Chicago P.D. The episode left Marina Squerciati in tears
When “Chicago P.D.” Airing in the fall of 2014, few expected it to become a primetime hit that launched the franchise. But that’s exactly what happened with the Dick Wolf-produced drama series, which is not only in its ninth season but is also the flagship series of NBC’s wildly popular “One Chicago” franchise (including “Chicago Fire,” and “Chicago Med”).
For most of its time on the small screen, “Chicago P.D.” also miraculously kept much of the original cast intact, with the likes of Jason Beghe, Jesse Lee Sofer, Amy Morton, Laroyce Hawkins and Patrick John Fluger appearing in every or nearly every episode. So did Marina Squerciati, who reportedly played Detective Kim Burgess in all 180 episodes of “Chicago P.D.” hitherto. And in that time, Burgess has seen as many ups and downs as anyone in the 21st District Intelligence Unit.
Of course, many of those heartbreaking moments prompted a tear or two from the series’ passionate fanbase. But episode 5 of “Chicago P.D.” that brought Marina Squerciati to tears. She wasn’t focusing on Burgess at all.
The main character’s last episode brought a lot of emotions to Squerciati
It looks like an episode of “Chicago P.D.” that made Marina Squerciati cry was the final episode of Season 5. It brought her to tears because it marked the final appearance of original cast member Elias Koteas. Of course, the beloved actor will play IU’s fan-favorite Detective Alvin Olinsky for the first five seasons of “Chicago P.D.” In one of the series’ most shocking narrative twists, Olinsky met a grisly end behind bars in the Season 5 finale after being accused of murder by IU big boss Hank Voight (Beghe ).
Shock value aside, Olinsky’s exit from the series delivered an emotional wallop akin to “Chicago P.D.” rarely evoked. And the dramatic effect was not lost on Squerciati, who admitted in “Chicago P.D.” 2018. The promotional video shows her actually shedding a few tears off-screen while watching the episode. She did so under the threat of a lie detector test, which, true or not, confirmed that the actor was telling the truth with her statements. That’s right, Squerciati’s tears may have had a lot to do with the episode that marked the last time she was with her longtime co-star. But if you’ve seen the episode in question, you’ll know Olinsky’s final on-screen moments were more than emotional. Therefore, we guess Marina Squerciati wasn’t the only viewer who cried while saying goodbye.
