Both Sophia Bush and Jesse Lee Soffer wanted to leave Chicago PD, but the writers only got one of their exits right. It can be hard to create a fitting ending for a character when the actor asks to leave a show. Sometimes writers and showrunners choose to kill off the character for an emotional episode, but that doesn’t always go over well with fans. That can be an easier way to end a character’s story. Unfortunately, creating a reason for the character to move away can prove more difficult.
Sophia Bush exited Chicago PD in Season 4 because of the abusive behavior she was experiencing and needed to protect herself. She played Erin Lindsay, who was mentored by Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) and dated Jesse Lee Soffer’s character, Jay Halstead, on and off throughout her time in the series. So Sophia was an integral part of the show. It came as a surprise when she left. Jesse stayed on Chicago PD much longer and asked to go in season 11. The writers were faced with how to write the characters off the show.
Erin Lindsay’s Exit Fit Her Character On Chicago PD
In Chicago PD season 4 episode 22, Erin Lindsay was on a tough case trying to find a young boy before he died. Unfortunately, she took it too far in the investigation and put her gun in the suspect’s mouth in the interrogation room. This led to Internal Affairs investigating the situation, and because of her alliance with Voight, they weren’t going to let her off easy. This led to Voight getting Lindsay a job at the FBI in New York. Given her background with Voight, it made sense that she crossed the line for a victim and that Voight would save her again.
It was sad to see Sophia leave the show, but the writers gave her a good ending. She had dug herself a hole that she wouldn’t be able to escape. Her mother also was wrapped up in a murder investigation in Chicago PD season 4 episode 23. So she needed to leave Chicago to escape her mother, who always seemed to bring her down. She had a happy ending of moving up in her career and leaving her past behind her.
Jay Halstead’s Chicago PD’s Exit Was Uncharacteristic For Him
Jay Halstead’s Chicago PD exit wasn’t true to his character. He was always the boy scout, but in the first few episodes of season 10, the writers had him acting as Hank Voight’s protege overnight. He was always with his sergeant, even lying to his wife, Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos). This wasn’t the Halstead that Chicago PD had shown for nine seasons. The character leaving Upton and not answering her calls or calling her back is also uncharacteristic of him. The entire storyline felt forced to give him a reason for leaving the show.
Halstead’s final story is an insult to his character. The writers were able to find closure for Lindsay’s character. They could have come up with a better ending for Halstead. Maybe Jesse could return for an episode or two to give the character a better ending. For example, numerous Grey’s Anatomy characters have left recently, but they have come back to guest star. Since the writers didn’t kill off Halstead, the door is always open for him to return to Chicago PD.