Burzek fans, it’s finally happening. For real this time.
Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 3 gave fans of Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek something to celebrate as the couple was engaged by the end of the hour.
It’s an engagement long in the making, with plenty of bumps in the road, including a heartbreaking storyline leading up to Ruzek finally popping the question.
He was, of course, thinking about it prior to the events of “Safe Harbor” considering he had a ring ready and all, but he wasn’t expecting it to come on the heels of one of Burgess’ toughest cases. He thought it would be more romantic and grand, but honestly, there’s nothing more symbolic of love than the promise to continuously fight for family.
These two have been through so much together, and they deserve this little shred of happiness. They owe it to each other, especially after they both nearly lost their lives and still found a way to dig themselves out of the darkness and find the light.
The episode, much like Chicago Med the week prior, tackled the migrant crisis currently happening in sanctuary cities like Chicago. And it was one of the strongest storylines this season so far. I do realize that it’s the third episode of the season so there isn’t much to compare it to just yet, but if this is any indication about what the writers have in store, well, it’s a good sign.
A shooting breaks out at the 13th district where Burgess is volunteering during one of her nights off. If it was anyone else, the case may have been marked closed the moment they located the shooter Aaron Marshall, but Burgess had a gut feeling that something was off with one of the officers who was there during the shooting and asked Voight to assist Intelligence in getting justice for his people.
Danny talked a good game, but he was sloppy. He infiltrated Intelligence hoping to steer them in the wrong direction and take charge of the investigation. He kept wanting them to find “brick walls,” and when they got a lead on Marshall, he made sure to shut him up before they even had a chance to ask him any questions, putting three bullets in him when the man didn’t even pose a threat.
The case seemed cut and dry as Danny was clearly guilty of raping the victim Raquel, but everything that they had was circumstantial; there wasn’t enough evidence for a case against him to hold.
The key to making it all stick was Raquel’s friend Gabriela, who was bussed out of the 13th district to another shelter in the city. Tracking her down was a full team effort, and even once Burgess got to her, she refused to speak until she had some assurances: papers.
Of course, with tens of thousands of migrants pouring into the city, even Burgess didn’t have the connections to pull those strings and make it happen, but she tried her best regardless.
Sadly, it wasn’t enough as Danny beat her to the punch and got Gabriela taken by ICE for having narcotics in the shelter. He found a way to get to her before Burgess, and by having her deported, he was essentially tying up loose ends.
However, Danny had no idea who he was messing with. If there’s one thing Burgess is going to do, it’s fight for the women who have no one else in their corner.
CHICAGO P.D. — “Safe Harbor” Episode 11003 — Pictured: (l-r) EJ Bonilla as Danny Alvarado, Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)
Instead of giving in to defeat, Burgess worked tirelessly to find any connection between Danny and Marshall, with the full support of Adam, who understood just how much the case meant to her. Fans not only found out how Burgess knew fluent Spanish, but she shared with Gabriela that she cares deeply about illegal immigrants having been raised by a nanny who constantly had to look over her shoulder.
Burgess eventually struck gold, tracing the burner phone that called in the drug tip to ICE back to the 13th district—and then again to a diner where they were able to pull up footage of Marshall and Danny meeting face-to-face.
When she confronted him, after having met his lovely wife and children, Burgess didn’t mince words, even as Danny tried to talk his way out of it, coming up with a sob story about falling in love with Raquel and her begging him to give her an anchor baby.
When she finally delivered the smoking gun—the proof that she had him on camera—Danny knew it was over for him. His whole demeanor changed, but instead of fighting it, he simply asked her to give him 5 minutes with his family before he put an end to all of her troubles, pointing at a gun in a nearby drawer.
Burgess, however, wasn’t interested in letting him take the easy way out—not after she jumped through hoops to get to this moment.
Danny was a complete disgrace to cops and police families everywhere—and the worst part is that he barely expressed a shred of remorse for his actions.
But there was a deeper meaning to the episode that touched upon the hatred for these people who are just fleeing terrible conditions and hoping for a better life like so many of us—and doing it all without any power, voice, or protection. They are not only facing the cruelty of people who think that they are coming for what’s theirs and stealing their land, but as was the case with Danny, sometimes they can’t even trust the people who are put in place to protect them. It’s possible that other people in the district, like the cop who called Burgess one of the “woke” ones, knew what was going on and turned a blind eye, but Burgess is proof that there are good people who will fight for what’s right.
It was a powerful episode that I have no doubt rattled some people, but I’m hoping it also managed to convince many to extend a little grace to those who have been dealt a tough hand.
The cherry on top was obviously the engagement of the show’s only remaining couple—and hopefully, amid the bleakness of fighting crime, they find a moment to celebrate this special moment.
What did you think of the episode? Did you think it would all culminate in Burgess getting a ring on her finger?