Spoilers ahead for the April 8 episode of Chicago P.D., “Buried Secrets.”
Only one episode of Chicago P.D. Season 7 remains before the cop drama enters an early hiatus ahead of Season 8, but the penultimate installment served up some food for thought of the Burzek variety. After most of a season packed with everything from very high highs to brutal lows, Burgess and Ruzek went through an ordeal in “Buried Secrets” that could set them up for some intriguing stories in Season 8.
The episode opened with Burgess trying to get Ruzek to join her for dinner, only to later learn that he’s been sleeping with a bartender. He didn’t look any happier about it than Burgess did when she found out, and I don’t think that can be entirely chalked up to the kidnapping he witnessed!
The reveal that Ruzek was sleeping with somebody so soon after a Burzek breakthrough and not all that far off from when Burgess was still physically injured from the miscarriage could have been catastrophic, but the two on-again off-again love interests ended the episode just… fine.
On any other show, a popular potential couple ending up “just fine” wouldn’t be all that much to celebrate or even much of a development, but Chicago P.D. is a show where “just fine” can mean “totally great!” as long as nobody is bleeding out, being arrested, and/or committing a crime.
Burgess and Ruzek haven’t been on the same page through pretty much all of Season 7, aside from the brief happy period when they were united in their joy at becoming parents. With their decision to head out to dinner at the end of “Buried Secrets,” with no signs that they were looking to rekindle their relationship or be anything other than good friends, the stage is set for P.D. to go in pretty much any direction with them in Season 8.
They certainly stand out from the other two pairs in Intelligence. What’s up with Upstead remains to be seen, with a lot of things being left unsaid between them, although admitted out loud to others. Upton and Halstead have also been dealing with their own issues, so not much as been straightforward or simple for them.
As for Rowater -- a.k.a., Rojas and Atwater -- the hinted romance between them hasn’t yielded much more than some fist bumps and friendly conversations. Meanwhile, Burgess and Ruzek are seemingly just fine with each other, there for each other, and surprisingly communicative with each other. On Chicago P.D.!
Of course, given that this is Chicago P.D. and Season 7 was originally slated to run for more episodes than just next week’s finale, Burgess and Ruzek could have wound up back in an awkward and/or uncomfortable place again if the season was able to end as intended.
With only one episode left that wasn’t produced as a finale and is seemingly Atwater-centric, I think Burgess and Ruzek are likely to end the season on good terms with each other, warm and mostly devoid of tension. If so, Season 8 won’t have to deal with unanswered questions, which will almost certainly be the case with Upton and Halstead thanks to Upton’s absence, but will get to start with a solid dynamic.
Burgess and Ruzek’s latest development was a good thing, for once, and sets them up for a potentially great Season 8. As for what else is set up for Season 8, fans can find out with the Chicago P.D. Season 7 ender on Wednesday, April 15 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, following the season finales of Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. ET and Chicago Med at 8 p.m. ET.
