‘Chicago P.D.’ Recap: ‘Off Switch’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

CHICAGO P.D. -- "Off Switch" Episode 12003 -- Pictured: LaRoyce Hawkins as Officer Kevin Atwater -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Sisson/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for 12003 of ‘Chicago P.D.’ To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are moments in our lives, where we realize that seemingly insurmountable tasks are in front of us. The kind that requires incredible energy and incredible attention from us. So, we commit to something incredible. In that we dedicate ourselves to taking care of what lies ahead of us, and we are relentless in doing so. To the point where we barely sleep, we barely eat. We just work to make sure that those tasks fade away and when they finally do, we rest and find solace and a sense of accomplishment. But what’s fascinating about this… is that for some… this push to give everything to overcoming a task never ends, for their tasks are insurmountable, and that brings forth some questions about those who keep going.

In that, is it healthy to keep at that pace for a task that seemingly cannot be resolved. Not to mention, who do we become when we keep pushing in that manner, and it just so happens that the next episode of Chicago P.D. on NBC takes the time to ponder upon those questions. A feat that ‘Off Switch’ accomplished by way of one wild night for Detective Atwater. For shortly after a flirty encounter at a bar, Atwater found himself at quite the crime scene. For a local business was laid to waste from a group of robbers, and they left only the owner alive on this night and that prompted Atwater to take point in the hopes of solving this case post haste. Because there was a fair chance the robbers would leave as quick as they could, so… Atwater poured himself into the case.

Where he pushed himself to the limit and went hard on the case. To the point where nothing else mattered. Not his tenants, not informing the family’s victims of what happened. There was just the hunt, and Diane, the survivor. Who he also pushed hard to remember details regarding the case to bring this to a close. Which led to some wins and some information but took a toll upon Atwater. To the point where the new psychologist on the case, Val, who was also the woman that flirted with him at the bar, pointed out that going this hard, all the time, since clearly Atwater poured himself into his never-ending work to make the streets safe, wasn’t completely healthy. And made him a servant to others’ emotions and needs over his own, and that could be problematic down the line. Which taught us… that going like this forever can be damaging and can in fact, help us to lose ourselves in the quest.
 
But before a solution could be explored for that, the case still had to be solved. Because those men had to pay for what they had done, especially since they went so far as to hurt Diane when she was granted a break and well, the benefits of pushing hard outweighed a break in that moment. In fact, it paid off in spades. Because eventually Atwater and the team were able to find the men responsible for this and bring them to justice at last. Making Diane whole again and giving Atwater that tiny win, one that was brief since more cases awaited. But an apology to Val, and a powerful discussion served to remind us that if we find ourselves on this path, to the point where perhaps we might not be able to break away from it… we need to find moments of levity. Moments that fulfill us and give us a respite from the intensity of what we do. Which Atwater found in the arms of Val.

All of which brought forth, another amazing episode from this show. One that leaned hard into some fine lessons about the quest we all chase, the one we all bury ourselves within. It might be short, it might be long, but we chase it nevertheless and we need to think about its impact upon us, and how to reconcile that. And that made for some fascinating and powerful moments, the kind that added real depth to a season that is already grounded in incredible lessons. Since we’ve also learned about the importance of confronting our trauma, how it can temporarily guide us and this episode does leave us wondering what other amazing lessons await us, as season twelve of this iconic series continues along. Until next time.

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