Chicago PD Season 4 Episode 11 Review: You Wish

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Some TV episodes are just meant to be enjoyed. Chicago PD Season 4 Episode 11 is one of those episodes. We can only imagine how NBC censors must have reacted to this one: "Does she have to cut off his penis?" "How many times can they say penis?" "Do there have to be so many penis jokes?"

Olinsky: What's with the gauze and plastic wrap?
Burgess: His penis was severed.

Let's be clear, "You Wish" isn't suggesting that sexual assault and murder are funny, but it's pretty much living in the humor of the situation. It's reminiscent of the subplot in the "Law & Order" episode "Mayhem," where an angry housewife also chops off that certain body part, and Logan cringes. Except now it's an entire episode.

Whether it's Rixton trying to show Atwater the grisly crime scene photos, or Atwater refusing to let the medical examiner expose the entire corpse, or just the way that all the guys in the room sort of take two steps back during the whole discussion, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments delivered perfectly by the cast.

It's uncomfortable and it's gross but it's funny, and the show doesn't pretend that we wouldn't all be making these jokes anyway. It just goes for them.

Jimmy: I'm here to see Erin Lindsay.
Platt: Regarding?
Jimmy: I'm her father.
Platt: Does she know this?

Having said that, the script may have gone for such an amusing case as a blatant offset for all of Erin Lindsay's very heavy family drama. If you had "Jimmy is not the father" in the betting pool, give yourself a cookie. It was pretty clear last week that something was not on the level, but it seemed like he'd be playing the game, not the one being played.

Chicago PD then screws with the audience by having Lindsay's mom Bunny suggest to Voight that he could be Erin's biological dad not just her adoptive one. That's some real Darth Vader type stuff there. Or at least Maury Povich.

"You wish," he tells her, dropping the mic, but now you know we're all thinking it anyway.

Halstead And Voight Get Results - Chicago PD Season 4 Episode 11

It's no surprise to anyone that the private police force ends up being guilty of the sex offender's murder and that the head honcho of said force comes forward to admit that he gave the order. Chicago PD makes no attempt to disguise that these good guys aren't really that good.

We don't have time for that while Lindsay's causing a scene at the diner and Halstead is doing his "I totally screwed up didn't I" face while calling her repeatedly until she finally texts him back, and Burgess is trying to help troubled murder suspects.

There's a brief discussion here of ends justifying the means, as if the fact that the victim was a complete piece of work means that it was more of a public service that he's dead, but really this plot is about commanding officers and their subordinates. And daddy issues.

Halstead: Erin, he's not your dad. I'm so sorry.
Lindsay: Are you happy?

If you're a frequent flier on the NBC network it's worth comparing this episode of Chicago PD to tonight's Blindspot. Both were episodes where the plot of the week was really secondary to the drama between the main characters. The reason why Chicago PD works, and Blindspot didn't, is two-fold.

For one Chicago PD has more entertainment value thanks to those penis jokes and awkward moments. And its personal drama is more relevant. We want to know if Jimmy Sanguinetti is Lindsay's father and what she'll do if he's not.  And we really don't want to think about Voight hooking up with Bunny, but we are. These are things that genuinely move the story along.

Rixton Works A Lead - Chicago PD Season 4 Episode 11

But where does it go from here? Are we going to find out who Lindsay's dad is or will this be another Sterling Archer situation? Is Burgess going to always try and save everyone? (Yeah, probably.) And is there a way we can keep Kenny Rixton on after Ruzek comes back? Because Nick Wechsler is two episodes in and he's already scene-stealing.

After the heaviness of Chicago PD Season 4 Episode 10, it's much appreciated to have an episode that's at least half on the lighter side, plus that also gives us at least part of an answer to the season's burning question.

Yet we still can't stop wondering: but where's the penis?!

Rixton: I've got a girlfriend, we're talking about moving in together.
Halstead: (laughs)
Rixton: What?
Halstead: Oh, you'll find out.

Chicago PD returns next week with Season 4 Episode 12 called "Sanctuary." And with a couple of characters looking for a safe place after this week's episode it ought to be interesting. Check it out next Wednesday, January 18 at 10/9c on NBC.

Until then if you want to re-watch "You Wish" or catch up with any of Season 4 so far, you can watch Chicago PD online. But don't go away without giving us your thoughts on this episode. Did you laugh as much as we did? Were you surprised by the DNA test results? Tell us what you think and tune back in next week.

You Wish Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 (20 Votes)

Brittany Frederick is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.

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Chicago PD Season 4 Episode 11 Quotes

Jimmy: I just want to say, you did a real good job raising her.
Voight: Happy to help.

Jimmy: I'm here to see Erin Lindsay.
Platt: Regarding?
Jimmy: I'm her father.
Platt: Does she know this?