Chicago P.D. Season 11 Finale Confirms How Tracy Spiridakos' Hailey Upton Leaves

Television TV Dramas

chicago p.d. season 11 finale confirms how tracy spiridakos' hailey upton leaves
Lori Allen/NBC

Contains spoilers for "Chicago P.D." Season 11, Episode 13 — "More"

Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) is officially leaving Chicago now that "Chicago P.D." Season 11 is done  — and while it's an ending that makes sense for her, one can't help but feel a bit disappointed. But it's an ending that was chosen by the "Chicago P.D." showrunners with purpose and determination.

Having risked her life to save Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) from serial killer Frank Matson (Dennis Flanagan), the pair find themselves in a gun battle with the murderer. Hailey suffers an abdominal wound and Hank is bleeding out from a chest wound. Hank ends up pounding Matson to death, then Hailey and Hank are spirited off to the hospital. Once the two are patched up, they have a deep talk. Hailey recalls that, in his daze, Hank called her his daughter. Though Hank doesn't remember saying that, the exchange causes a revelation for Hailey. She realizes every case she's done has just been her relitigating her mother's abusiveness over and over again. Deciding to live her own life, she looks over websites listing qualifications for DEA and FBI positions. Then she closes up her apartment and heads to O'Hare Airport.

It's a very open, if hopeful, ending. Per "Chicago P.D." showrunners, that was just what they were shooting for.

Gwen Sigan says Hailey's ending is open-ended for a reason

chicago p.d. season 11 finale confirms how tracy spiridakos' hailey upton leaves
NBC

If you were wondering why Hailey Upton's ending didn't feel like ... an ending ... there's a reason for that. Showrunner Gwen Sigan explained to TVLine that closure and positivity were the main goals here.

"I wanted this idea that the world is hers now, and that she's finally in a headspace where she can see that there's a lot out there and there's a lot you can choose. Leaving it that open-ended gave that feeling of possibility." Sigan notes that there's plenty of room for Tracy Spiridakos to return to the show for a guest spot. "I love the idea that a lot of these characters are still out there and could come back to the show. They're all in the world and so, maybe someday," she said.

On top of that, no direction for Hailey's future has been decided yet. Sigan says that everyone has a theory as to where Hailey's ended up, but nothing is set in stone. "The audience can also fill in a little bit of, 'Where is she going?' because that's the idea. She could go so many places."

It's worth noting that Hailey's ultimate victory here is foreshadowed by a lot of suffering. Perhaps someday in the future, fans will find out where Hailey's gone. But until then, they can be happy knowing that she's safe, happy, and ready to move on to the next stage of her life.

Check out why Tracy Spiridakos left "Chicago P.D." to learn more about the actor's departure from the show.

OTHER NEWS

2 minutes ago

Florida Panthers defeat Edmonton Oilers to win Stanley Cup

2 minutes ago

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid wins Conn Smythe Trophy after Game 7 loss

3 minutes ago

Meet the North Koreans who haven't been able to return home in over 70 years

3 minutes ago

Will they or won't they? Unpacking TV's eternal question

3 minutes ago

Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers in Game 7 to avoid historic collapse

3 minutes ago

Your gut microbes may influence how you handle stress

3 minutes ago

Mia Goth Addresses ‘Blade’ Delays: “They Want To Make A Great Movie” – ‘MaXXXine’ Premiere

3 minutes ago

‘Bridgerton’ Author Weighs in on “Disappointment” In Francesca’s Season 3 Twist, Asks Fans To Give Her And Shondaland “Some Faith”

3 minutes ago

Breaking Baz: Narges Rashadi & Joseph Fiennes Cast In Under-Wraps BBC Drama About Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s Six-Year Iranian Prison Ordeal & Husband’s Tireless Campaign To Free Her

3 minutes ago

‘Second Chance’ Clip: First Look At Subhadra Mahajan’s Debut Feature Ahead Of Karlovy Vary Premiere

3 minutes ago

Judge Reinhold On Being Cast In Original ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Before Eddie Murphy Signed On – ‘Axel F’ Premiere

3 minutes ago

Daniel Ezra To Exit ‘All American’ As Series Regular Following Season 6

3 minutes ago

Channing Tatum Says Unproduced ’21 Jump Street’ Crossover With ‘Men In Black’ Is “Still The Best Script” He’s Read

3 minutes ago

Tatiana Maslany Says Twerking With Megan Thee Stallion On ‘She-Hulk’ Was “Greatest Moment Of My Life”

3 minutes ago

Video: Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny heat up Paris! Rapper places his hand on the supermodel's lower back as they depart Fashion Week event after rekindling romance

3 minutes ago

You make HOW much? Bank of Dave lifts lid on phone swiping epidemic in shocking gang interview

3 minutes ago

Video: Florida Panthers WIN the Stanley Cup as 2-1 victory over Edmonton Oilers in crucial Game 7 seals team's first EVER championship

3 minutes ago

Video: Kevin Costner's Aussie model starlet Abbey Lee has a wardrobe malfunction at the premiere of his new Western series in Los Angeles

4 minutes ago

Two teens arrested after posing as ICE agents and robbing Hispanic victims: police

4 minutes ago

Increased nuclear energy production legislation sent to Biden to help lower Americans’ energy bills

4 minutes ago

Maricopa County, Arizona elections center re-testing equipment after fob theft

4 minutes ago

My revenge affair saved my marriage: From restoring self-esteem to regaining control, tit-for-tat affairs can have the same benefits as therapy. These women don't regret a second

4 minutes ago

I've proved you can stop junior doctors quitting the NHS... and it isn't about money, writes PROFESSOR ROB GALLOWAY

4 minutes ago

A stunning diet test every parent should read: This family put Joe Wicks's theory that ultra-processed food causes bad behaviour to the test. The effect on eight-year-old Isobel's tantrums was remarkable

4 minutes ago

Travis Kelce reveals what made him fall for Taylor Swift as he gushes over romance with pop star: 'That's my lady'

4 minutes ago

JJ Redick set to END LeBron James podcast after taking the Lakers job - as new head coach insists he 'doesn't give a f**k' about his doubters at unveiling press conference

4 minutes ago

How Volvo became cool - five ways it ditched its bland reputation

4 minutes ago

Video: Influencer Em Davies puts her filthy white couch up for sale online for a 'ridiculous' $900 - but the reaction is VERY surprising

4 minutes ago

James Roberts: Footy star opens up about his dole and depression hell as he asks judge for mercy after pleading guilty to domestic violence offence

4 minutes ago

Sienna Miller the queen of boho-chic joins dapper Kevin Costner at premiere of his $100m new drama Horizon: An American Saga

4 minutes ago

Video: Gypsy Rose Blanchard's former cellmates reveal what it was really like to spend time with the convicted killer behind bars

4 minutes ago

Furious Aussie man's grocery shop rant sparks fierce backlash: 'Get a job'

4 minutes ago

James Roberts: Footy star opens up about his dole and depression hell as he asks judge for mercy after pleading guilty to domestic violence offence

4 minutes ago

How footy bosses are making sure there isn't a repeat of the VERY controversial national anthem at State of Origin game two

4 minutes ago

Video: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange 'to walk free from UK jail' after agreeing to plead guilty to US spying charges in deal with Biden's Justice Department - 12 years after he fled into Ecuador embassy to avoid sex-crime quiz

4 minutes ago

Video: Kevin Bacon makes rare whole family outing with wife Kyra Sedgwick and children Sosie and Travis at MaXXXine premiere in Los Angeles

4 minutes ago

Beware of these exclusions in cheap 'essentials' car insurance, drivers warned

4 minutes ago

The huge issue shoppers have spotted with popular $18 Kmart Australia item: 'It is infuriating'

4 minutes ago

NSW Origin star Payne Haas opens up about how his tough childhood prepared him for his mum's manslaughter drama and his dad possibly facing a firing squad

4 minutes ago

Video: Democrat rips 'unhinged' colleague Jamaal Bowman for 'unbecoming' foul-mouthed Bronx rally with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez filled with f-bombs