Chicago P.D. is returning to NBC with an episode that will delve into vulnerable sides of Hailey Upton's life that viewers don't usually get to see, including the relationship with Jay Halstead and her childhood trauma. A wellness check in the next new episode will reveal signs of foul play and cause Hailey to start reflecting on what she went through as a child, and according to actress Tracy Spiridakos, her complicated past will have an impact on her relationship in the present.
The Upstead relationship has mostly developed off-screen with Hailey and Jay focusing on their work while on the job, but Tracy Spiridakos shared with CinemaBlend where their relationship stands when the case this week hits too close to home for her:
The episode starts by Jay telling Hailey that he loves her and I don’t know if you guys know this buuuut Hailey isn’t great with feelings. [laughs] I think they both try to keep their personal life private, but Hailey makes that difficult by avoiding Jay and burying herself in a case that ends up bringing up a lot of her unresolved trauma. Jay can see her spiraling and tries to help, but Hailey is stubborn, scared, and she pushes him as far away as she can because that makes her feel safest. We definitely see an obstacle in their relationship.
Well, let it not be said that the course of love on Chicago P.D. with complex characters runs smoothly! Hailey and Jay's relationship ran into an obstacle almost right away when her abusive father had a heart attack, and now they're in for another obstacle with Hailey's unresolved trauma rearing its head again.
The good news? Jay is ready to confess his love to Hailey, when Hailey was the one who made the first big confession that moved them from platonic to romantic. The not-so-good news? The case will send her spiraling and pushing him away on top of Jay sharing his feelings. What's up with Upstead is clearly going to be complicated in the next episode.
Called "Signs of Violence," the April 7 episode's case will involve parents and a young daughter who need to be found, so it's not hard to see how Hailey could begin to connect to the investigation more deeply (and perhaps too deeply) compared to the others in Intelligence, possibly including her partner. A big question is just how much of an obstacle this will be for Upstead, and whether it will be resolved within the span of "Signs of Violence."
Hailey isn't the only one in the relationship who can be stubborn, and Jay trying to help is a good sign. Hopefully the case won't come to too gruesome of an ending if Hailey is already feeling scared and the need to push Jay away, but Chicago P.D. doesn't shy away from dark cases. That said, Tracy Spiridakos has described Jay as Hailey's "anchor," and that was even before the relationship moved to the next level!
Find out how "Signs of Violence" impacts Upstead and whether any of Hailey's "unresolved trauma" will be resolved by the end of the Chicago P.D. hour on Wednesday, April 7 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, following Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. and Chicago Med at 8 p.m., and check back with CinemaBlend for more of what Tracy Spiridakos had to say about her character and the episode.
Burzek isn't doing so well after the latest episode, so maybe Upstead will be Chicago P.D.'s ship that sails strong in One Chicago, but only time and "Signs of Violence" will tell. All three episodes of One Chicago on April 7 were directed by women, with Bethany Rooney helming the Chicago P.D. installment.
