Warning: spoilers ahead for the March 25 episode of Chicago P.D. on NBC, called "Lines."
Chicago P.D. delivered a doozy of a cliffhanger with its latest episode when Upton discovered that Voight was sending her away from Intelligence (and her partner) to New York for an assignment with the FBI. The cliffhanger got even more exciting when the news broke that Hailey Upton isn't just going to the FBI; she's going to FBI! Tracy Spiridakos is jumping from NBC to CBS to appear in the Season 2 finale of FBI. She spoke with CinemaBlend about how long she'll be gone, what's up with Upstead in Season 7, and more.
Given real-life circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, Tracy Spiridakos noted that television has "a great way of keeping us company at times when we need the company," and her comments indicate that there's a lot to look forward to beyond current events, not least because of P.D.'s mega three-season renewal. Fortunately, Spiridakos shared what her jump to FBI for the Season 2 finale means for Upton's future on Chicago P.D.:
Upton will be coming back. I will be back! I'll be coming back when the show starts up again in the new season and Upton will be there, absolutely.... I was thrilled to get to go to New York and work with everyone over there. They're such a great group, and then knowing that I get to come back and be with the P.D. family again shortly after was very exciting.
According to Tracy Spiridakos, Upton (and Upstead) fans don't need to worry that Hailey will be sticking with the squad over on FBI full-time, although the premature halt in production due to the coronavirus does mean that Hailey won't be back to Chicago P.D. for what will ultimately be the Season 7 finale. Detective Hailey Upton of Chicago P.D. isn't becoming Special Agent Hailey Upton of FBI, even if she won't be back in Intelligence before the end of the season.
This season has been a tumultuous one for Hailey, both professionally and personally. On the professional front, she started crossing lines seriously enough that even Voight grew concerned about her, resulting in her assignment with the FBI. On the personal front, she experienced a "wake-up call" about Jay Halstead, according to Jesse Lee Soffer.
Tracy Spiridakos weighed in on how Hailey and Jay's relationship has changed and developed throughout P.D. Season 7:
I think the partnership, they only get closer and closer as the time goes on. We've gotten to see them grow so much and not only are they partners but they're best friends, and then there's the underlying other things that are there, at least for Hailey. And so we've gotten to watch that grow a lot more this season, especially when Halstead gets hurt. Hailey all of the sudden, the fear of potentially losing him and something happening, I think shocked her more than she expected it to. I don't think she quite knows what to do with those feelings. So I think it's been interesting to see her come to terms with maybe some deeper feelings there. And who knows what that is? And if we'll get to see what happens with that?
Chicago P.D. showcased that partnership and friendship in the recent episode when Hailey opened up about her abusive father, and they're clearly dedicated to each other. Tracy Spiridakos confirmed that Hailey has been coming to terms with the unexpected feelings for Jay, and fans can at least be encouraged that P.D. should have plenty of time to explore (or not explore) those feelings. One Chicago did just get an order for three more seasons, after all!
Tracy Spiridakos elaborated on how Hailey sees Jay and what he means to her:
I think she sees him as an anchor for most everything. I think he's her partner, he's her best friend, he's her everyday. So I think he's an anchor in all aspects of her job and her life. I think she sees him as that.
Whether you want Upstead to become romantic or just stay friends, I think we can probably all agree: Jay as Hailey's anchor, best friend, and "everyday" is pretty cute. Chicago P.D. can get very dark (as Season 7 proved with the brutal attack on Burgess as well as the recent crossover with Chicago Fire), so strong bonds between characters can be pretty welcome.
Considering how close they are and what happened with Jay's previous partner, I just had to ask: did Hailey give Jay a heads up that another one of his partners was going to New York to work with the FBI?
We didn't get to see it, but I'm sure after she left Voight's office that was probably her first phone call. I'm sure of it. [laughs]
So, what's next for Upton now that she's away from Chicago, Intelligence, and Halstead? Well, Tracy Spiridakos officially brings the worlds of One Chicago and FBI/FBI: Most Wanted together with the FBI Season 2 finale, called "Emotional Rescue."
According to the official episode description for "Emotional Rescue," Hailey temporarily joins the team, and the FBI's "more buttoned up environment" clashes with her usual investigative methods, which is presumably what Voight was going for. As for the FBI team, they'll be investigating a drug deal gone bad following the discovery of a college student's body. See Tracy Spiridakos' FBI debut on Tuesday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
As for Chicago P.D., the next episode will be "Buried Secrets." Airing on April 8 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, the episode will see the team racing to solve a case after Ruzek witnesses a woman being kidnapped. Burgess will try to connect with Ruzek outside of work, but his distancing may mean that Burzek fans shouldn't get too excited about a romantic reunion just yet.
Be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for more from Tracy Spiridakos ahead of Hailey Upton's temporary jump from Chicago P.D. to FBI, and stay tuned for the latest in TV and movie news.
