Returning for its fourteenth season, Chicago P.D.’s premiere episode found the Intelligence unit upended with changes coming to CPD, and despite a twisting case for the team, the beginning of the end for one of the unit’s own is closer than they realize. After Chicago P.D. season 13 came to a close with Officer Eva Imani (Arienne Mandi) finally tracking down her sister Shari (Selin Çuhadaroğlu) and left with a choice of whether to let Voight (Jason Beghe) bury the evidence against her or let the charges play out, it was clear that there was a lot coming for the officer as the new season got started.

Although Chicago P.D. season 14’s premiere tackles Imani’s decision early on in the episode, it’s something that reverberates throughout the rest of the hour and colors the way she works the case of the week. Chicago P.D. season 13 had a heavy slant in Imani’s direction, and as the premiere of season 14 shakes out, it feels like the coming season could feel similarly. While viewers get brief moments with the rest of the Intelligence unit, the focus of Chicago P.D. season 14’s opener is, primarily, Imani as she works through her personal issues amidst a difficult case that leaves her needing to focus.

With Chicago P.D. season 13’s finale honing in on Imani, the rest of the Intelligence unit finally came up to the surface within the premiere, specifically Officer Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar), and with Atwater’s (LaRoyce Hawkins) impending fatherhood leading to the actor’s exit, Chicago P.D. season 14’s premiere had a lot of ground to cover.

Chicago P.D. Season 14 Episode 1 Resolves Imani’s Family Storyline

While Chicago P.D. season 14 starts off with a high-intensity case that weaves its way through the entire episode, the more serialized elements of the story are what stands out as the episode goes on. Imani, who was left with a tremendously difficult decision after the season finale, made the best choice she could with her sister’s future, choosing not to bury the evidence against her in the way Voight suggested. Instead, we see Imani navigating the difficulties of trying to maintain a relationship with her sister as she serves time and tries to figure out how to reconcile what’s happened to her. Imani’s struggling, Shari’s struggling, and it’s clear that this has been an ongoing issue for the estranged siblings as the episode continues on.

Though Imani’s struggles with her family are the main anchor point of the episode, the case of the week is one that manages to pull her out of her thoughts. Finding herself in the midst of a shooting on her way to the precinct, Imani and the rest of the Intelligence unit find themselves in the middle of the case of a man on parole who appears to be embroiled in crime again, despite his actions making it seem entirely unlikely. The episode dedicates itself to the case in a way that allows for both plots to co-exist, giving a balanced amount of time to each story.

While Imani’s on edge, the rest of the Intelligence unit seems to have some re-configuring to do with the rest of the CPD shuffling around due to dislocation. Voight, who has more than a few moments of frustration throughout the episode with the way things are being handled by the higher ups, hasn’t been able to get in touch with anyone to understand the extent of the influx of cops flooding his workspace. Despite the slightly comedic thread, Voight’s issues aren’t a comedy of errors – instead, he finds out later that there are going to be FBI trained eyes on the Intelligence unit as the season continues in a way he’s surely not happy about.

Chicago P.D. Season 14’s Setting Up A Massive Cast Member Exit

Lori Allen/NBC

Though the main storyline of the episode revolved around Imani, there were also some breadcrumbs left for Chicago P.D. season 14’s major cast exit, which will be happening in the season’s second episode. After a brief fling before her move to Miami, Atwat discovered during Chicago P.D. season 13 that Officer Tasha Fox (Karen Obilom) was pregnant, and wanted to keep the baby whether he was interested in being involved in their lives or not. Atwater was excited at the thought of having a child with Tasha, and though she lived in Miami, she decided to move back to Chicago so they could co-parent together and figure out their relationship.

Checking in with Atwater a few times during Chicago P.D. season 14’s premiere, Tasha’s pregnancy was clearly close to the end. During an early phone call with Tasha, Atwater was clear that she was to call him with any updates, and by the episode’s end, Kevin received a call that she was in labor. While it’s likely that Atwater’s final episode of Chicago P.D., which is set to be directed by former cast member Jesse Lee Soffer, will be one that revolves around his final case with the Intelligence unit, knowing that he’s reaching a new phase of his life is exciting. Despite Atwater’s exit being a loss for Chicago P.D., the preparation for it on screen both in the premiere episode and prior should make it an easier transition.

Chicago P.D. season 14 airs new episodes every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.

Release Date

October 7, 2026

Episodes

4