Chicago P.D.'s Jason Beghe Pitches Strange (But Sultry!) Way For Voight To Win Chapman Back — Plus, Grade The Premiere
Chicago P.D.'s Jason Beghe is willing to do whatever it takes to help Voight and Chapman come back together in Season 13.
In Wednesday's premiere, we pick up one month after Voight helped orchestrate Chief Charlie Reid's murder, and Chapman still isn't speaking to him. (In fact, Chapman is completely absent from the episode.)
TVLine spoke with Beghe and showrunner Gwen Sigan to pick their brains about how Chapman and Voight might reconnect later this season. And though he was feeling a little shy at first — "That's a question for the writers!" — it didn't take long for Beghe to really take us to... an unexpected place.
Beghe first suggested that the pair return to their roots so they can bond over ambition like they always have. He added that reconnecting with Voight wouldn't just be a personal gain for Chapman, but it would also "be an opportunity for her to be more effective and successful in her career.
"Or, perhaps, I could buy a beautiful gown for myself and just be the vile temptress," he said.
Sigan didn't share Beghe's seductive vision, but she did agree that there could be a path forward and that things would likely "start back at work."
"I think there is a future of the two of them having some sort of relationship again," she said. "I don't think it's necessarily romantic at this time. I think that Voight would have to work hard for it."
But enough about what we don't see in the premiere, and more on what we do: The Intelligence Unit is still benched while Commander Devlin conducts an evaluation. In the meantime, Voight works rapid response, responding to in-progress calls. (Which he's not taking well, by the way!)
After intervening in what appears to be a dope deal gone wrong, Voight's urge to cross the line creeps back in; he unofficially relaunches the Intelligence Unit by asking Ruzek to figure out the owner of a brown car that fired shots before fleeing the scene. Ruzek heads to a local bar to see if anyone knows the owner, making up a story about a fender bender. His nosiness gets him into a bar fight with two patrons, one of whom turns out to be on duty with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: Officer Eva Imani (played by The Night Agent's Arienne Mandi).
Since Officer Imani, who is investigating gun-runners, now seems to be related to Voight's case, his curiosity only heightens. And because Voight is Voight, he simply can't let this go. He even ropes in Burgess by asking her to follow Imani; she soon finds the ATF officer getting assaulted by her gun-running contact. Burgess steps in to help Imani, nearly getting herself killed until Voight shows up and shoots the guy. Then, Voight orders Imani to hide the truth: Burgess was never there. (She hasn't been approved for duty, yet.) Imani agrees, solidifying their new bond with a lie.
Voight and Imani continue their unofficial investigation into this gun-runner, and they find a stash of weapons that were stolen from the CPD. Voight uses this information as ammunition — pun intended — to blackmail the commander, since the theft was never reported. The Intelligence Unit is then immediately reinstated, and Voight offers Imani a place on his squad. He even says he'll give her "a long leash."
But is it the best idea for Voight to team up with Imani — someone who seems as willing as he is to lie and cross the line in order to solve a case? For Beghe, there's potential in this partnership.
"They're going to be a mirror for each other," he shared. "I'm sure it'll be bumpy at times, but ultimately we will both have a much fuller understanding of ourselves and each other through each other."
What do you think of Chicago P.D.'s newest squad member? And will Voight be able to repair his relationship with Chapman? Grade the poll below, then hit the comments with your thoughts!