Here is everything we know about Sean O’Neal’s character arcs and potential plotlines.
If you saw this week’s fifth episode, “Pink Cloud,” released on October 19, 2022, from Chicago P.D. Season 10, you may have noted that the Intelligence Unit takes on a wicked new investigation involving a human trafficking network. And it brings with it a new and unexpected foe in the form of the chief of police’s son, Sean O’Neal, played by Jefferson White.
The episode showed how Upton’s relentless pursuit of a missing adolescent girl leads the team into a dark web of human trafficking and how Chief O’Neal becomes engaged with the unit’s investigation when it becomes clear that his son, Sean, has a connection to the missing girl. Take a look at the official promo below:
Who is Sean O’Neal on Chicago P.D.?
As highlighted by NBC Insider, it all begins when Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) responds to shots at the scene and finds a girl named Abby beaten and chained to a bed. But before she can rescue her, she’s beaten over the head and knocked out by an unknown perp. Later on, as she and the Investigative Unit continue their search for Abby at a trap house, she finds Sean there, too.
He claims to be searching for Abby, too, because she attends his safe place center for kids. Eventually, we learn that Sean, also a former addict, is the new chief’s son. As the case progresses and the team uncovers a human trafficking ring, Sean continues to offer his help. But Upton becomes increasingly suspicious. By the end of the episode, she tells Voight she believes Sean is lying to them and is actually using his support group to traffic underage girls.
Who plays O’Neal?
Chief O’Neal’s son is played by Jefferson White. Some will probably recognize him as Jimmy from Paramount Network’s hit Western drama Yellowstone. He also starred in NBC’s thriller Blindspot. The actor told TV Line that Sean has lived a “very difficult life” struggling with addiction and has a “contentious relationship with his dad,” which we’ll see play out in the coming episodes.
He also talked about his character and what sets him apart from his PD peers. “He’s got access to communities that don’t necessarily trust the CPD because of the history and tension,” he explained. “Sean himself has a complicated relationship with the police, and that also means he has a completely different perspective on [the case].”
What’s next for Sean on Chicago P.D.?
Series showrunner Gwen Sigan told Cinema Blend that the Intelligence Unit’s new chief, Patrick O’Neal, and his son would be a part of an important storyline through to Season 5, Episode 9. She compared their arc to the dramatic saga Voight went through with his informant, Anna, who died in the Season 4 finale.
“It will probably be very similar to last season where we had Anna, and her storyline really became serialized, and I would say probably six episodes of it,” Sigan said. “We’ll do a very similar thing this season. We’ve got some great standalone and great cases that we solve…[O’Neal] will be coming back quite a bit in the first half of the season, as well as his son, who is played by Jefferson White. We’re very excited to have both of them.”
Gwen Sigan also stated that Chief O’Neal and Sean would play a major part in the season through Episode 9. So this means we will see much more of the mysterious newcomer. Benjamin Levy Aguilar, who plays rookie Torres, also told NBC Insider that O’Neal and the trafficking case would become Upton’s sole focus. “She becomes obsessed with this case,” he tells us. “She’s the one who’s leading it.”
Sigan previously told us that Upton would use work to distract from Halstead’s absence. “The reality is, she’s been left behind, and that’s gutting,” she said. “We’ll see her deal with it by first seeking distraction – diving into work, putting all that feeling into the job—and when a case pops off that really gets inside her head, that distraction quickly turns to an obsession. It’s an interesting path for her, fueled by a lot of emotion and denial.”
Chicago P.D. Season 10: When will the new episode premiere on NBC?
The sixth episode, “Sympathetic Reflex,” is scheduled to release on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at the time scheduled 10/9c and the next day on Peacock on a weekly basis. The episode is directed by Bethany Rooney and written by Ike Smith.
The official synopsis of the episode states, “Atwater’s reactions during a tense arrest are called into question; the team must dig in to uncover key evidence that could aid in the ongoing investigation and clear Atwater’s name.” Take a look at the official promo below:
Where to stream Chicago P.D. Season 10?
When available, the entire One Chicago franchise will be available to stream on Peacock, fuboTV, and Hulu Plus. You can also stream One Chicago by renting or purchasing on Amazon Instant Video or Vudu, with a vast number of membership plans according to the preference of the users.
Moreover, the series is also available to watch exclusively on the NBC official website, where the episodes are published after they air on the channel in their respective time slots of Wednesdays at 10/9c. The previous seasons of the One Chicago franchise are also available to stream for free on IMDb TV, based on the user’s location.
Chicago P.D. Official Synopsis
The official synopsis of the show, as per NBC, states, “Chicago P.D. follows the members of the Chicago Police Department’s elite Intelligence Unit – and it’s an addictively thrilling drama. Between law enforcement and navigating interpersonal relationships, how the Chicago P.D. characters respond to chaos is part of the reason fans keep coming back for more. From busted drug deals to inner-city corruption, you never know what emergency the Chicago P.D. team will tackle next.”
Let us know what you think about the new villain, Sean O’Neal, in the comments section below.