Chicago P.D. really wants viewers to know that Detective Kim Burgess is a bad choice for undercover work.
We don’t blame actress Marina Squerciati; we blame the writers and producers.
That trope was on display during another new episode (Dark Imaginings), where Burgess told Sgt. Hank Voight that she was the right person for the job.
But, as usual, things went sideways, nearly getting Burgess killed again.
Kim Burgess is not a good undercover cop on Chicago P.D.
During Chicago P.D. Season 14, Episode 5, Burgess came upon a speeding car. She pursued the vehicle, which eventually crashed and killed the driver.
Inside the car was money, and Burgess surmised it belonged to a small drug ring. She volunteered to go undercover as someone who randomly found the money.
To summarize what happens later (spoilers ahead), the guy figures out Burgess is a cop. Then, the writers put her too close to a suspect who disarms her.
Far too often, the writers have Burgess getting beat up and/or losing her weapon. It’s a miracle the character has survived so long. But what’s the intent here?
Yes, Burgess can take a punch. She gets beat up every few weeks and jumps right back into the job. But is this all necessary? Does she need to keep being disarmed as a plot device?
Constantly losing her weapon weakens the character and makes the Intelligence team look inept. After 14 years on the job, the word on the street might be that Detective Burgess is easy to escape from if you get up close.
Having her get beat up so often has made her episodes too predictable.
As they build toward something this season (the dripping water means something), at least give Burgess a chance to shine without getting constantly embarrassed on the job. We are talking to the writers and producers here.
Marina Squerciati deserves better after all these years starring on a hit primetime drama for NBC.
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