Tracy Spiridakos has been a part of some classic Chicago PD episodes. She led a handful of the best episodes in season 10, which we now know will be her last full-length season as part of the show’s cast. Variety confirmed that the actress will leave at some point in 2024.
Spiridakos hasn’t been able to discuss her exit, because actors are unable to promote or talk about shows until the actors strike is resolved, but she did open up about her favorite episode of Chicago PD during a 2019 interview with BUILD Series. Her pick may surprise you, since it focuses on other characters within the show.
What is Tracy Spiridakos’ favorite Chicago PD episode?
The actress said that the season 6 episode “Descent” was the one she was most proud of working on. It’s not an obvious choice, since her character Hailey Upton plays more of a supporting role, but it is a terrific showcase for Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) and Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda). The episode is about the desperate scramble to rescue Dawson’s kidnapped daughter, and the chaos that ensues when they find the guy responsible.
Dawson loses it on the perp, beating him and causing him to fall out of an upper-floor to his death. The police officer was shocked by what happened, but Ruzek decided to step in and take fault for what happened, despite the fact that it could have ended his career as a police officer. The thing that really stands out for Spiridakos is how much her character is affected by Ruzek’s decision.
“One of my most favorite episodes to shoot was [“Descent”] where Ruzek ends up taking the fall for Antonio, and she ends up kind of uncovering that she maybe is a little bit more attached [to Ruzek] than she thought she was”, the actress explained.
The two did end up dating for a while, so there was definitely something going on under the surface when this episode aired. Things have progressed quite a ways for both characters since season 6, as Ruzek is fighting for her life in a hospital bed and Upton is trying to salvage what’s left of her marriage with Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer).
We hope to get a few more classic PD episodes with Spiridakos before she leaves.
