Do I need to watch Chicago Fire to understand this show?

Not really. While they exist in the same world and have occasional crossover events, the main plotlines of Chicago P.D. are self-contained. You'll miss some character backstory, but you won't be lost.

Is the violence in Chicago P.D. worse than Law & Order: SVU?

In some ways, yes. While SVU deals with more disturbing subject matter, Chicago P.D. is much more action-oriented and shows more 'on-screen' violence, including gunfights and physical altercations.

Is Hank Voight a 'good guy'?

That is the $64,000 question. The show presents him as a man who does 'bad' things for 'good' reasons. He is fiercely loyal and protects the innocent, but he uses criminal methods to do it. It's the perfect topic for a debate with your teen.

How much 'romance' is in the show?

There are several 'will-they-won't-they' relationships between the detectives (like 'Linstead' or 'Upstead'). It's mostly standard TV drama—occasional kissing and implied sex, but nothing graphic. The focus remains on the cases.

Chicago P.D. – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Chicago P.D.

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2014

70%

WISE Score

A gritty, high-stakes procedural where the line between the good guys and the bad guys gets blurry fast.

Chicago P.D.

show

TV-14, 2014

70%

WISE Score

A gritty, high-stakes procedural where the line between the good guys and the bad guys gets blurry fast.

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Screenwise Verdict

Chicago P.D. is the 'black coffee' of the Chicago franchise. It’s dark, bitter, and definitely has a kick. If you're looking for a sanitized version of police work, look elsewhere. This show lives in the gray areas of morality, led by a protagonist who frequently breaks the law to enforce it.

While it’s highly watchable and professionally produced, it’s not for the faint of heart or the young. It’s a solid choice for parents who want to watch a serious drama with their older teens, provided they're ready to talk about the messy ethics of the American justice system.

Age Fit

This is strictly for the 14+ crowd. It's too dark and violent for middle schoolers, but for older teens and adults, it's a top-tier drama that deals with heavy adult themes like systemic corruption and personal sacrifice.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a gritty show about the darker side of humanity. While there is a sense of brotherhood among the unit, the methods used—including torture and illegal tactics—aren't exactly 'pro-social' modeling.

Imaginative

It's a very well-executed procedural, but it stays firmly within the Dick Wolf formula. It doesn't break new ground in storytelling, though the character arcs are more complex than your average cop show.

Safe

The violence is frequent and often graphic. From gang shootings to 'The Cage' (Voight's interrogation room), it's designed to be intense and unsettling. Not a show for younger kids to stumble upon.

Enriching

It forces viewers to grapple with the 'ends justify the means' philosophy of policing. It’s a great catalyst for conversations about justice, corruption, and the real-world complexities of urban crime.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Hank Voight is one of the most compelling, polarizing anti-heroes on network TV; you'll hate his methods but might find yourself rooting for his results.
The interconnected universe means characters from Chicago Fire and Chicago Med pop in, making the city feel like a living, breathing place.
Unlike some procedurals that reset every week, the emotional fallout of the cases actually sticks to the characters over multiple seasons.
It tackles real-world headlines with more nuance than you'd expect, often leaving the 'right' answer up to the viewer to decide.

⚠

What to Watch For

'The Cage' is a recurring setting where Sergeant Voight uses physical intimidation and torture to get information; it's genuinely brutal.
The show doesn't shy away from graphic crime scenes, including victims of human trafficking, drug overdoses, and gang violence.
There is a persistent distrust of authority and internal corruption plotlines that might be heavy for kids who aren't ready for that level of cynicism.

Conversation Starters

"Does Sergeant Voight's 'ends justify the means' approach make him a good cop or just a different kind of criminal?"
"How do the characters handle the trauma they see every day without it breaking them?"
"When the law doesn't seem to provide justice, is it ever okay to go outside the rules to protect people?"
"Which character do you think has the strongest moral compass, and why is it so hard for them to keep it?"

Deep Dive

The Voight Factor

You can't talk about Chicago P.D. without talking about Sergeant Hank Voight. He’s the anchor of the show, and honestly, he’s a bit of a monster. But he’s a monster who protects his city. This central tension is what keeps the show from being just another 'cop of the week' snooze-fest. Jason Beghe plays him with a gravelly intensity that makes every interrogation scene feel like a ticking time bomb.

Gritty Realism vs. TV Drama

While the show captures the vibe of Chicago perfectly—the cold, the neighborhoods, the politics—it’s still a television drama. The Intelligence Unit gets into more shootouts in a season than most real cops see in a lifetime. However, it earns its 'gritty' label through its willingness to let characters fail. People die, relationships crumble, and sometimes the bad guys win.

Compared to the more optimistic Chicago Fire, P.D. is the show that explores the psychological toll of the job. If your kid is into true crime or shows like Law & Order, this is the natural next step, but be prepared for much more visceral violence and a lot less 'courtroom' resolution. It’s about the street, the fight, and the cost of keeping the peace.

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