Marina Squerciati on Burgess' Detective Promotion and Reid, Ruzek Wedding

(Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Chicago PD Season 12, Episode 6 “Pawns.”)

The secret service finally has a new detective in its ranks Chicago PD: Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati)!

The written and oral part of the test goes smoothly for Burgess, but then, at the request of Chief Reid (Shawn Hatosy), he gets a ride with Suarez (Elizabeth Rodriguez). Over the course of the investigation that Burgess leads as part of this investigation, she makes a mistake, but so does Suarez – she insists that they split up while hunting a suspect, which ends with Burgess fighting for her life. Afterwards, Burgess doesn't want a favor from Suarez to be returned to the Secret Service; The other woman thinks she should go somewhere else and learn what it means to play the game, which will make her a better detective – and she can't do that for Voight (Jason Beghe).

Burgess decides to do just that and return to the Secret Service in six months, although Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) suggests they just accept the favor and cover for Suarez; However, he supports her decision. However, Reid throws that out the window and reveals that he decides where detectives are assigned and he reassigns them to the Secret Service. She doesn't really have a choice.

Below, Squerciati opens up about this twist in Burgess' promotion, Burzek's upcoming wedding, and more.

I'm so happy for Detective Burgess – it's very deserved and overdue, but how does she feel about the ending and what Reid did? It feels like that took some of the joy out of it…

Marina Squerciati: Yes, I think it was a trial by fire. You can try to avoid politics in the CPD, but politics will find you and it has found you. I think it definitely spoiled it. I don't think she'll go home and tell Makayla. I think she’ll say, “Mom did it. I'm a strong, badass woman and I'll chase your dreams.” But I think at night with Adam she says, “That's not what I wanted.” I worked so hard for so long.” I think she's devastated.

Elizabeth Sisson/NBC

Yes, because they had had the conversation before in the locker room and she had settled on what she was going to do.

It's funny, locker room scenes are some of the hardest scenes to film because you have to have a sense of decorum in the office, but you're also allowed to open up in a way that you don't have in the bullpen. And we shot a few shots where I was a little more unsure, but I'm glad they stuck with the shots where I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I knew where my moral compass lay. I liked it.

Does she think Suarez is right and that she can't get what she needs with Voight at this point in the Secret Service?

No, I don't think so. I never say that I believe she is right. She says she will do that and I won't pull any levers to make that happen. I can pull a lever, but I don't do politics. I don't want to do it, so I'll do exactly what she says.

What will we see from Detective Burgess in the future? I spoke to Gwen Sigan and they all do the same job in intelligence.

I know, I was hoping I wouldn't have to run anymore. It was brought up that detectives don't run away. I thought to myself, well that sounds fabulous, but so far it's not true. So I don't know. I have no idea. Other than directing a scene and maybe having a little more trust from Voight, I don't know anything will change.

Elizabeth Sisson/NBC

There's clearly something about Reid and now it seems like Burgess is in the middle of it. How does she feel about him as a boss?

I think she's being careful. I think she has no idea what's going on. Besides, Marina has no idea what's going on. What happens? Why am I suddenly in the middle of something? Why does he want me to become a detective (with secret service)? I have no idea.

Voight points out that nothing is ever free. Is something coming up with Reid? Can she stay away from it?

I mean, I know there are a few scenes where Reid essentially kicks Voight in the face, not as a fight, but you owe me one. But I, Burgess, haven't experienced it yet. But I'm sure it will be.

Are there any scenes with Burgess and Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) coming up soon? It was a great relationship from the start.

No, unfortunately not. I would like to work with Atwater more. We are such good friends both on and off the show. He is simply the funniest person in the world. I would love more. I would love more. I would like to explore my relationship with Cook, Toya Turner, who is fabulous. In the next few episodes I'm exploring my relationship with Benny (Benjamin Levy Aguilar), so that's fun. It's sort of become a kind of mentoring between older sisters and younger brothers, which I like.

What was your favorite scene from this episode to film?

I liked the scene with Suarez in the car where she's kind of like – it's rare for Burgess to shut up, and I'd like to see Burgess speak up a little bit.

I know Burgess and Ruzek's wedding is finally happening this season. What have you heard and what do you hope to see?

We're shooting an episode right now where Mac says she really wants it to be in Belize and I'm like, “I'd love it in Belize.” Is that actually the case, do we have the budget? Is it possible? I think Gwen needs to work on figuring out what she wants for it tonally because – the way Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) and Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) got married really suits our show tonally and I think we earn more Burzek for this. So I don't know how to do it, but I'm looking forward to it and I just really want to wear a white dress.

But then you have to consider that their jobs will ruin the dress.

Blood will surely splatter on it. Just like someone falls off a building or something, I don't know.

But I think what's important is that Burgess has the family element.

Oh, sure. Yes. I mean, everyone will be there. It would also be fun to see Voight there.

What else lies ahead for Burgess?

Right now we're doing a Ruzek episode and Disco Bob, his father (Jack Coleman), comes back, which is going to put a damper on our relationship for a while. So this will be interesting.

What is this dynamic like for Burgess?

I don't know. We're still filming it right now, so I'm still researching it. I only had two scenes with Disco Bob. And it's nice, but with in-laws it's always complicated, so we'll see.

What was your favorite scene to shoot so far this season? Is it from this episode?

Yes, I would say that car scene. I want to scream more this season. I want to get angrier this season.

Is there anything else you would like to do this season?

I really want to look at someone's face. I feel like I can't really look people in the face. I'm ready.

Chicago PDWednesdays, 10/9c, NBC