‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 9: Jay Halstead and Hank Voight Will Have a ‘New Relationship’ the Rest of the Season, Showrunner Says

NBC’s Chicago P.D. Season 9 Episode 9 featured Jay Halstead and Hank Voight working together to save each other. Previously in the season, the two were at odds after Hailey Upton shot and killed Roy Walton, and it didn’t seem like their relationship would recover. Now, fans can expect a “new relationship” to emerge between Halstead and Voight. Here’s what the showrunner explained.

Jay Halstead and Hank Voight worked together in ‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 9 Episode 9

In Chicago P.D. Season 9, Jay Halstead learned the truth about Roy Walton. In season 8, Hailey Upton shot and killed Walton in order to save Hank Voight’s life — and she and Voight kept the death a secret. Halstead knew something was wrong with Upton, though, as she started to act strangely around him. Finally, he learned the truth from Voight. And it resulted in him getting physically violent with Voight, as he blamed his superior for Upton’s choice.

By the end of season 9, Halstead had to make a choice. The FBI knew Walton was killed, and they wanted Halstead’s help to put the blame on Voight and put Voight away for the crime. But Halstead decided to side with Voight and assist him in getting out of the mess he and Upton created. Ultimately, Halstead and Voight worked together to blackmail the lead FBI agent and move forward without any harm done to them.

The showrunner says a ‘new relationship’ will emerge between the 2 characters

After everything Jay Halstead and Hank Voight went through in Chicago P.D. Season 9 Episode 9, there’s no doubt their relationship with each other will change for the remainder of season 9. Showrunner Gwen Sigan spoke to TVLine about the “new relationship” that will emerge between these two.

“I’m so excited to explore the new relationship between Jay and Voight, and Jesse [Lee Soffer] and Jason [Beghe]’s performances in this episode only made it that much more exciting,” Sigan said. “We saw Jay get to a very empowered place. Through his struggle, he came out with a new understanding and a new way to work with Voight that felt acceptable in his head for the heavy cost he paid this episode.”

Halstead actor Jesse Lee Soffer also said Voight “needs somebody to pull him back” — and Halstead is the perfect person to do so. “I do think that Jay has been through so much and learned so many lessons,” Soffer added. “He’s not a young detective anymore who makes irrational, brash decisions. He’s a seasoned veteran and a great foil to Voight’s character. Voight, who can walk in the shadows, needs somebody to pull him back. I think it was a logical next step for the two.”

Is Jay Halstead leaving ‘Chicago P.D.’? Is Hank Voight?

Jay Halstead and Hank Voight both nearly lost their positions in the Intelligence Unit due to Roy Walton’s death. So, is Halstead leaving Chicago P.D. in the future? And what about Voight?

While they both went through hard times, it seems they won’t budge. The showrunner indicated to TVLine there’s plenty more story to cover with these two. And with Hailey Upton still in the unit, the three of them have an unbreakable bond that makes them an incredible team.

Moving forward in season 9, Upton actor Tracy Spiridakos also told TVLine Upton and Voight’s relationship will change. “I don’t know what is coming up for Voight and Hailey … but she’s never been afraid to challenge him, and I can’t imagine that changing,” she said. “But their relationship has also changed in an interesting way. I guess we’ll have to wait and see!”

Chicago P.D. Season 9 Episode 10 airs Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at 10 p.m. EST on NBC.

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