Chicago PD: How Kiana Cook’s Addition Revitalizes Intelligence

Kiana Cook is a breath of fresh air.

Whether we love it or loathe it, cast turnover has become such a staple of Dick Wolf series that we’ve had to accept it.

The One Chicago franchise certainly hasn’t been exempt from this.

Torres’ Addition was a Reinvigorating Stepping Stone

While Chicago PD hasn’t had quite the same heavy rotation as consistently and often as some other shows, we’ve certainly faced some devastating losses and appealing gains over the years.

It’s inevitable for a series that has been running for over a decade, and we’ve been fortunate to keep such a core group of characters for as long as we have.

But that also doesn’t mean there isn’t room for what’s new, as adding new characters to the series can revitalize the show and the unit.

We saw that for the first time in many years with the addition of Dante Torres.

Benjamin Levy Aguilar’s addition to the series added this much-needed spark for a plethora of reasons.

Torres’ fascinating background as someone who knew what it was like to be on the other side of the law provided a compelling avenue to explore via a character.

And while he’s not the only Latine character Intelligence has ever had, via Torres, it still feels like the first time they allowed a Latino character to be so unapologetically Latino, incorporating his heritage and language into the series and showcasing how much it shapes his identity. 

Torres’ unique perspective also led to more compelling dynamics within the team, namely with Kevin Atwater.

OceanWater bonded through the unique plight they faced as men of color from particular neighborhoods serving in law enforcement and straddling two worlds as a result.

With Torres, it felt as if the series was ushering in a new era, but with Kiana Cook, it’s confirmation that they have.

Unsurprisingly, her addition is one of many facets that have contributed to an already strong Chicago PD Season 12.

Kiana Cook is a Refreshing Change from the Norm

Kiana is unlike any other character we’ve met thus far, and as a result, she’s a genuinely refreshing change of pace.

For better or worse, Chicago PD sometimes had issues introducing characters who often felt too similar to those they had in the past.

There were moments when it felt like a copy-and-paste situation as some traits, background issues, dynamics, or more were practically transferred to another character.

But Kiana isn’t like any character we’ve seen or met in the series so far because she offers something unique to Intelligence.

We can already see that she’s her own character despite only just getting to know her.

Cook is a Badass; And It Doesn’t Feel Farfetched or Forced

She’s action-oriented, which you would assume would lead to a level of intensity in her personality, but instead, she’s calm and refreshingly grounded.

Thus far, we’ve seen that there’s not a physical demand for this job that Kiana doesn’t seem to hurl herself into, but it’s not in a flashy way that makes her come across like some superhero.

She’s a badass character without being overly so.

Because the series and the actress are playing it more matter-of-fact, many of her action sequences feel more authentic than they sometimes can be in other instances.

Much of Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 2 was this adrenaline-pumping and suspenseful hour that immediately placed Kiana into the fray and in harm’s way.

From shootouts to high-speed chases, foot chases, and even taking a hit from a car, Kiana threw herself into all the job’s physical demands and powered through some of everything.

And Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 5 had her battling the elements, nearly drowning, and successfully taking down a suspect, but it all felt within her capabilities and was a different take from some of the usual action sequences on the series.

Cook’s Tactical Experience Makes Her a Supremely Qualified Addition to the Unit

It’s so easy for viewers to fixate on the fact that Kiana has switched to Intelligence from Patrol.

But she’s not simply a beat cop whose primary experience was working the streets, though there is nothing wrong with that.

Before Blue Wall politics got in the way, she was part of the elite Tact unit, which supports why she’s such a badass character who doesn’t sniff at running headfirst into hands-on, physical aspects of the job.

She’s not afraid of danger, and it makes her an exceptionally well-suited person to join the highly dangerous and in-demand aspects of Intelligence.

Kiana is in no way “green,” which makes her shift into Intelligence entirely different than what we’ve seen in previous years with Torres and Ruzek.

Her previous experience on an elite unit was different from what we saw as Atwater and Burgess ascended to Intelligence after working Patrol.

Her qualifications for this job aren’t up for debate, and the prospect of what she’ll get into now that she’s on the unit is exciting, given we know that she’s up for anything and fearless.

Kiana’s Easygoing Demeanor and Confidence Without Arrogance is Endearing

Kiana also comes across as incredibly grounded, down-to-earth, and easygoing.

Despite her experience with an unjust demotion, she doesn’t enter into the picture with a chip on her shoulder and a damn near reckless desire to prove herself.

The series strays away from some typical tropes regarding her, which is genuinely refreshing.

She’s a character who is confident in her abilities enough to trust her gut and advocate for herself when necessary, but she isn’t arrogant or feels like she’s above the fray.

One of the things that stood out most when she caught Intelligence the case with the trio of girls was that she didn’t feel entitled to any part of solving it.

She was willing to step back into her role as a patrol officer and stay within the realm of the expected job, and she would’ve stuck by that.

Kiana is assertive but not aggressive, a blessedly great distinction the series handles well, especially with the introduction of a Black female character, where too many shows lean into some dicey stereotypes.

We get the sense that she has no problem following authority, but she will fight back against what she perceives as wrong.

There’s a careful balance when showcasing that, and Chicago PD is already doing well with her depiction.

This makes her an excellent fit for the Intelligence unit because she won’t have an issue with following Voight’s lead or that of others on the squad, but she isn’t afraid to challenge things where she deems fit or speak her mind.

Kiana Adds to the Cohesiveness of the Unit

Kiana’s easy chemistry with everyone adds to the cohesiveness of the team.

It’s not easy to step into an already established unit and make a place for yourself, especially when it means following in the footsteps of a heavily favored character who was there for an extensive period.

But Kiana blends into this unit effortlessly, and that’s something that rarely happens.

One of the series’ biggest criticisms for the past few years is how divided the unit has often felt.

While the early seasons saw cohesion, some light humor, and a great deal of mixing and matching in dynamics and character exploration, the more recent seasons have lost much of that.

For the past few years, there has been this hardline between some of the characters to the point of genuine frustration regarding the plot.

We often had Voight, Halstead, and Upton on one side, with many of their storylines intertwining and mixing, often excluding the other characters.

It felt as if they could only orbit around each other, severely impacting some of the dynamics that formed over the years or hampering the exploration of new ones.

Sometimes, it felt like they were on a totally different show.

Kiana Cook Bridges the Gap Between Some Characters

Meanwhile, Burgess, Ruzek, and Atwater often interacted most with each other whenever the series focused on them, and there was very little interaction or dynamic exploration across those two factions.

While Chicago PD Season 12 has already done well merging the team again and making them feel like a more cohesive unit, Kiana seems critical to that as well.

She’s a character that has a fast and easy camaraderie with all the other characters, and it’s off to a promising start that she’s already having such strong interactions with so many other Intelligence members.

It’s possible that she can serve as a bridge between characters who weren’t interacting with each other quite as much before, which could lead to some great team dynamics.

We’ve only had her for two episodes, and she’s already proven to partner well with anyone.

Thus far, there isn’t a dynamic with Kiana that isn’t already compelling or potentially so when it’s explored.

Cook Has Proven that She Can Pair Well with Any Character

The Ruzek/Cook dynamic in “Blood Bleeds Blue” started strong.

Because of the bond they forged under fire and having to have one another’s backs as they solved Martel’s murder, it perfectly highlighted the rapport that transcends words that law enforcement officers and soldiers speak about.

They went through hell and back together in a dark time and entrusted one another with their lives, and it forged an unbreakable bond instantly, yes, while still being realistic and fascinating to watch.

It’s one that doesn’t go away, and it likely led Kiana to find her way to Intelligence in the first place.

After what she and Ruzek went through together, there isn’t anything they probably can’t ask of one another, which is why she sought him out for help in the first place.

That type of dynamic, similar yet distinctly different, also happened with “Water and Honey” between her and Torres.

The potential for more compelling angles with Kiana with Voight, Atwater, and Burgess is on the horizon.

Voight seemed instantly taken by this young woman who trusted her gut and asserted herself, something he noticed and appreciated.

Chicago PD May Finally Rectify Female Dynamic Issue with “KiKi” (Kim & Kiana) Sisterhood

Meanwhile, Atwater never shies away from taking on a mentor role and looking out for his comrades.

Given the respective issues they likely faced to get there, there’s an inescapable angle to exploring actually having two Black officers on the same unit.

And then, of course, there’s Kim.

The series has always had badass female characters, but strong female friendships and dynamics have often been lacking.

Unfortunately, Trudy is underused, so we experience her particular dynamic with Burgess less.

The last time we had a strong female dynamic within the unit was Erin and Nadia, unless you count the blink-and-miss arc with Hailey and Rojas.

Unfortunately, most of Hailey’s storylines always revolved around the male characters, whether Voight and Halstead or briefly with Ruzek.

And Burgess didn’t fare much better, as the series rarely explored a dynamic between her and Hailey.

Kiana’s presence may rectify that, and we already saw a glimpse of what could be with Kim’s warm, welcoming interactions with her and the promises of more to come.

Chicago PD may finally deliver on a strong female dynamic, partnership, or friendship between the two women on Intelligence.

Kiana Cook & Dante Torres Are a New Dynamic Duo that Serves Both Characters Well

In addition to the rest of the unit, Kiana’s’ presence is particularly significant for Torres.

This harkens back to the issues with the unit often feeling divided.

The “new character” Torres would bounce around a bit, but he sometimes still felt isolated from the others or like he was on an island all by himself.

Thankfully, this season, it’s evident that the unit feels much closer and stronger together.

But with Kiana around, it’s promising that Torres may actually have his own “person.”

The burgeoning dynamic between Torres and Cook was at the center of Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 5, making the hour one of the strongest of the season thus far.

They have fantastic chemistry, and through the pairing, we not only learned more about Kiana, but she also pulled out another side of Torres.

He’s historically a more guarded character.

Even though he’s settled into the unit and no longer feels like the new guy, he keeps many aspects of himself close to the vest.

But through his instant dynamic with Kiana, we gain more insight into Torres as he becomes more forthcoming and vulnerable and allows her to be the same in the process.

Dante and Kiana are a pairing that works.

The latest installment was a great preview for them and what could come, and there’s a promising element to the two representatives of a new era of Chicago PD.

Kiana Cook Expands Chicago PD’s Diverse Scope While Subverting Problematic Tropes

And that era includes a broader perspective, seasons in the making.

Kiana Cook, as Chicago PD’s first Black female Intelligence officer, is nothing to sniff at, and it’s incredibly gratifying to have that specific representation in this series.

To borrow a bit from Chicago PD’s own LaRoyce Hawkins, it’s an energy and perspective the series has needed for a while.

Not only do we have a woman of color on the series as a regular now, but they’re actually taking the time to flesh her out and develop the character without her getting sidelined (something that tragically happened often with Rojas’ short-lived presence on the series).

There’s an intersectional component that the series can explore subtly, as Kiana’s experience as both a Black officer and a female officer is wholly unique compared to Atwater or Burgess.

Thus far, the series is doing a decent job of touching on minute things without reducing the character to the physical components of her identity, as if checking off a list.

In a city as diverse as Chicago, where people come from all walks of life, it’s refreshing that the unit has not only expanded but continues to reflect that, and it’s an asset to the job and work.

Kiana Cook’s introduction to the series is one of the most exciting developments, and I can’t wait to spend more time with her.

How about you?

What are your thoughts on Kiana Cook? What do you look forward to learning about her?

Who would you like to see her partnered with more?

Let’s hear your thoughts below!

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