Antonio. It's Voight. It's our unit. It's OUR unit. And I'm going to protect it every time. Every time! That's who I am. Why do you have a problem with that?
Upton: I don't have a problem with that. I have a problem with something happening to you.
Ruzek: No, you have a problem with my damn ethics, Hailey. You always have had a problem with that. And I'm not going to talk about policing with you again.
Upton: Listen. This has nothing to do with police loyalty, it has to do with you. I care about you.
Halstead (interrupting): I can hear you guys in the stairwell. What the hell are you doing?
Upton: Nothing. It's fine, sorry.
Halstead: You cannot be having this conversation here.

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Ruzek is trying to prove he isn't "just a pretty face," while Upton was taken aback by the severity of her feelings for a relationship that was supposed to be "casual."

And this, friends, is yet another example that casual dating and "friends with benefits" doesn't work. Someone always develops feelings!

I found myself having so much respect for her when she told Voight that she'd rather be doing anything else than putting herself on the line "for a guy she's dating."

You could see how much Upton cared about Ruzek in the way she spoke to Voight; her delivery was emotionally charged.

And when she finally came clean about her relationship to Halstead, it was pure and genuine.

Halstead understands the situation she's in since he's been down the same road with a woman for which he'd do anything.

Maybe he can give her some advice?

I loved how Halstead told her that they would always be good. Their friendship and partnership are some of the strongest on the series right now.

If I did feel a little spark between them, though, I'm glad the focus is on the friendship between them rather than making it another romance or worse, a romantic triangle.

I was also genuinely surprised with Burgess' indifference towards Ruzek's situation.

For someone who was once so close to him, she should have picked up on the fact that things weren't as they seem.

Instead, Burgess, much like the rest of the team, stayed out of it.

The writers and actors talk so much about Burgess and Ruzek being "end-game," but this felt like the furthest thing from it.

But I can see how the storyline -- Ruzek incriminating himself and putting his job and reputation on the line for Voight and Antonio -- could cause a rift between Ruzek and Upton.

She didn't want to fall but did, and it ended up in heartbreak because Ruzek didn't take her feelings into consideration when he made his decision.

Upton is very particular about the folks she surrounds herself with and who she allows into her circle. She's protective because of her past, so I could see her calling things off with Ruzek as a result of his actions.

And that would allow Ruzek and Burgess to find their way back together gradually.

Upton: You can't let him do this. Not after what happened to Olinsky.
Voight: I would stop right there. Whatever this is -- anger at me, difference of opinion. emotion getting the best of you for a guy your dating -- I would stop and walk right back out that door.
Upton: It's all those things. And trust me, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be risking my career for a guy I'm dating, but here I am. He has my loyalty, and I don't know how to help him. So, I'm asking you.
Voight: Hailey, I'm doing everything I can to help him. Everything. But at the end of the day, it's going to be his decision, not mine.

Permalink: It's all those things. And trust me, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be risking my...

Though, at this point, I don't need the only two strong females on the show conflicted because of a man. Let's avoid that at all costs.

I wonder how Burgess will react when she finds out Upton is involved with her former man. Will she be upset? Or will she be happy for them?

I'm handing over the mic to you.

What did you think of the first Chicago PD of 2019?

Did Ruzek make the right call? Was Upton out of line? Should Voight have learned from the mistakes of his past, namely Olinsky's death after taking the fall for him, and fought harder for Ruzek to be absolved of this situation?

Will the team have to testify? Will Upton lie for Ruzek? Or will Antonio come clean?

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