The One Chicago franchise, including Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and most notably, Chicago PD, which will be fashioned as Chicago PD hereafter, will all be returning in the Fall of 2025. That’s good news for fans, who are excited to see how the prior narrative threads and cliffhangers are resolved, as network television continues to fight for more viewers. The stakes have very much been raised, which means there may be more heartbreaking disappearances on the horizon, as long-term characters end up leaving the show, to ensure that there is always tension hanging over every scene. Chicago One has always stood out, due to its dramatic storytelling and compelling ensemble, and when those things intertwine and the ensemble’s lives are changed forever, fans are usually hit hard.
Fans will just have to hope that no other favorites are set to leave over this coming season, and with speculation as to what prior heroes may return, all eyes will be on how that ever-changing ensemble evolves once again. Chicago PD is looking for longevity, and that’s why these changes must occur. But some fans of the show particularly miss Al, or Alvin Olinsky, who hasn’t been around for quite a while. But, where did Al actually go, and why did the actor decide to leave the show?
Alvin Olinsky Didn’t Make It On Chicago PD
What Was Al’s Last Episode?
Alvin Olinsky was first introduced to the Chicago Fire team back in Season 2, Episode 9. Titled ‘You Will Hurt Him,’ the 2013 episode served as a great introduction to Al, who would then go on to have a firm part to play in Chicago PD. Alvin would also appear in an episode of Chicago Justice in 2017, three episodes of Chicago Med between 2016 and 2018, and 107 episodes of Chicago PD from 2014 until, unfortunately, 2024. That, of course, surpasses his four appearances as the character on Chicago Fire, despite it being the very show that he first debuted on!
All good things must come to an end though, and that 2024 date did mark the final appearance of Al in Chicago One, as a reoccurring character. Indeed, Chicago PD would mark the last time he starred in any one of those shows, and there is a critical reason for that. Because Al made a surprise appearance in 2024, but only as an apparition, in the mind of another character, rather than in the flesh. That’s because the character was sadly killed off all the way back in Season 5, Episode 22, “Homecoming.” Season 5 launched in 2014, meaning there was a 10-year gap between Al’s involvement in the series.
But Al’s death was particularly tragic because of the way in which it was staged. The character had been placed in prison after being framed for a murder he hadn’t committed. He was set to be put on trial, in front of his peers, in an old trope that works wonders within this genre. The DNA found at the scene was supposedly his, but it was his friend who had actually been involved in the dastardly act. Al cared too much for the killer, Hank Voight, and refused to name him as the true suspect. But that loyalty took an ugly turn, with Al stabbed to death inside the prison by another inmate.
While Al is entered into surgery in the hope that he can be saved still, he eventually passes away while on the operating table. This leads to an arc where Voight’s rage results in him tracking down the killer and murdering him in the process. It’s a dark time for the show, and one that pivots around Alvin’s loss. It was a death that also led to far more conflict than usual, as the team felt such guilt for his fate, getting abused by a system that he had fought so long to protect. It was not the ending a hero like Al should have received, considering he’d been around for much earlier seasons, and it’s one that didn’t always sit well with fans either.
Elias Koteas Moved On From the Series
Why Did Al Leave Chicago PD?
It’s a massive blow to any actor’s career to learn that their character is soon to be killed off in the show they had been so connected to for so long. What’s more, because Chicago PD was set within the Chicago One universe, there was always a chance of appearing in other series too, as part of the franchise’s most famous crossovers. But performer Elias Koteas had to leave all of that behind when he was informed that Al would no longer be a part of the franchise at all. Naturally, he was clearly keen to come back at some stage, because of his 2024 return, but for Al’s arc, 2014 marked the end of his journey.
It’s usually the case that performers who have played critical ongoing roles in serialized network television shows are often ready to move on when the time comes. That schedule can be especially draining, and doesn’t leave room for any other roles. What’s more, actors are scared of being typecast, and if they stay in one position for too long, that may be how the rest of their career is defined. So, for Koteas, this was an opportunity to reinvent himself and play the hand that he had been dealt with as much skill as possible. But in truth, it was not the actor’s decision to leave.What Happened to Otis in Chicago PD?
Chicago PD has had characters come and go over the years, but Otis’ exit hit especially hard for fans when it happened.
What really happened was the showrunners felt that Voight finally had to pay the price for his past decisions, and Al was ultimately caught in the crossfire. There had to be a major twist that showed just how far Voight had been corrupted, and losing his friend was the only way to really sell that idea. It was not a plan that was always on the table, but the further the season’s structure went on, the more organically the decision rose to the surface. Pretty soon, the tough call had to be made, with the ensemble and Koteas learning of the character’s fate, and having to perform that heartbreaking moment.
But Koteas was a true professional, absolutely nailed his final scenes, and was rewarded soon thereafter. Since Chicago PD, the actor was cast in The Silent Planet, where he played Theodore, and continued his voice acting role in American Dad, returning for another episode. He’ll soon be appearing in a new thriller titled The Block, indicating that his schedule is starting to pick up again after his 2024 appearance in the series. Janet Planet, The Baker and Guilty Party complete his filmography since 2014, but there is always room for Koteas to take on that next big breakthrough role.
This Is a Continuing Trend On Chicago PD
Could Al Make a Comeback?
Shows like Chicago PD have been involved in this trend as of late, though, which Al has now fallen victim to. Because it seems like many original favorites are departing, due to schedule conflicts or for the sake of the narrative, leaving new characters in their wake. The more this happens, the less compelling audiences may find the material. But it’s easy to up the stakes when fans have built such strong bonds with these figures over the years. To get rid of all of them, though, and suddenly that tool is taken from the arsenal entirely, and the showrunners have to put effort into establishing new characters again. It’s a vicious cycle and one that Chicago PD could fall into.
But Al has already returned to the show before, with Koteas obviously keen to follow up on that appearance. There is a possibility he will do so again, with Chicago PD using visions, flashbacks, and other unusual narrative techniques to bring back older cast members in unexpected ways. If the show ever needs a ratings boost, that’s usually when the team will tap into this kind of tool, but Koteas may be getting busier as his career continues to develop.
Chicago PD’s next season will undoubtedly tap back into these traumatic events, as the tensions of the past make way for new conflicts in the future. Perhaps, organically, another character will need to be killed off to keep the story moving forward. Indeed, major characters, like Scott Eastwood’s Jim Barnes, left the Chicago One universe right at the start! But for fans of Al, it’s sad to know that he probably won’t ever make a comeback, especially since his death was such a brutal one. Even the magic of procedural TV, which has seen twins, clones, and even fakeouts lead to characters returning from the dead, probably can’t save Al from his fate. To do so would undo the good work of his death to begin with!
