Why "Root Cause" Is the Must-See Episode of Chicago P.D. Season 13, Episode 4
- Jo Keirns
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Secrets, Robberies, and a Surprising Twist from Voight’s Past Await
Hold on to your hats, Chicago P.D. fans—Season 13, Episode 4, “Root Cause,” airing October 22, 2025, promises to deliver one of the most tantalizing, character-driven hours in recent memory. If you thrive on edge-of-your-seat mysteries, simmering secrets, and deep dives into your favorite characters’ pasts, this episode is already shaping up to be unmissable television.
The Case: Robberies That Lead to Secrets
What starts as a citywide manhunt for a group of violent robbers quickly spirals into something much deeper for the Intelligence Unit. The team is drawn into a web of criminal activity that, piece by piece, unravels the hidden history of one family. Is the motive just about money—or is something much darker at play? The writers are keeping mum, but we’re promised a “root cause” that’s more personal and explosive than anything the team has encountered so far.
Voight’s Past Comes Back to Haunt Him
In a tantalizing twist, this high-stakes investigation dredges up a surprising detail from Hank Voight’s own history. The showrunners are keeping this revelation tightly under wraps, but rumor has it this won’t just affect the case—it’ll shake Voight to his core. We’ve seen Voight face his demons in the past, but never quite like this. What secret has been lurking in his past, waiting to resurface at the most dangerous possible moment?
Partnerships Tested: Voight and Imani
Fans of the new dynamic between Voight and his partner Eva Imani are in for a treat. “Root Cause” is set to highlight their growing partnership, as Imani stands by Voight when his personal and professional worlds collide. Will Imani be his anchor—or will the weight of Voight’s secret threaten to pull them both under? The chemistry and conflict promise to be electric, and we’ll be watching closely to see how their trust is tested.
In “Root Cause,” the partnership between Hank Voight and Eva Imani emerges as one of the episode’s most compelling psychological studies. Both are classic lone wolves—individuals who have spent much of their careers relying on instinct, grit, and a willingness to color outside the lines to get results. Yet, when circumstances force them together, something remarkable happens: their shared approach to police work forges a powerful bond, making them more formidable as a team than they ever were alone. Voight and Imani are unafraid to bend rules or cut corners when justice is on the line, united by a devotion to truth and a readiness to shoulder the moral weight of their choices. Their energy crackles with professional chemistry, each mirroring the other’s movements, motivations, and intensity; it’s as if they are two sides of the same coin, driven by similar personalities and an unwavering dedication to the cause. This dynamic is set to reach new heights when Imani, faced with the fallout of Voight’s secret, and this leaves us with a question, in this episode are we going to hear Imani say to Voight, ‘tell me the truth so I can lie for you!”
This episode encapsulates their deep trust and willingness to protect one another and the team, even as it tests the boundaries of loyalty and ethics. For fans and viewers, watching these mirrored souls navigate crisis together promises drama, tension, and a fascinating study in how shared lone wolf traits can evolve into fierce, unbreakable partnership.
Mystery, Drama, and Character-Driven Storytelling
Showrunner Gwen Sigan has teased that Season 13 will focus more intimately on individual characters, and “Root Cause” seems to embody that shift: this is personal for Voight, and by extension, for every member of the team. What exactly happened in Voight’s past, and how will it affect the present? The episode’s title itself suggests that discovering the true motive behind the robberies might just expose the real, messy, human causes that drive people to extremes.
What Do We Know About “Root Causes”?
At the heart of “Root Cause” is a case that seems, at first glance, like a straightforward pursuit of violent robbers. The Intelligence Unit is called to tackle a string of brutal thefts sweeping the city, with the criminals’ bold methods pointing to a simple motive: money. However, as the investigation deepens, the team uncovers unsettling clues that the true motivation runs much deeper than financial gain.
The narrative soon pivots from a typical procedural to a layered exploration of how personal history can drive criminal behavior. The robbers’ actions are revealed to be intimately connected to the tangled secrets of one family, and as the Intelligence Unit peels back the layers, they encounter emotional landmines and unresolved traumas that have festered for years. The case becomes not just about stopping dangerous criminals, but about confronting the messy roots of human desperation and pain.
As the team investigates, each revelation forces them—and the audience—to consider how far-reaching and devastating the impact of buried family secrets can be. The emotional toll weighs heavily on everyone involved, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. “Root Cause” promises to deliver more than a whodunit; it invites viewers to grapple with the complexities of crime rooted in personal history, making the search for justice as much about healing as it is about solving the case.
A Psychological Perspective on “Root Cause”: Trauma, Secrets, and the Unraveling of Hank Voight
From the outset, “Root Cause” lures viewers into what appears to be a classic case—a citywide sweep for a gang of audacious robbers. Yet, as any psychologist might note, surface behaviors often mask deeper, more complex motivations. The Intelligence Unit’s pursuit quickly transcends the mere thrill of the chase, inviting us to question not just what these criminals have done, but what internal wounds or histories might have driven them to such extremes.
Beyond the Obvious: Unmasking Deeper Trauma
While the team initially interprets the robbers’ actions as motivated by greed, the investigation’s psychological undertones soon become impossible to ignore. Each clue suggests that beneath the criminal bravado lies a tapestry of unresolved family trauma, festering secrets, and emotional scars that have long gone unaddressed. As detectives peel back these layers, they are forced to confront not only the perpetrators’ pain, but also the blurred boundaries between victimhood and culpability—a recurring theme for those who work on the front lines of human suffering.
The Photo: A Catalyst for Memory and Reckoning
The episode’s psychological depth sharpens dramatically with the chilling discovery of a photo: an image of an abused child, left in plain sight on Hank Voight’s windshield. This haunting artifact is more than a threat—it is a summons to memory, guilt, and unresolved history. For Voight, whose life has been shaped by both personal and professional traumas, the photo’s appearance signals that the case is no longer just about the robbers. It’s about him. The act of leaving such a photo is psychologically loaded, suggesting the perpetrator seeks not just retribution, but also recognition and acknowledgment of a shared past wound.
Speculative Scenarios: Echoes from Voight’s Past
A Case Revisited: Could the child in the photograph be someone Voight once tried to help—or failed to protect—in his early days as an officer? The resurfacing of such a figure would force Voight to revisit painful memories and question choices that still haunt him.
A Secret Covered for a Friend: Perhaps Voight shielded a colleague from the consequences of a botched case, inadvertently condemning an abused child to further suffering. The robbers’ violence could now be a desperate attempt to force Voight to confront his complicity.
Family Ties: Voight’s Father or His Own Legacy: The possibility that the abuse connects to Voight’s father—perhaps a secret tied to his death or reputation—would be devastating. The child’s trauma might be a long-buried family secret, finally erupting into the present.
Justin’s Friend, Now Grown: In a particularly poignant twist, the abused child could have been a friend of Voight’s late son, Justin. If, as an adult, this individual is orchestrating the robberies as an act of revenge or an anguished plea for justice, Voight would be forced to reckon with his role as both protector and inadvertent catalyst for pain. Alternatively, another family member—perhaps a sibling or parent—could be orchestrating the crimes, their motives tangled in grief and unresolved anger.
Themes: Trauma, Betrayal, and the Relentless Search for Justice
What distinguishes “Root Cause” is its willingness to explore the profound psychological toll of buried secrets—on both those who commit crimes and those who pursue justice. The Intelligence Unit, and Voight in particular, must navigate the emotional landmines of betrayal, guilt, and the desperate need for redemption. The photo acts as a symbol: a snapshot of pain demanding to be acknowledged, not just solved. For Voight, the real question becomes whether he can confront the ghosts of his past without losing himself—or his team—in the process.
A Character-Driven Descent into the Human Psyche
In true Chicago PD fashion, “Root Cause” promises more than procedural thrills; it’s a study in how personal trauma echoes through generations, shaping choices and destinies. For fans, the psychological unraveling of Hank Voight offers both compelling drama and a poignant meditation on the cost of justice. As the episode unfolds, viewers are challenged to ask: When the past comes calling, how far will we go to protect the truth—and at what price?
Don’t Miss “Root Cause”
With so many tantalizing threads and the promise of a game-changing secret from Voight’s past, “Root Cause” is shaping up to be a turning point in the season. Details are scarce, and that’s exactly how the writers want it—expect twists, emotional punches, and maybe even a few answers to those questions we’ve been asking about Voight for years.
Set your reminders for Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 9 pm CST, 10 PM EST, on NBC, and Streaming on Peacock, because if the teasers are to be believed, this is one episode you’ll want to watch live. The secrets of Chicago—and Hank Voight—are about to be unleashed.
Also don't miss the next installment of the One Chicago Podcast, with our fan favorite Brian Luce, Thursday, October 23rd, on your favorite podcast platform or One Chicago YouTube.
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