Fans thought they were watching the full story unfold — but what if one of Chicago P.D.’s most intense arcs was changed behind the scenes… because it was too shocking to air?
Season 10 was building toward a dangerous standoff involving Detective Kevin Atwater and a corrupt informant planted deep within the department. The tension was palpable, with Atwater caught between his loyalty to Voight and his instincts about being set up. The final two episodes promised a game-changing betrayal. But according to insiders, what fans saw on screen was a watered-down version of what was originally planned.
“The original ending was so dark, NBC had concerns,” a former production staffer revealed anonymously. “They were about to make Atwater kill someone in cold blood — and not just any character. It was supposed to be someone in uniform.”
Writers allegedly crafted a scene where Atwater, framed and desperate, is forced to choose between sacrificing himself or eliminating a fellow officer who had been secretly working for a gang. The scene was meant to be morally ambiguous, with Atwater pulling the trigger — then covering it up with Voight’s help.
Scripts were sent out. The cast began table reads. And then, suddenly, everything changed.
“At the last second, the producers were told the scene had to go,” said the source. “Too violent, too complicated, and too risky for network TV. There were fears it would alienate fans.”
The rewritten version introduced a simpler, less controversial twist — the informant was arrested in a last-minute sting operation, and Atwater walked away clean. But eagle-eyed fans noticed strange edits in the aired episode. “There were cuts that didn’t match,” one Reddit user posted. “It’s like they removed a whole confrontation.”
What’s more, actor LaRoyce Hawkins (Atwater) gave a cryptic response in an interview when asked about the season finale: “I was ready to go somewhere dark,” he said. “Sometimes you get that green light — and sometimes, the brakes get slammed hard.”
This unexpected rewrite had ripple effects. Fans felt the ending lacked the impact that had been building all season. “They copped out,” one longtime viewer tweeted. “That wasn’t a finale — that was a rewrite pretending to be one.”
Internally, the decision sparked debate among the writing team. One crew member noted that the original arc would’ve set up massive consequences for Atwater in Season 11, including an investigation and possible suspension. With the change, all that tension was erased — replaced with a rushed wrap-up.
Was NBC protecting the show… or playing it too safe?
Some believe the network feared backlash during a time when police dramas are already under increased scrutiny. Others think it was simply about preserving Atwater as a hero figure. Whatever the reason, fans may never know exactly what was cut — unless, as some hope, the deleted scenes are released someday.
Until then, Chicago P.D. viewers are left wondering: What was the ending that almost changed the entire show?
