Spoilers ahead for the Season 2 finale of FBI on CBS, called "Emotional Rescue," featuring Tracy Spiridakos as Hailey Upton.
FBI aired the first-ever cross-network Dick Wolf crossover with NBC's One Chicago thanks to Tracy Spiridakos taking a break from Chicago P.D. to help out OA and the rest of the feds on CBS. As Hailey Upton, she worked with the FBI team to solve the case of a drug deal gone bad and the bodies that dropped as a result, which was all well and good for FBI fans. For P.D. fans who didn't check out the crossover episode but want to know what went down with Hailey, read on!
Hailey Upton In New York After Leaving Chicago P.D.
Hailey left Chicago to help out the FBI in New York City thanks to Hank Voight's decision at the end of the latest Chicago P.D. episode, called "Lines," when he came to the conclusion that Hailey needed to learn a lesson and stop crossing lines that were turning her into him. Hailey wasn't happy about it when last seen on P.D., but she didn't try to get out of it.
Cue the beginning of FBI's "Emotional Rescue" Season 2 finale! Hailey ditched the loose hair, plaid shirts, and jeans that she gets to wear to work at Intelligence for a more professional look to fit in with the feds. SAC Isobel Castille announced that Detective Hailey Upton had come from Chicago P.D. as part of an "inter-agency training program," which elaborates on what Voight told Hailey at the end of Chicago P.D.'s "Lines."
Voight had said that "New York's FBI task force is looking for a loan-out officer." Castille echoed Voight's statement that the assignment would last a "few weeks," which means that Hailey would have been over on FBI for more than just "Emotional Rescue" if not for the coronavirus forcing a halt to production on FBI (and Chicago P.D.).
Hailey Upton's FBI Partner
Hailey was partnered with Agent Omar Adom Zidan. Better known on FBI as OA, he was also missing his regular partner, Maggie, as a result of her undercover assignment. Hailey and OA didn't get off to the strongest start, with OA's comments about Chicago P.D. striking a nerve, Hailey's rough tactics not going over well with the FBI agent, and Hailey knocking New York pizza.
Still, they were civil and professional, and good enough at their jobs that they formed a bond and seemed well on their way to a fun, cross-network friendship. It definitely wasn't the partnership Hailey has built over three seasons with Jay Halstead on P.D., and their bond definitely didn't seem like it would head in a romantic direction, which is good news for Upstead fans!
On the partnership front, the episode ended with Hailey and OA headed out for a beer to continue bonding. OA had learned that Hailey became a cop because of her abusive past, and he promised to tell why he'd become a fed over drinks.
Hailey Upton On The Case
As for the case, Hailey's arrival turned out to be great timing, since the drug deal gone wrong and murders turned out to be connected to the Latin Players gang out of Chicago. Hailey knew how to push the buttons of the gang member they had in custody, and she impressed OA so much with her interrogation tactics that he was reminded of his regular partner, with whom he's very close.
Hailey further proved her worth with the FBI when she connected with a young woman named Harper, who got caught up in the case due to her abusive relationship with a dealer.
Hailey was able to get through to Harper where the feds had hit a wall, and the case never would have been solved without her. In fact, the feds wouldn't have even found the dealer's drug stash in his car in time, since Hailey was able to locate it due to one of her C.I.s back in Chicago knowing how to install hiding places.
Basically, FBI showcased Hailey as a law enforcement officer, allowed her to form a bond with OA that I honestly loved and would have been happy to see more of if FBI Season 2 hadn't been cut short, and makes me wonder if Hailey's arc on CBS was going to end with an invitation to join up.
Speaking with CinemaBlend, Tracy Spiridakos did confirm that she'll be back for Chicago P.D. Season 8, so Chicago P.D. wasn't pulling a Lindsay with Hailey (and on poor Jay) again by sending an Intelligence detective to join the FBI in New York on a permanent basis.
Still, she fit in well with the team, and there was no real hazing or awkwardness. I wouldn't have been surprised if Hailey was asked or offered a place with the FBI, but she would turn it down to return to CPD. Unfortunately, if we do ever find out, it won't be for a while.
Both Chicago P.D. and FBI have finished filming already for the 2019-2020 TV season because of the coronavirus, and the final remaining episodes of P.D. Season 7 will feature Intelligence without Hailey. See what happens next on Chicago P.D. with the new episode, called "Buried Secrets," airing on Wednesday, April 8 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. Here's what in store for P.D. in the first episode while Hailey is in New York:
The clock is on after Ruzek witnesses a woman's kidnapping and the team races to put the pieces together. Burgess tries to connect with Ruzek outside of work but he mysteriously distances himself from her.
While the next episode might be light on the Upstead (unless Jay is pining to have his partner back), maybe it will be heavy on the Burzek! After everything they've gone through in Season 7, I hope they catch a break before Season 7 comes to its premature end. Season 7 presumably won't end on a killer cliffhanger like in seasons past thanks to the early end of production, but hopefully the final episodes before the break will be memorable.
Chicago P.D. airs as the third show in the three-hour One Chicago block on NBC Wednesdays, staring with Chicago Med at 8 p.m. ET, proceeding with Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. ET, and then wrapping with P.D. at 10 p.m. ET.
