Since so many ideas and discussions and theories have been going around I thought of writing what I thought about the finale of CPD. It's going to be a long rant, read it at your own risk. This is not a story, it is my analysis and review of some sort for the episode.
First of all, I thought the episode as a whole was phenomenal and nerve-racking. Each character delivered their part marvellously and it was a great episode overall.
I honestly don't think they'll kill or write Kim off because it would be kind of bizarre to bring in the entire Makayla story only to kill Kim off and not to mention, put the little girl through more trauma. According to me it is unlikely that the writers would be so heartless to kill her off, but one never knows because we have all seen how in the past they didn't hesitate to kill characters of the One Chicago universe.
The overflowing tension between Atwater and Ruzek came to its extreme this time and they were at blows which really showed how desperate Adam was to find Kim. I honestly thought that he went a little crazy with the entire situation, which again is justified but at the same time can be debated. The only people who were willing to find Kim by the book were Kevin and Jay and even Trudy. The others were all ready to do almost anything. Although Hailey was really caught between by the book and by doing just anything.
We could clearly see that Voight had made up his mind he was going to do this his own way. In the beginning he was trying to control himself but after a point he just didn't care. It was evident that the entire team was affected by this, it was just too personal for everyone.
I really want to talk about the part between Hailey and Voight. It had to happen that she's the one who realises he's taken all the important locations. Ruzek was too messed up and emotional to work, so he couldn't be there with Voight, and he had to take care of Makayla as well. I really loved the bond and close friendship between Hailey and Adam in this episode, it was so heart-warming and touching. In spite of their failed relationship one could see that they really cared about the other. It was really nice. We couldn't really see any moments between Jay and Hailey in the beginning, but the one at the end was probably enough. I'll get to that in a bit.
It was phenomenal how Hailey tried to stop Voight, and let's not forget his her boss. The part where Voight started telling her she knew exactly what she was coming into and that she wanted this as well, was really a blow to Hailey, at least I thought that. And I think that's the moment in which she realised she really didn't want this, she didn't want to be like him. Seeing Voight at his worst or his old self really made her realise that she couldn't, moreover didn't want to be like him. She realised what she had with Jay was so much more precious than a job. It seemed Voight caved in only to make matters worse. There was no way he didn't know Roy would reach for his gun. This entire scenario is unclear, there is no definite answer as to what really Voight thought, but it was probably left to the audience. What's disheartening is that if he played Hailey, it's really sad because it seemed she was the only one who could reason with him and stop him from killing Roy. Somehow, thinking that Voight tricked Hailey, angers me because she was really trying to do the right thing but everything turned on her and she was all of a sudden involved deeply. She wanted to do the right thing, but ended up shooting the guy because Voight wanted him dead. It was a messy situation and what I feel most bad about is that this is not going to be over anytime soon. Hailey is not only going to suffer externally, but she is going to go through emotional and psychological trauma. And this time it seems Voight has caused it for her. He made her do something he wanted to do and put her in a tough spot.
That brings us to the final part and that's the most unexpected proposal. I really thought they would break up, I thought she would tell him that she doesn't deserve him and she's only going to ruin their relationship. But she ends up saying the opposite and asks him to marry her. Clearly, she's speaking from her trauma and her fear of losing the only thing that really matters in her life right now, the only good thing, and that's Jay. She lies right to his face, but she probably couldn't tell him everything right there and then. And if we really observe, Hailey too has no idea what Voight did with the body. She would of course know that he would make sure no one finds it, but she doesn't know what he did really. And Jay, the gem of a boyfriend that he is, senses that something is wrong but doesn't push. I almost feel as though Hailey feels guilty about even telling him she shot him. All that she tells him is true, it is genuine and she means it. Even the proposal is in a way what she wants, what she really wants but at the moment she's asking it for all the wrong reasons. Fear and trauma shouldn't be the premise of a proposal. What's even more interesting is that Jay smiles slightly at one point, he's not mocking her but actually considering it. I honestly don't know if he'll say yes or no, I really don't know how this is going to play out. But Jay will certainly realise that something is fundamentally wrong with her, again proving how well he knows her.
This entire scene was so touching and heart-warming that my heart really went out for Hailey. She just needed comfort from him, just any sort of comfort. I mean who wouldn't after what she went through?
My only wishes for the following episodes and seasons are that they don't kill Kim and for once just let her be. She and Ruzek should just be happy for once. They have been through enough and none of them deserve more drama and pain. Secondly, I really hope Upstead can work this out. Because this incident surely sets obstacles and barriers in their relationship. They are going to work it out because they are Upstead! But one thing I noticed throughout the season is that Jay is so madly in love with Hailey that he'll do almost anything for her. The way he has been doing everything for her this season is commendable and shows only one thing: he loves her more than he has ever loved anyone.
Hailey too has probably opened up so much to him because she trusts him and loves him and knows with all her heart that he would never hurt her. During the earlier seasons she was the one who saved him, when he was spiralling down and at the time she wasn't even in love with him. it just shows how much they cared for and respected each other since the start, resulting in their strongly founded partnership and now relationship. It's time for Jay to save Hailey from the darkness this time and pull her out to the light. I think we are set for a strong season 9.
The old Voight is back. I honestly don't know what to think about that. He will do anything to save and protect his team but he took it too far this time. I think there is no coming back for Voight, he cannot return from where he has put himself. And this dangerous game could lead to a drastic situation, certainly for Hailey, but more so for himself. But this entire finale has opened up so many new storylines for each character. They could probably be stretched out across a season or two.
So fingers crossed and until the next season.
If you've reached the end of this long rant, congratulations. I really wanted to put forth my ideas concretely. This is an open discussion, anyone and everyone is free to contribute their opinions and thoughts. In fact, I wrote this in the first place so that everyone could share what they had in mind. Let's see what you guys have to say.