In the Intelligence Unit, a clean conscience is the heaviest burden you can carry. It’s not just a character trait; it’s a target.
As we brace for the impact of Season 12, we are looking at our favorite characters through a different lens. We aren’t ranking them by their smiles or their heroics. We are ranking them by the amount of blood on their hands—and how much longer the city of Chicago will let them keep breathing. In Voight’s world, being “likable” is synonymous with being vulnerable.
1. The High Price of Humanity: Kevin Atwater
Atwater consistently tops the “likability” charts. He is the professional peak, the moral compass, and the man who refuses to let the badge change his soul. But in the dark reality of Chicago P.D., that makes him the primary candidate for a narrative execution. When kindness becomes a liability, the writers don’t give you a promotion—they give you a tragedy. Is Atwater’s goodness the very thing that will eventually lead to his “Final Farewell”?
2. The Broken Perfection: Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek
There is an “ineffable satisfaction” in seeing these two together, but don’t let the romance fool you. Their relationship isn’t a subplot; it’s a sacrifice. Every time they find a moment of peace, the show demands a blood tax. Ranking them as “likable” is essentially signing their death warrant. In Season 12, the question isn’t if they will suffer, but which one of them will be forced to watch the other fall into the abyss.
3. The Architect of Decay: Hank Voight
Voight sits at the bottom of “traditional” likability, yet he is the only one who truly survives. Why? Because he abandoned kindness decades ago. He is the “Death Warrant” incarnate. He doesn’t just lead his team; he consumes them. To be ranked as a favorite under Voight’s command is to be a lamb led to the slaughter. He is the only legend who won’t be “killed off,” because he is the one holding the shovel for everyone else’s grave.
4. The New Generation: Dante Torres and Kiana Cook
They arrive with “personal affinity” and fresh ambition, but they are walking into a meat grinder. The “Blood Rankings” show that new blood is usually the first to be spilled. In the upcoming episodes, watch how their “professional competence” is slowly stripped away, replaced by the same cold, dead stare that defines the veterans of the 21st District.
The Final Verdict: Who is Next?
The “Blood Rankings” tell a grim story: The more you care, the faster you die. As the shadows of Season 12 lengthen, we aren’t waiting for a rescue; we are waiting for the reaper.
Whether it’s a bullet in a dark alley or a slow “death of the soul” behind a desk, no one leaves Intelligence whole. The era of the “likable hero” is dead. Welcome to the era of the Survivor.
Who do you think will be the next to fall? Tell us in the comments—if you have the heart to say goodbye.