[This story contains spoilers from the Oc. 2 episode of Chicago PD, “Blood Bleeds Blue.”]
On a recent bright Chicago afternoon, as he sits on the porch of his Chicago home, Patrick John Flueger is facing a struggle a little different than the typical one he would face as Intelligence Unit officer Adam Ruzek on NBC's primetime megahit. Chicago Police.
The fictional police detective from the veteran cop show has had to deal with countless guns pointed in his face, near-fatal encounters and even being shot at close range by a child. But he may have met his match today, as he tries to figure out what's driving his cats crazy on his porch. With some real detective work, Flueger quickly discovers that the pigeons are trying to assert squatters' rights a little too closely, angering the furry felines.
This cat-versus-pigeon battle helped calm the tension before we talked about what may have been one of the most challenging and emotionally charged battles. Chicago Police episodes for Flueger's Ruzek.
With a scene lifted from the finale of last week's Season 12 premiere, Wednesday's episode “Blood Bleeds Blue” found Ruzek locked behind a car besieged by bullets, staring at his dead partner, Officer Emily Martel ( Victoria Cartagena), who was shot in the head. Moments earlier, they were laughing and talking about life on the job in their squad car. It's clear that Ruzek sees that Martel is gone, but he hasn't processed it mentally yet. He's still holding on to the possibility that reality isn't real.
The episode then segued into a high-octane chase of Martel's killer. Joining Ruzek and the Intelligence Unit is new officer Kiana Cook (played by Tory Turner). Cook proves to be a resourceful and tough cop who can keep up with the furious Ruzek, who is still in shock. The stakes get even higher when it's revealed that the man who shot Martel, Roy Darrow, also shot his ex-wife, kidnapped his young son, and hunted his older son, Nate.
The Hollywood journalist spoke with Flueger about his long tenure with Chicago Policethe rigor of filming Wednesday's episode, the introduction of an exciting new cast member, and the changes he's seen in his character — and perhaps himself — from his past. PD years.
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To say the least, Adam Ruzek has experienced a lot in 12 seasons ON Chicago Police.
My God, this is season 12. I had a student career. Twelve years old, that's crazy! LaRoyce [Hawkins, who plays Det. Kevin Atwater] and I was just talking about this the other day, how it was like first grade through 12th; It's crazy that we've been here this long. When I look at it as a story arc, from start to finish as a period of time in my life, it went by too quickly. But when I think about specific moments, when he and I talk about stories or relive moments we've had together, then it feels simultaneously short and epically long.
Adam Ruzek survived the shooting and was close to death; now he saw his partner, with whom he developed a close relationship, shot dead before his eyes. I know you auditioned for Captain America in 2011, but do you see Adam as some kind of superhero based on what he endured during your tenure on the show?
(He laughs) Well, first of all, let's be honest with each other: Chris Evans is Captain America. He was Captain America before we even auditioned for the role. He just crushed that role; so I don't even know why I was there. But I will also say that I think Adam Ruzek is a much more interesting character to play, because he's kind of a wild card. It's just a hard try. Brian Luce, one of our show's producers, was a cop for 21 years. When we started, he was our technician. He was the person who made sure we were doing things right, who reinforced the reality of things. He's the heartbeat of the show and one of the best guys I've ever met. When I met him, I thought, “Well, I'll just be Brian Luce.” And that's what I've been doing for the last 12 years, trying to be as much like Luce as possible every time they say Action.
With all the rapid physical and mental blows Ruzek has taken in such a short period of time, what keeps him together in this job? Just last season we saw him fight hard to rehabilitate and be fit for duty after being shot by a child.
I think his girlfriend [Det. Kim Burgess played by Marina Squerciati]. I think it's an institution for him too, because his father was a policeman. In my head, his grandfather was a cop. We didn't talk about it in the plot, but the police forces in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles to a certain extent, are like an institution. It's a familiar thing. So I think that's what keeps it going; he doesn't know any different. That's what he'll do. And now he has his girlfriend, who I think he's just obsessed with, and his daughter. I think he wants to do the right thing, but I also think he gets excited by adrenaline!
I always thought of him as an adrenaline junkie. And when the shooting happens and he freaks out, it's like he likes it.
Then, he sees that Martel is dead. How is Adam processing his death? They were simply talking about things they had seen at work and laughing with each other.
It wasn't written, but we've been doing a recall for 12 years. It's: “Atwater, are you okay?”, “Kim, are you okay?” We make this call all the time and in 12 years I don't know everyone else's plot, but for me it's the first time I've said, “Martel, are you okay?” and there was no response. You're right when you ask me about him thinking he's a superhero. I think he actually thinks that no matter how crazy things get, nothing will really go wrong, “we've done this before, we'll do it again.” And I think when things don't work that way, it's shocking to him.
At least when we were shooting the episode, I played it like I couldn't understand it, like, how did it not work this time? I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that bullets fly and sometimes your friends die, within the confines of a network television show. But I think it was the first time in 12 years that I called and no one answered. And I think that was the whole episode for me. He never answered anything.
You mentioned Brian Luce as your mentor in preparing your Ruzek. Did you talk to other police officers to prepare for this episode?
Oh my God! They all have stories… They all have stories. Talking to these cats and the idea of waking up and doing what they do every day is pretty crazy. (Pauses) I'm impressed.
Patrick John Flueger as Agent Adam Ruzek with Toya Turner as Kiana Cook.
Lori Allen/NBC
Can you tell us about the Intelligence Unit's relationship with the new character introduced Wednesday night, Agent Kiana Cook (played by Toya Turner)?
Kiana Cook! She's a really good actress and I feel like we've pretty much confused her. For example, for the two episodes in which she is introduced, we beat the shit out of her. It was hot — the first episode he was in it was like 90 degrees — and we were running and there was so much going on. And then, in the next episode, where he comes back, they wrote that it rained the whole time; so we got all these water towers out to piss rain on them all the time. But she's crushing it! I'm so excited about it! I just think people will love it. He has this tenacity. His father is a police officer; she grew up with, I think, five brothers, so she came to play. And I'm really excited about what he brings to the table.
What are some of your thoughts on Adam Ruzek's journey all these years?
Not to brag, but I think my character has grown and changed more than any other character. He was just an enthusiastic little boy whose father was a policeman and he came in saying “yes!” Over the years he's been shot, been beaten up a couple of times and was a pleasure to play. Patrick Flueger has grown a lot since we started this show; I hope he did. And Adam Ruzek kind of grew up alongside me. And it was beautiful. I think it helped me grow up, being this guy at times.
You guys have some fun…
Let me help you, some heavy stuff (laughs).
Yes please. On set, who helps out the most to lighten things up a bit?
The funny thing is, with all the darkness, we joke all the time. Everyone is so serious, but at the same time we joke. Every set says, “we're family, we're family.” I'll tell you one thing: us I am a family! Our crew works so hard; I'm there for so many hours that if we weren't messing around, I don't know how we would survive.
I don't know if it's a specific person. LaRoyce Hawkins is a funny cat. But also Jason [Beghe]no matter how serious you think he might be, he's an idiot. Nobody takes themselves too seriously on our set, even after 12 years.
So, do you see yourself sticking with the show until it's run its course?
(He laughs) Now, what should I say about that? As long as they have me, I think I'm here. Could you imagine if I said “No, I'm leaving!”
The thing about our show, as an actor, it definitely seems like every few years he does something different enough to get you re-engaged. Or there's a new cast member like Toya, who you're like, “Ah! I'm so excited about her!” Or Ben Aguilar coming soon [as Officer Dante Torres]. Writers, directors, producers just do these things that make you feel like you're engaged again. And I don't think that always happens. I mean, after 12 years, I feel like, “Oh, we're starting over, we're trying something new.” I feel very lucky and happy to be where I am.
Chicago Police airs new episodes Wednesdays at 10pm on NBC, streaming on Peacock.