#gwen sigan

[imjustwritingg]

can you expand a little on you theory about Gwen and trasse exist.

Sure! Long story semi-short is I think Jesse didn’t extend his contract and left PD because he wasn’t getting what he wanted and what was alluded (and probably previously discussed) for his character.

Tracy didn’t extend her contract either and followed him out the door the next year. I think there might have been a differing of opinions between her and Gwen as well, especially considering the stuff that came out recently about Upzek…her and Paddy HATED them together and went to the showrunners about it, and were overruled until the fans made it known they didn’t like them together either. Knowing that, I feel even more confident that Tracy would have done the same thing with the Hailey/Upstead storyline and Gwen shut her down.

Gwen was upset about Tracy and Jesse leaving and took it out on them the only way she could which was by ruining their characters and breaking them up on-screen.

*Disclaimer for those that need it: This is a THEORY. It is MY OPINION.

[thestarrynightslover]

I'm gonna be very honest here: I haven't been enjoying Chicago PD all that much anymore 😭

And it genuinely makes me sad. It used to be my favorite show out of all three and now it just seems like they lost their footing, their pace.

I also felt like that with Chicago Med for a while too, during the earlier seasons, I think it was just after Connor left. But it was on a much lesser degree, cause it wasn't as bad as PD is now and I was less attached to it than I am now and than I am to PD.

Ofc, Jay leaving left me in pieces (and now Hailey's leaving too 😭) but the show was already going downward on his last season, his absence was just the final kick, I guess. This is all really, really sad to the franchise, as a whole, and to me, as a fan. I mean, this show especifically got me out of a really dark place during the pandemics, and got me started on writing ff, which has also helped me a lot.

And, I guess, now I just feel a little lost at life and really wish that the show would be there to help me through it again... I don't think I'm gonna drop PD or any of the others, though but it's been really frustrating me lately and I needed to get it off my chest ☹️

Anyways, thanks for reading this far. Let me know your thoughts on this!

[jareaulamontagnes]

In regard to Gwen’s statement about the new season in regards to what Hailey’s season will look like… I no longer take to heart anything that woman has to say and I prefer to see everything with my own eyes. All I know is Hailey deserves happiness and the only person she is and will be truly happy with is Jay, nothing else is acceptable for her exit.

Link to the article

[kim-ruzek]

You know what, I was just minding my own business but that stupid fucking person has really pissed me off, so I'm just gonna bitch for a while because upstead stans are the fucking worse and have literally been saying insane shit for over a year now.

putting this under a cut tho for my lovely mutuals who are upstead fans who are not part of the crazies and I don't wish for them to have to see my extreme bitchy and pettiness.

"Gwen Sigan doesn't believe that two ships can be happy at the same time" - yeah it's called have you fucking ever watched pd? LITERALLY been happening from the start it's not even unique to Sigan. This also really pisses me off because when I complained about Eid not believing in two ships being happy at once it was 'stop being dramatic' 'it makes for good tv' and, my absolute fucking favourite, 'burzek are just too toxic/traumtised for each other".

Oh but when your ship marries out of trauma (thank you gwen for pointing that out) and who's whole relationship was still very new and tested so frequently compared to ten years of loving, hurting and growing, it's oh no sigan is a shit writer.

There's also the fact that JESSE LEFT. I don't think there's any reason why Sigan shouldn't have re-written the divorce plans set from last season, and built up a happy upstead ending now we're also losing Tracy, but with Jesse gone, 'two ships can't be happy at once' CANNOT literally apply, because one half is gone, so it's no longer a viable plot point to the writers' perspective.

It's also not lost on me that upstead stans worshipped Sigan until Jesse left. 'Sigan didn't give upstead a chance' No, upstead stans didn't give her a chance. Which, granted, they shouldn't have to. If half of your ship leaves, it's perfectly valid to stop watching. But they evaluate sigan like they're fucking unbiased and not that they made up their minds about her as soon as the news hit.

(and that's not even talking about how before the news hit they were saying the 200th episode should be upstead focused, but upstead is broken and suddenly it's it should be about everyone).

And the marriage WAS born out of trauma. They had also barely been dating - it doesn't matter if you've been friends first, a relationship is different. And then they immediately went through A LOT at work, and they hadn't even been in the relationship long enough to learn how it would affect it, long-term.

"They're giving us burzek/burzek wedding to distract from upstead" get fucking over yourself.

"Sigan should admit she hates upstead/hates that the actors left" high talk from people who can't even fucking admit their ship is not the end all or be all of cpd. That they've been faced with the reality that upstead doesn't make or carry the show, like they've been delusionally believing. And that upstead is NO WHERE near the most iconic ship of the show.

Honestly, half the time these fucking people make me wish that Hailey is written out through a death/ or the linsteads get what they want - an off-screen reunion - even though my baby erin doesn't deserve that just to fucking spite them and I would HATE if that happened, but spite is a powerful thing.

if you've gotten to here, thank you for listening to my rant :)

[g0ldnmirrorball]

I don't' post here much but I just wanted to say, as one of the few people who was clinging to any thread of hope she could find, I am feeling pretty hopeless right now. I do not understand Gwen Sigan's way of show-running nor do I understand her wording of interviews. I am VERY aware that Hailey Upton is a bad-ass, that has been proven time and time again. However, badass women deserve love too. Both can co-exist and I wish Gwen felt that way to.

[ameliagiovanna0]

Allow me to blanket this statement with:

I AM SO HAPPY FOR BURZEK LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? HE KEPT HER RING??? THEY'RE FINALLY GETTING THEIR HAPPILY EVER AFTER AS A FAMILY????

That being said,

I will die on the Upstead hill, so it takes a lot for me to "publically" support Burzek because I almost feel like it takes away from Upstead. However, I have pretty much always liked Burzek

It. Did. Not. Have. To. Be. This. Way. and I cannot stress that enough. Upstead did NOT have to get divorced for Burzek to get engaged. And, by extension, Burzek did not have to break up for Upstead to get married. I don't know why the hell Gwen is pushing this narrative. It's pushing fans apart, and views are plummeting. She keeps digging herself a deeper and deeper hole, and I don't get it. I could go on and on about it, and I have, but this is just my two cents at the moment that Upstead and Burzek should not be competitors

[cpd-55055]

do you think 10x03 wasn't as OOC as most people think because of Jay?

I think Jay leaving Intelligence to figure out who he wants to be as a person is true to his character. But the lead-up felt out of character. It makes no sense why Jay decided to follow Voight's footsteps when for 10 years, he was so against becoming Voight. There was no catalyst that pushed Jay to make those decisions. So why did he do what he did?

And Jay's actions toward Hailey since 10x01 are very out of character as well. Maybe Jay didn't tell Hailey that he was leaving because he didn't want her to talk him out of it. It would make sense that Jay wanted to leave to be a better person for Hailey. But then why ghost her for months? Why make another big decision about their life without talking to her? If Jay was so sincere about what he said to Hailey in 10x03, then why act the way he is now? That's the part that's bothering me. That's the part that is OOC.

You don't need to be an Upstead fan to realize that Jay of S10 is not the Jay that we have known for 10 years. He wouldn't be doing what he is doing now. That is simply just BAD WRITING!! And it frustrates me that Gwen would think that what Jay is doing is "true to his character".

[natnatwood]

Literally ran to tumbler to see if I was overacting regarding this HORRENDOUS take on who Jay Halstead is and I see that the entire fandom - UPSTEAD OR NO UPSTEAD - not understanding wtf is going on. Who is this Jay character that is being written bc it’s clearly not the same guy that said “I’m not going anywhere, Hailey. Really, I’m not”.

Only to not only go somewhere but to turn around and extend the assignment without consulting his wife. What the hell is this?

Why THE FUCK did they marry Jay and Hailey only to trash the relationship like this? Why take YEARS of slow burn building up this relationship to throw it away so easily? I get Jesse left but do the writers AND showrunners truly believe this is the best path for these characters?

I am LIVID over this. Yes, it’s a show. Yes, it’s drama. But DAMN, I haven’t seen terrible writing like this in a very very long time and this is considering the abysmal end episodes of Supernatural.

Stop playing with the fans. You’re not going to have them for much longer.

Fucking bullshit.

[mr-and-mr-pendragon]

Almost everybody is the "hot one" in this show btw especially the firebreathing dragons but I had to choose one.

[imjustwritingg]

Other than wanting to wrap Hailey in cotton wool and give her the biggest hug, how are you feeling/what are your thoughts after last nights episode?

This turned into an unofficial review of sorts and it got rather long, so I’ll post it all below the cut for those that want to read my thoughts.

I might be in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the episode. I kinda loved it actually, and it might be one of my favorite episodes. I enjoyed everything about it…the writing, the directing, the acting.

Gwen Sigan wrote the episode, but I gotta give her credit where it’s due because it was pretty damn good in my book. It reminded me a lot of her writing days prior to her becoming show-runner and I miss those days so very much.

I think the tidbits of Hailey’s past are coming way too late, but I still really enjoyed getting to peek into her life a bit more. Just wish we could have gotten more of it along the way and not three episodes before the character is gone.

I loved Kevin’s blatant callout to Hailey in the first minute of the episode of how she’s dealing and if running is helping her. He asks this question of “how are you doing…really doing?” with no words and just one look, and then we’re given the answer by Hailey deflecting and avoiding yet again under the guise of wanting a sugar fix. I think that was brilliant. It conveyed everything you needed to know about Hailey’s mental state in one short moment.

No Voight in the episode was such a gift.

Hailey being in charge and leading this particular case was the right move and she handled it so well. I’m bummed we probably won’t see her leading her own unit someday.

Also back to the no Voight thing just for a moment to say that it’s interesting to see how the dynamic shifted with the team versus him not being around and Hailey being in charge. The team felt lighter to me, like in the sense that they weren’t on edge, walking on eggshells in a way. Everything just felt calmer. There was still an intensity and an urgency to solve the case, but rules were followed, there was no off the book cowboy bullshit, and it felt like everyone followed Hailey and trusted her, whereas with Voight they were obeying orders that were barked out to them. I don’t know. It just felt really different and so very satisfying to me.

I love Kevin and Kim’s ability to communicate with one another with just one look between them. Makes me think of the early days of them being partners and being on patrol. They still work so wonderfully together.

This case was sick. A mother doing that to her own child is demented. Where these writers, and Gwen specifically, come up with these ideas is beyond me, but someone should probably do a wellness check on her. Like girly needs some serious therapy and R&R.

Josephine Petrovic. I had some hesitation with her at first as you usually do with a new character as you try and suss them out, but I’ve gotta say, I like her. I like her and I hate that I like her and I hate that she only just came onto the show because I would love to see what happens with her if she were to stick around, but I can’t watch this show without Tracy or Jesse — mostly Tracy — but neither of them? I just can’t do it. I have some other thoughts on Jo, but I will save them for another ask I received.

I obviously saved the elephant in the room for last…Jay. I really don’t think the mentions and nods to him in this episode were “bad” in any way because it’s stuff that has already been said about the character…Gwen’s version of him at least, but I do think there is a reason why he is being brought up and why there are so many nods to the marriage. Hailey insisted she wasn’t angry with him in the premiere. She signed the divorce papers, sent them off, and that was that and she washed her hands of him. Except she didn’t. Because she is angry, she hasn’t moved on in the year and a half he’s been gone now, signing the papers didn’t give her any closure…hell, even him signing the papers didn’t give her any closure, (I will die on the hill that he only signed them because it’s what he thought she wanted). I personally do not think she will get any closure whatsoever if she doesn’t have a conversation with him, if she doesn’t confront him and all of it head on…the anger and resentment and confusion and the love that is still there. You can’t turn that shit off. You can’t just push it away and be like, “okay, I’m done with you now, goodbye.” Life doesn’t work that way. Emotions don’t work that way. Grief sure as shit doesn’t work that way, and I feel like that is the stage Hailey is stuck in right now. Grieving the loss of Jay and her marriage and stuck in a limbo that she doesn’t know how to navigate on her own while dealing with childhood trauma that she actually isn’t really dealing with at all. And she is without a doubt on her own. That is the one thing that has been made clear this season. She has no family, not any friends other than co-workers, and right now, she doesn’t have Jay. I respect the “independent woman, gonna stand on my own, I don’t need anyone” mindset, but I don’t agree with how we got here and I also don’t fully agree with the notion that she doesn’t need anyone because everyone needs someone. You can’t do life alone. You need someone in your corner, someone by your side, someone who gets you in ways you don’t even know yourself, and for Hailey, that person is and will always be Jay Halstead. I think she will realize she needs to get out of Chicago like her brothers, like Jay, like Will, and I hope that wherever she ends up, Jay is there waiting for her and the two of them can just start over without Chicago and their past looming over them like a dark cloud. And for the love of God, let them both go to therapy…together and separately.

Brenna Malloy directed and it was just…perfect. True cinema if you will. The close-ups of the actors’ faces during certain scenes and how the camera would pan to them at just the exact right moment for a reaction, the no background noise and intentional pauses during scenes that allowed moments to feel heavier and more real, the ending shot of Hailey and her teary eyes…I feel like it was a story that was so delicately handled and crafted by Brenna, and I’m just really impressed.

Tracy Spiridakos. I mean, what more even needs to be said? The woman is a powerhouse. It always amazes me knowing how much of a goof she is on set and then you watch an episode like this and it’s just like…WOW. Her range of emotion and the way she makes you feel every single one of those emotions is truly something that needs to be studied. You cry with her, you smile with her, you laugh with her, but the biggest thing is you feel for her character, and I think that is something that not all actors are capable of doing with an audience. Tracy knocks it out of the park, across the highway, into the next town every time, and her execution is consistent every time as well. No one is doing it like her, and I love and respect the hell out of that woman and her talent.

I think the same also needs to be said for Bojana Novakovic. I have been surprisingly impressed by her and kind of adore her. I’ve really been enjoying the character of Josephine Petrovic and I hate that she’s only coming into the show now right when Tracy is walking out the door because Bojana alone is incredible, but her and Tracy together? It’s like magic to me. Their chemistry as scene partners and the way they bounce off each other is absolutely insane, and then their ability to pull you in and keep you locked in…ooof. I think it’s something special and I’ve really enjoyed seeing them together on-screen.

As for how I feel…

I feel good? Okay? The episode didn’t do much for me in the grand scheme of “what is Hailey gonna do” or “what’s gonna happen” because we already anticipated her leaving Chicago. That wasn’t ever in question. But the actual reason for Hailey leaving is still muddled to me, even more so because she hasn’t resolved anything in her life. She still has these demons, a past filled with trauma she hasn’t found peace with, she has no closure with Jay, she has questions and zero answers, and she is already and literally running from her problems.

So, is she supposed to leave Chicago and start over somewhere and her problems are just gonna go poof? Magically disappear? Because that’s not how that works, and I think that would be yet another injustice to the character and more lazy writing. I do think the episode (finally!) laid the groundwork for Tracy’s exit, but it should have started in episode 1, not 10. Tracy gave them an entire season to wrap up Hailey’s story, and I feel like they wasted so much time and it’s gonna be another rushed exit once the curtain falls. It’s not that I’m surprised in that regard, but I am disappointed (again!) especially considering how much of a fuss Gwen made about “it’s so generous of Tracy to give us a whole season.”

If Gwen’s plan was to make Hailey’s exit about her family and her childhood trauma then the seed should have been planted long before now, and Jay shouldn’t still be a sore subject for her. I think we’re in for a really emotional ending to the season, not just for Hailey, but for the first time since season eight I’m actually looking forward to a finale again.

In conclusion and a very long story short…I loved the episode, but Gwen Sigan is still on my shit list.

[spiridakos]

So I guess now every person who has ever been afraid that their past, their trauma, their pain, their insecurities and all the other things that can make us feel unworthy of love. People who looked to Upstead as an example of how it is possible to find someone who loves you in spite of all that, can you love for all that, and that love can be as challenging as it is beautiful, gentle and healing, that it doesn't actually last. Great.

You know, I've been struggling to put into words how this is all really bothering me in terms of characters and reflecting back on to me and others who probably feel the same, but this helped a lot.

For Hailey, who has always been alone. She has no family, no friends, she has nothing. She's always only relied on herself. She doubts herself, she doesn't think she's worthy of love, and she thinks anything or anyone she does find is going to abandon her in the end because that's all she knows.

And then she found Jay, who proved her wrong. She is worthy of love, she does deserve love, she doesn't need to navigate life on her own. He fought for her, he defended her, he showed her what it was like to have someone in your corner no matter what.

But then Gwen pretty much just put out this very harmful and damaging narrative that people will always abandon you and you are forever alone in life. That you're not strong unless you're continually going through something traumatic and only if you fight that on your own.

It's just damaging. It's a tiring narrative. Women don't have to be alone to be strong. In fact, I'd argue that Hailey being able to be vulnerable and open up to Jay made her even stronger.

[kim-ruzek]

what is your opinion on the only 1 character or 1 ship focus every episode pd does? imo its terrible. i had hopes gwen would take it away but she has not yet. imo she made it little worse.

I really do not like the character focused episodes. I also wished that Sigan would have taken them away, and in season ten it seemed like that we were taking a step in the right direction.

But I disagree that she made it worse. Season ten was the best season we've had in ages and even though season eleven's episodes seem to have taken a step backwards (not in quality, but in how the unit feels a little bit more fractured again) each episode is still enjoyable in terms of quality. And in a vacuum, I'd be pleased with them. But unfortunately that's not the case, and I just really hate character centric episodes especially with nbc's budget cuts so we don't even get all of them.

I wish we had more of a A and B plot - even if it's not directly a plot, but a character A centric plot, with a B character side plot. But unfortunately with years of this layout and the budget cuts, I don't think we're going to get rid of it.

Thank you for asking!!

[ameliagiovanna0]

If there is any way at all for Gwen to redeem herself, this is it. Do Hailey (and Jay) justice.

Like Jay and Hailey deserve to be happy, that’s what Gwen should be thinking about regarding the plot for Hailey’s exit. NO BS, the thing she needs, like really needs is to be with her husband. He makes her better, he’s her person and dammit, she goes where he goes so make it happen Gwen - you know what you have to do, don’t be stupid by going to mess up the one couple that is the epitome of soulmates, and literally built on trust and the foundation of any healthy relationship.

[g0ldnmirrorball]

I love Tracy so much and she's a phenomenal actress but I just don't have any desire to watch anymore. It's clear after that interview that Gwen has absolutely no plans to rekindle her and Jay's relationship and I just don't have the motivation left in me to stick around. The little thread of hope I had left was cut tonight.

[ameliagiovanna0]

If Gwen is gaslighting people this much in her public professional life, what THE FUCK is she doing to people in her personal life?

Maybe it is all just business, but it makes me wonder

[cpd-55055]

do you think Jesse deserves his own show where he's the center of attention? I think Jesse is underappreciated by Gwen (acting) and Jay especially when it comes to his arcs and character-centric episodes (the least of all) he should actually have 6 or 8 character-centric episodes around him but Gwen is obsessed with Hailey... What do you think?

I think Jesse has the talent and experience to lead his own show. And if that is what he has planned next, kudos to him. I will say I am disappointed with the Jay stuff we have gotten since Gwen has taken over as showrunner. I don't know why that is the case, but he hasn't had a single solo storyline that doesn't piggyback off of either Hailey or Voight in the past 2 seasons. There was so much potential with the Torres and Halstead mentorship, but that didn't last long.

I don't know if Jesse wants to continue acting or if he wants to focus more on directing. Either way, we all know he will be amazing at whatever he decides to do.