The wait for more of Chicago P.D. Season 8 is almost at an end, and the 2021 return promises to be a big episode for none other than Burgess. She'll be called upon to protect a young girl who winds up in very real danger, and an exclusive clip (seen above) proves that Burgess has her work cut out for her. Rescuing the girl here is one thing; can Burgess continue to keep her safe?
The new episode is called "Tender Age," and it will see Burgess along with Ruzek find a girl wandering alone. When they take her home, they'll discover that something terrible happened to her whole family. If the clip from the episode with broken glass, cut power, and gunshots is any indication, whoever attacked the girl's family isn't finished with the crime spree just yet.
Airing on NBC on January 6 at 10 p.m. ET, "Tender Age" should be an intense return for Chicago P.D. According to showrunner Rick Eid, there will also be "emotions" to go along with the danger as Burgess tries to protect this child. When asked how their tragic Season 7 miscarriage impacts Burgess and Ruzek as they approach this case of a child who lost her family, Eid shared with CinemaBlend:
I think they approach the case the same way they would any other. But over the course of the investigation, Burgess connects with the young girl; this stirs up some of her emotions connected to the miscarriage. It also stirs up her maternal instincts and desire to be a mother.
Chicago P.D. Season 7 proved that both Burgess and Ruzek were able to return to their work in Intelligence despite their loss, with Burgess even overcoming extreme physical pain, and their tragedy evidently won't affect how they look at the case to start. That's not to say that this case won't recall for Burgess some of what she was feeling while she was pregnant.
Considering that the pregnancy in Season 7 was an accident, Burgess hasn't actually shown any major signs that she is still interested in becoming a mother any time in the foreseeable future, so it should be interesting to see how "Tender Age" builds the connection with Burgess and the girl to stir up her maternal instincts.
The episode clip definitely proves that she's not letting anything happen to the girl if there's anything she can do about it. Showrunner Rick Eid elaborated on Burgess' state of mind when it comes to starting a family after how prepared she was in Season 7 prior to the miscarriage:
Yes, it’s on her mind. She’s not sure about how, or when, she’s going to pursue this desire, but she’s definitely thinking about motherhood.
There are still big questions about what Burgess does or doesn't see in her ideal future as a mother, but Burzek fans are undoubtedly going to be wondering if Ruzek could be part of her vision. He was there for her as much as she would let him throughout her pregnancy and the aftermath, and they do have the longest-running will they/won't they dynamic on Chicago P.D. at this point.
Of course, a different romance is brewing within the Intelligence Unit, so we'll have to wait and see what's on the way for Burgess and potential motherhood. The good news is that "Tender Age" promises to be a thrilling episode that showcases Burgess, who didn't have a huge part to play in the first two episodes of Season 8.
Tune in to NBC on Wednesday, January 6 at 10 p.m. ET to see the first new Chicago P.D. episode of 2021, following Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. ET and Chicago Med at 8 p.m. ET. For some more viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.
