Warning! SPOILERS for season 10 of Chicago PD!

The reason for Jay Halstead's exit contradicted his whole Chicago PD arc, despite how compelling it was. Dubbed the moral center of the Intelligence Unit, the specialized team looked up to Halstead whenever they were at a crossroads, especially when Hank Voight was on the cusp of crossing a line. So, it wasn't surprising that the show used Voight's moral murkiness to write Jesse Lee Soffer out. Following a series of law-breaking incidents, Halstead wanted to rediscover his old principled self and rejoined the army. As emotional as his farewell episode was, the justification for his departure betrayed his overall story on Chicago PD.

Details were scant about Soffer's surprising decision to leave Chicago PD, and there was still no official reason provided even after he had left. Chicago PD isn't new to cast members leaving, but Halstead was a fan-favorite character, and Voight planned for Halstead to take over Intelligence. Sadly, with the actor no longer on the show, this is no longer possible.

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Halstead Never Opposed To Breaking The Law On Chicago PD

Jay Halstead wearing a hoodie while looking back in Chicago PD season 10 episode 3 

Despite his image as Intelligence's good boy, however, Halstead wasn't actually as moral as initially seemed. Looking back at his full Chicago PD arc, there were several instances where he was willing to cross the line in the name of justice. He didn't have a problem going after a pedophile who victimized his former girlfriend's brother or the criminal who burned a building resulting in his dad's death. These moments prove Halstead was never opposed to breaking the law if it was for a justified reason. So, it didn't make sense he was suddenly struggling on Chicago PD season 10 with how Intelligence operated.

NBC could have still used this reasoning for Halstead’s exit. However, Chicago PD season 10 needed more time to sell the idea that Halstead was having a difficult time with his work on Intelligence. The police procedural could have tackled a series of cases that involved him doing unethical activities that pushed him to the limits and tested his boundaries. Even his final mission, the catalyst for his sudden resignation, wasn’t a strong enough reason for his decision to uproot his life and abandon his wife for some self-reflection time.

Halstead Is More Like Chicago PD's Voight Than You Think

Chicago PD season 10 Halstead & Voight

Functioning as Intelligence’s moral compass for years, Chicago PD often pitted Halstead against Voight. He wasn’t afraid to speak up or question the integrity of his superior. That assertiveness put a strain on their relationship. It wasn’t until the Chicago PD season 9 finale that Voight finally let his contemporary in by relying on him to resolve a personal crisis. However, Halstead’s strong sense of justice, especially when it was a personal issue, made him more like Voight than he perceived, albeit less jaded. This would have made him the perfect next Intelligence leader if he had stayed.

Chicago PD season 10 airs every Wednesday on NBC.

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