Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 8, is called “Penance,” and it takes place after a dangerous operation that went wrong. While the Intelligence Unit is under attack, this time it’s Torres who is getting the most attention because of choices he made in the past that are coming back to haunt him. When things get tense on the team, secrets come out, and their mistakes put not only their jobs at risk but also their lives.
The episode wastes no time plunging us into high-stakes action. The team is in big trouble because they missed a crucial drug deal worth a million dollars. There are other things they need to worry about as well, though. Torres used to be a friend of the unit, but now he is the thing that scares them the most. His mistake could have serious consequences that put at risk not only his job but also the lives of the people he has sworn to protect. Even though things are getting worse, everyone still wants to know: Is Gloria Perez dead?
Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 8 Recap
At the start of the episode, the Intelligence Unit realizes they missed their chance to stop a big drug deal. The feeds go down at a very important time, leaving the team to quickly put things back together. It turns out very quickly that the problem wasn’t with the technology; it was with human error. Kim Burgess and Officer Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar) decided in an instant to end the affair. They did this to hide Gloria’s confession that she had slept with Torres while he was sneaking around. This choice sets off a chain of events that get out of hand.
Torres is filled with regret because he feels guilty about his relationship with Gloria. He really wanted to keep Gloria safe but by doing that, he put the whole case and the honesty of his team at risk. What was once a small oversight has turned into a terrible mistake. We see Torres pray for forgiveness from both God and his team as he tries to understand what he did that caused the fire. He can feel the emotional weight of what he did as he faces the truth of what he did.
Because of Torres’s mistakes—the whole team is feeling bad. Because Burgess made the choice to protect him. her relationship with Voight and the rest of the unit is being strained. Torres is clearly upset and is wondering what his role is on the team and how he can fix the trust he’s broken. At the same time, Officer Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) and Officer Adam (Patrick John Flueger) stay strong and focus on the mission.
Gloria’s and Kiana’s Fate
Once Gloria realizes something is wrong and starts to freak out, things get very dangerous. When Gloria and Officer Kiana Cook (Toya Turner) get into a fight, a gunshot is fired, and Gloria runs away with Kiana following. Tores tries to catch up to them but it’s too late because he is still upset about what he did. As the two women escape into the night—the unit is left with a million-dollar bust that they failed to catch and growing worries about Kiana’s safety.
The team is racing against the clock to find Gloria and fix things before things get worse. But they don’t know if Gloria is alive or dead. The sudden flight she made and the gunshot she heard have made everyone wonder what happened to her. Did she get away? Is Kiana in danger? There are no answers for the unit, and they are feeling more and more rushed.
Torres Faces the Consequences
The more dangerous things get, the worse Torres feels about his guilt. The thought that he is the one who has doomed everyone won’t leave him. In a heartbreaking scene, Voight confronts Torres because he can see how his guilt is affecting him. Voight gives a firm answer: there’s no room for guilt now, only action. Even so, Torres can’t get rid of the feeling that he’s let down not only his team but also Gloria, who trusted him no matter what. He has strong feelings, and we see him struggle with his sense of duty.
Things are more important than ever. As the team tries to find Gloria as quickly as possible, things get heated between them. Ruzek used to be close with Torres but now he is angry and doesn’t trust him. The team is split, and some people don’t trust Torres very much. All of them are wondering if what he did has broken their bond forever. Even though people are angry, there is a stronger sense of unity. Even though they are different, they all stick together and help Torres when he needs it most. But will that help last for a long time?
Voight is always a straight-forward leader who doesn’t mince words. And he tells Torres that he shouldn’t let his guilt keep him from doing what he needs to do. The fact that Voight and his team missed a big bust makes him even more angry. The drugs will now flood the street and their bosses are constantly watching them.
The Arrival of Chief Reid
The situation is already very tense, and Chief Reid’s arrival makes it even more so. It’s not clear what part he played in the episode. It’s clear that he wants to help, but there’s a sense that her being there costs something. Could this be the time when Deputy Chief Reid (Shawn Hatosy) tries to use the situation to his benefit? The team’s work is hampered by the fact that they don’t know what his true intentions are. Will he help them or become a new enemy in the fight for power?
The team’s growing mistrust of Reid is reflected in their doubts about his intentions. Kim Burgess, who was just made a detective— is caught in the middle of the action. Her team and her own sense of right and wrong will be put to the test by the things she is asked to do. The pressure is building, and Torres’ actions will have effects on everyone.
What Happened to Gloria Perez? Is She Dead?
As the heartbreaking episode comes to a close—Torres’ worst fears come true. It’s too late when he finds Gloria. Gloria is shot and dies in Torres’ arms—which is a terrible turn of events. He feels terrible about their relationship, the lies he told and the things that happened because of his choices. It’s clear that this tragedy has changed Torres forever as he prays over her and asks God to forgive him.
After Gloria’s death, the team doesn’t know what to do. Was her death certain to happen? What if it didn’t happen because Torres was more honest with the team? There is no doubt that this event will have effects that last throughout the season, and Torres will have to deal with them.
The team has to pick up the pieces. They no longer trust each other, but they need to work together to solve the case and punish those responsible. They may or may not be able to win back the trust that was lost.
“Penance,” the eighth episode of Season 12 of Chicago PD, shows Torres taking full responsibility for his actions. Because his actions have such big effects on the whole Intelligence Unit, the episode marks a turning point in his character. Now that Gloria Perez’s fate is set, Torres has to deal with the consequences of betraying her, while the team tries to understand the emotional and professional costs of their mistakes as a whole. The question that remains as the season goes on is whether Torres can ever win back his team’s trust or whether this event will forever change who he is.
Chicago Police Season 12 Episode 8: “Penance” – Review
As the Intelligence Unit deals with the effects of Torres’s past choices, Penance delivers an intense and emotionally charged hour. The missed drug bust and Gloria’s shocking escape keep the episode tense, and Voight’s strict leadership and Torres’ guilt add to the drama.
Throughout the episode, Torres feels the weight of the decisions he has made. He feels terrible about the mistakes they made that led them to this point. As a religious man, you can feel his regret, which is similar to the title of the last episode seven, “Contrition.” But this is Penance, and Torres needs to take responsibility now.
This season, Deputy Chief Reid (Shawn Hatosy) has been a shadowy figure, but now he steps into the light. His part in the operation isn’t clear, which makes people wonder about his motives. Does Reid have his own plans or is he just here to help the team save their operation?
There are hints of a power struggle in the way Reid and Voight talk to each other. Some people in the unit — like Burgess, think that Reid’s help might not be completely free. Could Reid’s help cause more problems in the future? His involvement adds another level of—mystery as the team tries to balance their doubts about him with the need to finish the case quickly.
The action is balanced by emotional beats, particularly Burgess’ protective choices and Torres’ struggle for redemption. Chief Reid’s ambiguous role keeps viewers guessing—hinting at potential power plays within the department.
As the last episode of the fall season, Penance is a thrilling hour that sets the stage for even bigger problems when the show comes back. Are Torres and Burgess going to get in trouble? Will the team be able to fix their mistakes, or will the consequences be too bad?
There is one thing that is certain: the Intelligence Unit is walking a fine line, and things are more important than ever.
Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 9 returns Wednesday January 8th on NBC.
