Chicago P.D. gears up for its highly anticipated thirteenth season, fans are buzzing with theories, hopes, and emotional expectations. While much of the spotlight remains on the potential return of Detective Jay Halstead, there’s another character whose reappearance could pack an even greater emotional punch — Detective Alvin Olinsky. Often overlooked in recent conversations about character comebacks, Olinsky’s absence still casts a long shadow over the series, and Season 13 is the perfect moment to bring him back — even if only for a short, powerful appearance.

Alvin Olinsky, played by Elias Koteas, was one of the most compelling and complex characters in the One Chicago universe. A seasoned detective with a tough exterior and a deeply loyal heart, Olinsky was the backbone of the Intelligence Unit and Voight’s closest confidant. His old-school methods often clashed with modern protocol, but his loyalty, intuition, and street-smart wisdom made him indispensable. More than that, Olinsky grounded the team with a quiet intensity that can’t be replicated. His tragic death in Season 5, when he was wrongfully arrested and murdered in jail, remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in Chicago P.D. history.

Voight has never been the same since Olinsky’s death. The loss shattered him, stripping away one of the few people he could truly trust. Season after season, Voight has carried that guilt and sorrow, but the show has only occasionally touched on the deep emotional consequences. Bringing Olinsky back, even for a single flashback or hallucination, would give the show an opportunity to fully confront that unresolved grief and provide fans with a long-overdue emotional reckoning.

Narratively, there are plenty of ways Olinsky could return without contradicting the canon. A flashback to an old case, a previously unseen conversation, or a moment of reflection during a pivotal storyline could easily justify his brief return. Voight, facing a moral or leadership crisis in Season 13, could remember something Olinsky said or did, triggering a flashback that offers both guidance and closure. Alternatively, the discovery of an old note, a hidden recording, or a case file from Olinsky’s past could open the door to his voice — figuratively and literally — reentering the story. These storytelling devices are not only plausible but could be among the most emotionally resonant moments the series has ever delivered.

The return of Olinsky would also serve a broader purpose: reconnecting the current team to the roots of the Intelligence Unit. Over the years, Chicago P.D. has introduced a wave of new characters — some of whom never met Olinsky. A return could be an opportunity for them, and for the audience, to understand the legacy that built the foundation of the team they now belong to. Characters like Dante Torres, for example, could gain a deeper appreciation for the culture of loyalty, sacrifice, and brotherhood that defines Voight’s leadership — much of which was shaped alongside Olinsky.

Moreover, fans have never stopped mourning Olinsky. His death felt sudden and brutal, and while it served as a major plot point, it lacked the emotional closure many viewers hoped for. Social media is filled with fan tributes, rewatches of his best scenes, and calls for justice or remembrance. Elias Koteas gave a deeply human performance that stayed with people, and his absence is still felt in every scene Voight spends alone or every time an old case resurfaces without the one detective who could have cracked it wide open with a single hunch.

By bringing back Olinsky, the show wouldn’t just be indulging nostalgia — it would be strengthening its own narrative foundation. Revisiting his character would provide weight, context, and depth to the arcs of those still carrying his memory. And for viewers who have followed the show from the beginning, it would be a powerful reminder of the emotional core that has kept Chicago P.D. so compelling for over a decade.

In contrast to the ongoing speculation surrounding Jay Halstead’s possible return, which still feels unresolved but recent, Olinsky’s return would feel like a meaningful tribute. It wouldn’t need to lead to more episodes or a permanent comeback. A single, well-written scene could be enough — a vision, a dream, a moment from the past that echoes into the present. It would honor a character who meant so much to both the Intelligence Unit and the fans and would allow the show to deepen its emotional storytelling in a way that feels earned and authentic.