Chicago P.D.'s veteran actor Jesse Lee Soffer had once hinted at a possible comeback as Det. Jay Halstead, stating, "Never say never." Since then, he has taken on the additional role of director, helming episodes such as "Deadlocked" in Season 10 and the penultimate episode "Inventory" in Season 11.
Ahead of the highly anticipated finale on Wednesday, the actor shared a heartfelt Instagram photo with his former co-star Tracy Spiridakos on the set, revealing that he had watched her final episode. But why didn't Halstead make an appearance onscreen in the season's grand finale? As explained by showrunner Gwen Sigan, the focus of the episode simply wasn't on him.
"We definitely considered it. We talked about it extensively," Sigan revealed to TVLine. "We weighed all the different options for this character's journey, and ultimately, it boiled down to wanting the episode to be centered around [Upton]."
The episode marked a poignant farewell to Spiridakos' Hailey Upton, who, after six seasons of valiantly serving in Intelligence, ceremoniously handed in her gun and badge. Her journey culminated in a heartfelt ride to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, leaving viewers to wonder if she had embarked on a new adventure with the FBI, DEA, FEMA, or perhaps another path entirely. (Discover the intricate details of her departure here.)
Throughout the season, Upton struggled amidst the aftermath of her divorce from Halstead, who had abruptly ceased returning her calls after dashing off to Bolivia in pursuit of cartel targets during Season 10. The finale found her yearning for a fresh start elsewhere, drawing strength and encouragement from her mentor and father figure, Voight.
"I wanted this to be a genuine reflection of Upton's character, a choice that she made from the depths of her heart. It's an internal journey that speaks volumes about what she needs, and it's not tied to anyone else's expectations," Sigan notes.
Voight serves as the voice of reason and guidance in this narrative, "because in terms of storytelling, you need someone to converse with in order to express these deep-seated feelings," the EP adds. "But ultimately, it's about Upton and it was crucial because it's what she needed — the realization that it's okay to prioritize her own well-being. And that's precisely why the story unfolded in the way it did."
