Chicago PD Season 10 Episode 18 delivered momentum on Ruzek’s undercover case, and I’ve got to say, this is the first time we’ve ever seen that man this terrified and questioning if he should stick it out. 

When the episode kicks off, he tells Burgess that he’s been undercover a month, and as we see the days passing as he lives a double life, taking care of Mack and playing father figure to Callum, it’s likely been way longer. 

And the truth is, he’s tired. It’s taxing enough to live one life, but living two is a whole other ball game, especially when they are so intertwined. And then you add in some very toxic people on top of that and well, the burnout is real.

Any happiness that Ruzek may have felt from his revitalized romance with Burgess was fleeting because he can’t even be the kind of partner or father he wants to be, though it’s clear that he tries his best. And this time, their relationship does feel real, different, and permanent, I’m glad we’re all in agreement there. 

Ruzek thought they finally made a breakthrough with Dale (guest starring Ryan Dorsey), but they weren’t able to flip him, unfortunately. 

Dale may have been dumb, but he was loyal to a fault. Richard was the only family he had, and at the end of the day, he was too dedicated to the “cause,” whatever it may be, to flip. He chose to die instead, which proved to Ruzek and the rest of the team that they truly underestimated the situation at hand.

As Ruzek faced yet another defeat, the road forward was simple yet extremely complicated—he had to get close to Richard and use the fact that he “killed” a man for him to get in his good graces. 

Richard was definitely impressed with Ruzek’s dedication, so he informed him of the upcoming agenda—and though he kept out plenty of key facts, essentially, the white supremacist and his followers are planning to stage attacks at multiple targets with many casualties.

As Richard spoke about his plan, I literally got chills, and it’s clear that Ruzek did as well as he was staring pure evil right in the face. The way he said “your time is coming, Adam,” was also beyond eerie.

This man truly believes that he’s making the world a better place, which is concerning and frightening on so many levels, especially when you consider the reach, resources, and pull that he has. 

He mentioned that he thinks Sam is losing faith in the plan and wants Ruzek to keep her on track, so I feel like they’ll try to use her to help diffuse the situation because, at this point, they are going in blind. 

If Ruzek finds out the plan at the very last minute, there’s a chance he might not be able to get that information over to Intelligence in time. And that’s not something they can risk. 

There’s also the issue of Callum, who Ruzek has developed a close bond with, but who is very much influenced by his grandfather. If there’s anything that scares me, it’s not knowing how this kid will factor in. 

Ruzek also has a lot to lose as he’s living in the same neighborhood where he’s moonlighting as a white supremacist. He was mere moments away from getting his cover blown when he went to pick up Mack from dinner and realized that Sam followed him there. She also revealed that she’s followed him before, which is concerning because it means Ruzek wasn’t even aware. If she was able to get that on him, what else is she/her father capable of?

CHICAGO P.D. — “You Only Die Twice” Episode 1018 — Pictured: (l-r) Marina Squerciati as Kim Burgess, LaRoyce Hawkins as Kevin Atwater, Ramona Edith Williams as Makayla — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

Ruzek is also a father to a young black girl, which makes this case so sensitive. If Sam arrived a smidge later or somehow pieced it together, Ruzek would’ve put a target on his daughter’s back. He’d never let himself live it down if Mack got caught in the crosshairs. There are so many elements that make this case unsettling that I watched with bated breath and on the edge of my seat. 

Amid all the darkness, I’ll hold onto the fact that Mack called him “dad,” marking a huge stride for their relationship. It seems like everything is on the up and up at the Burgess-Ruzek household—and it’s so refreshing. 

Richard set the date for his planned attack as May 28, and given that the next episode of Chicago PD won’t air until May 3, my guess is that the planned “showtime” is going to be the drama’s season finale episode as well. 

Hopefully, by that point, Ruzek and Intelligence will have a lot more to go off of, though I can see Ruzek having a hard time coming to the light again after this case. The fact that he has his family is something tangible that he can hold onto and that can help him get through it, but there’s a heaviness that comes with that kind of darkness that’s so suffocating and debilitating.  

And it’s because it attacks the very people who make up the fabric of our community. For Ruzek it’s his daughter and his co-workers, including Atwater and Torres, who saw firsthand how much hatred someone like Dale had for them. 

There’s also the issue of Sam, who I firmly believe is also a victim. She’s not innocent, but she’s gone along with this her whole life because she was groomed and not given much of a choice. It’s clear that she’s not comfortable with what’s being asked as she had a hard time coming to terms with the order that her dad put out on Dale, but she went through with it anyway because she knew they didn’t have a choice. And she also made it clear that if they didn’t do what was asked of them, her father would kill them both. That’s the definition of a toxic family member. 

I think having Ruzek in her life has helped changed her perspective. He’s a positive influence, even undercover, and has shown her what it’s like to be taken care of and that something different is possible, so I hope that, in the end, she’s able to get out and start over. 

When it comes to Chicago PD seasons, this one has honestly been one of the strongest, but in terms of episodes, “You Only Die Twice” was one of the most nerve-wracking as at any point, Ruzek’s cover could’ve been blown and his life in danger. Not to mention Patrick Flueger has been acting his butt off this season to bring this storyline to life. 

I’m glad it didn’t come to that and that he has the full backing of his team, who are always looking out, but I hope for Ruzek’s sake that once this is over, he can get a break and focus on the finer things in life—the things that truly matter and bring him joy. 

What did you think of the episode?