‘Chicago P.D.’ Recap: ‘Contrition’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

CHICAGO P.D. -- "Contrition" Episode 12007 -- Pictured: (l-r) Manuel Uriza as Father Avila, Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Dante Torres -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Sisson/NBC)

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1207 of ‘Chicago P.D.’ To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, the past is handled in a very unique manner in crime dramas. In that, it is always viewed as an opportunity for the person that it comes back to haunt. For instance, an old case that a brilliant gumshoe was unable to crack, offers up new evidence, giving them a chance to save the day and offer closure. Or they get another try at bringing down a nemesis or a criminal that caused much harm. The bottom line is that the past is rarely troublesome in these stories and that is troublesome in its own right. Because it makes the heroes too perfect, and the not flawed humans police officers can be, and that’s why this week’s episode of Chicago P.D. on NBC is of note.

Because ‘Contrition’ leaned into the end of last week’s story hard. Wherein Torres expressed some hard concern that he might know the identity of the new kingpin. In that, it might be Gloria, the woman he had a wild affair with back in the day and well… the push to expose the kingpin only added to the anxiety Torres experienced here. Because her hometown kept coming up, and too many known associates were dying with this new boss floating around and of course, Torres, and Kim, were hopeful this was coincidence and that it wasn’t her. Since there was a risk the affair, and Kim’s knowledge of it, could cost them their badges and put them in jail. So, they hoped to prove it was someone else or at the least, put together a case so airtight that she could never bring up names. 

Which was why there was no protest in having Cook go undercover at Gloria’s new restaurant. Since that would get airtight evidence, but alas, it seemed as though, it was just an everyday business. One where the food was good and nothing strange was ever going to happen. That is until, major suppliers and other shady associates began to show up. Putting heat on everyone to get some information and well, it did not take long for this to completely fall apart for Torres. Because while Cook was able to find an in and come along for a supply drop, she did say one thing out of line while on the road, and that set Gloria off. To the point where she was ready to name names and push for her own brand of justice. Which forced Torres to kill the feed at Kim’s suggestion and that sadly… put Cook at risk. Since her fate was unknown after a gunshot and she was indeed lost in the ether for the moment.

But what was equally as important as Cook’s safety, was that this episode, presented the past in a cautionary light. Regarding how we sometimes make stupid mistakes involving love or other acts at work, that we try to sweep under the rug, and we cannot do that. Because the past always comes back to haunt us, and we always must face it, and this was proof positive of that. Since that mess helped to create a new monster in town, and now, careers and freedoms are on the line, as are lives. Since Cook could be made and could be dead, which really did hammer home the need for honesty, the need to face the consequences for our actions and to avoid such matters, by keeping a level head at all times, so we don’t commit acts we will regret.

All of which made for a fascinating episode. One that truly did an amazing job of exploring this central theme and of finally making the past dangerous and more than just the fluff we tend to endure in crime stories, and it deserves a round of applause for that. Because this is the stuff that makes this show so engaging and so dynamic, since it features characters with real flaws, who make real mistakes that we can relate to on some level, and now… it is up to Torres to make things right. Which will be a monumental task for certain. Because he screwed up bad here, and the past came back to bite him hard, and that will make the wait for next week’s episode, quite unbearable. Because we simply must know… if Torres can set things right. Until next time.

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