The Chicago Code "Hog Butcher" Review

The Chicago Code moves at a blistering pace. If the series can maintain the momentum and speed of the first two episodes, The Chicago Code will become the second best new series of the season (with Terriers forever in first). "Hog Butcher" told a very effective story while dealing with the usual business of a second episode in a series--reinforcing the concept, the world of the show while planting more seeds for different arcs for the rest of the season. The series trusts the audience tremendously with the amount of story and information in one episode.

Superintendent Teresa Colvin has made many enemies during her six months as Superintendent. The pilot ended with the death of Antonio. Jarek and Caleb spend the majority of the first half of the episode attempting to tie the murder back to Gibbons--the man who built the empire of corruption in the city. While the pilot provided some idea regarding the vitriol some officers have for Teresa, "Hog Butcher" shows how deadly a pissed off officer's mouth can be. The officer whom Teresa tore down in front of the office ran his mouth at a members-only club for police officers, firemen and select city workers. Dom, the drunken/rantful officer, had no idea how influential his words would be to two aspiring cops upset with how Colvin's changing things in Chicago. During Dom's interrogation, Jarek and Teresa engage in a heated conversation about how things get done in Chicago. Jarek emphasizes the importance of keeping the cops on their side in their fight against Gibbons. If she can't do that, how can she truly change the city when those who swear to protect it no longer will for their superintendent?

The dilemma Teresa faces isn't new territory in police dramas or any kind of drama involving people with power. Inevitably, anyone with the most power will face all sorts of people who attempt to destroy the one with power. Shakespeare relied on this kind of storytelling because such storytelling produces great drama. Dom's accidental involvement in the death of an officer informs the audience of the climate that exists in the CPD. The revelation that Jarek sat in the same bar with the same people who probably issue drunken threats to Teresa informs the audience of the climate that exists in the CPD. The A story has a powerful conclusion. Dom walked into that bar angry then became eventually drunk because Colvin destroyed years of his service to Chicago in one conversation. Teresa learned that Dom's productivity dropped drastically because he became an alcoholic after years of drowning himself in liquor to forget what he's seen on the job. Dom kills the man who took his words too seriously.

The lesson, Teresa needs to heal the rift within her own department before she worries about Gibbons. Gibbons, after all, has the most power in the city. Gibbons deliberately puts Teresa in a position in which she'll need to ask Gibbons to provide Antonio's family with death benefits just so Teresa understands who remains the king of Chicago--and so the audience understands why our band of noble cops won't take Gibbons down immediately.

The second half of "Hog Butcher" revealed more about the characters as well, particularly Jarek. The death of Antonio reminds him of his brother's death. His niece becomes upset during a dedication ceremony for Antonio upon seeing her father's memorial star. Jarek tells a sister of the church that he wants to find his brother's killer and kill him. We learn that Jarek drinks six times a week and has a terrible relationship with his son in addition to sleeping with ex-wife despite being engaged to another woman. The man has issues to work through.

We also learned more about the determined and devoted Isaac who grew up in the Chicago ghetto, eager to become part of Chicago's most powerful gang (the police). He put an Irish mafia member in bars for drug possession and earned a spot on the Organized Crime unit with Bram from LOST (last seen getting impaled by Smokey). The teaser of the episode reintroduced the history between Colvin and Antonio for any new viewers.

Overall, "Hog Butcher" was a really good episode of television. I'm a fan of every character. I'm interested in the potential cases. Great series thus far.

John Zinman & Patrick Massett wrote the episode. Clark Johnson directed it.

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK