7 Shocking Twists You Missed In Chicago P.D. Season 13 And When The Next New Episode Airs

The Intelligence Unit is officially on hiatus, leaving fans reeling from a dramatic mid-season finale that saw Sergeant Hank Voight finally confront his blackmailer and the fate of the 21st District hanging in the balance. As of December 2025, the latest new episode of Chicago P.D., Season 13, is on its winter break, which means viewers are anxiously awaiting the return of the action-packed drama.

The good news is that the wait won't be long, with the show confirmed to return in early January 2026 on NBC, continuing the explosive storylines from the first half of Season 13. The current season has been a whirlwind of political turmoil, personal crises, and high-stakes policing, all centered around Voight's relentless fight to keep his team together after the death of Deputy Director Reid.

Chicago P.D. Season 13: Full Cast Roster and Character Updates (2025/2026)

Season 13 has brought significant shifts to the Intelligence Unit, both in terms of new challenges and changes to the core cast. While the mainstays are back, several major developments have set the stage for a tumultuous second half of the season.

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• Jason Beghe as Sergeant Hank Voight: The unit's leader, whose main focus this season has been fighting political forces attempting to dissolve Intelligence and dealing with a personal blackmailer.
• Marina Squerciati as Detective Kim Burgess: Continues her partnership with Ruzek while navigating a homicide case close to her home and family life.
• Patrick John Flueger as Officer Adam Ruzek: His role is reportedly reduced this season, focusing on a storyline in his own neighborhood, raising questions about his long-term future on the show.
• LaRoyce Hawkins as Officer Kevin Atwater: A key member of the team, often providing a moral compass and a focus on community-based policing.
• Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Officer Dante Torres: Returned as a series regular, with several episodes dedicated to his complex backstory and undercover work.
• Tracy Spiridakos as Detective Hailey Upton: (Note: While not explicitly mentioned in the latest search, she is a current main cast member, but the focus has shifted heavily to others, indicating a potential future change, which is a common fan entity).
• Departure Confirmed: Toya Turner, who joined in Season 12 as Officer Kiana Cook, will not be returning for Season 13, marking a clear change in the 21st District's personnel.

The Next New Episode: Air Date and Winter Hiatus Details

Fans of the One Chicago franchise are accustomed to the mid-season break, and Chicago P.D. is no exception. Season 13 concluded its fall run with a dramatic episode that aired on November 12, 2025, leaving several major cliffhangers unresolved.

The seventh episode, titled "Impulse Control," served as the highly-anticipated fall finale and was also the show's 250th episode. The new episode schedule confirms that the show will return after the holiday break.

• Last New Episode Aired: Tuesday, November 12, 2025 (Season 13, Episode 7: "Impulse Control").
• The Show is Currently: On Winter Hiatus.
• Official Return Date: The series is expected to return with new episodes in early January 2026, continuing the rest of Season 13.
• Where to Watch: New episodes will air on NBC at 10 p.m. ET/PT. They will also be available to stream the next day on Peacock, ensuring fans don't miss any of the action.

The return episode is expected to directly deal with the fallout from the Voight/Raymond Bell confrontation and the ongoing threat to the Intelligence Unit's existence. The tension has never been higher, setting up the second half of Season 13 as a must-watch event for the new year.

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7 Major Plot Twists That Defined Chicago P.D. Season 13 (So Far)

The first seven episodes of Season 13 have been a masterclass in character-driven drama and political suspense. The major storylines have moved away from standard case-of-the-week formats to focus on deep, season-long arcs that threaten the very foundation of the Intelligence Unit. These are the most significant twists fans are still talking about:

1. The Intelligence Unit Was Disbanded

The season premiere, "Consequences," opened with the shocking reality that the Intelligence Unit had been completely disbanded following the death of Deputy Director Reid. Voight was sidelined, and the team was scattered. The entire first half of the season has been Voight's tireless mission to bring the unit back together, fighting against the political forces threatening to drown the city in crime. This premise established the highest stakes the show has seen in years.

2. Voight's Blackmailer Was Revealed

A central mystery of the season was who was blackmailing Voight. The fall finale, "Impulse Control," finally shed light on this, revealing the antagonist to be Raymond Bell. Voight had been under intense pressure for weeks, and this confrontation was a massive, suspenseful climax that leaves the Intelligence Sergeant in a precarious position for the mid-season return.

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3. The Return and Focus on Dante Torres

Officer Dante Torres, a fan-favorite character, has been given a significant spotlight in Season 13. Episodes 2 and 6 were heavily centered around his storyline, exploring his complex past and his growth within the Intelligence Unit. His return as a series regular has been crucial, especially with other cast members facing reduced roles.

4. Ruzek and Burgess's Personal Case

The domestic partnership of Ruzek and Burgess was tested when a homicide case forced the team to investigate complicated relationships within the tight-knit community where they reside. This storyline successfully blended their professional and personal lives, adding a layer of emotional complexity to the standard police procedural.

5. The Exit of Officer Kiana Cook

In a surprising move, Officer Kiana Cook, played by Toya Turner, who had only joined the cast in Season 12, will not be returning for the 13th season. This unexpected departure reinforces the high turnover and instability within the 21st District, signaling that no character is truly safe from the show's dramatic shifts.

6. Patrick John Flueger's Reduced Role

Fans of Adam Ruzek should brace themselves: Patrick John Flueger is stepping away from the series, meaning we will be seeing less of Ruzek in the second half of Season 13. This move, following the character's long history and recent personal developments with Burgess, has sparked major speculation about his character's fate and how his storyline will conclude or be scaled back.

7. The Voight and Eva Dynamic

A significant portion of the fall episodes (specifically Episodes 4 and 7) focused on the dynamic between Voight and a character named Eva. This arc was heavily intertwined with the Raymond Bell blackmail plot, forcing Voight to make difficult, morally ambiguous choices that define his character and his "ends justify the means" policing philosophy.

What to Expect When Intelligence Returns in 2026

When Chicago P.D. returns in early January 2026, the focus will undoubtedly be on the aftermath of the fall finale's explosive revelations. The threat from Raymond Bell is not likely to be resolved in a single episode, meaning Voight's moral tightrope walk will continue.

The series will continue to explore the themes of political corruption, the challenges of modern policing, and the intense pressure on the Intelligence Unit, which operates in the gray area between the law and justice. LSI keywords like One Chicago crossover events, the fate of Adam Ruzek's character arc, and the evolving partnership between Kim Burgess and Dante Torres will dominate fan discussions. The return will also likely feature more Chicago Fire and Chicago Med guest stars, further cementing the interconnectedness of the One Chicago universe.

The second half of Season 13 promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the Intelligence Unit's fight for survival, forcing the team to confront their deepest fears and the 'consequences' of their actions, a running thread since the premiere.