‘Chicago P.D.’ needs a strong female character to replace Erin Lindsay and that’s not negotiable

CHICAGO P.D. — “Fork In The Road” Episode 423 — Pictured: Sophia Bush as Erin Lindsay — (Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC) via NBC Media Village

‘Chicago P.D.’ losing Sophia Bush is a bad thing. The show has lost its strongest female character on the show and now we need another to replace her.

I’ll admit that I’m not one of those who screams for a female character in every TV show going. A TV show or movie doesn’t have to meet the Bechdel test for me to find it exciting and intriguing. But there are times that a strong female character is required. Chicago P.D. is one of those shows.

I have the same view about Chicago Fire and if the writers ever get rid of Gabriella Dawson I will be mad. It was bad enough that Leslie Shay was killed off back in Season 2!

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The One Chicago franchise is full of testosterone-driven storylines. Sure they’re entertaining, but any show like this (Supernatural, I’m also looking at you!) tends to forget about the impression it makes on young people—young girls in particular. Too many of these shows focus on the male character development, making the women appear weaker. In some cases, they go too far and make the female characters damsels in distress.

Chicago P.D. avoided that by creating Detective Erin Lindsay. Bush’s character was sassy, confident, driven and an excellent role model for young girls. She proved that it was possible to be strong, independent, but caring at the same time. Monica Raymond’s Gabby Dawson has done the same for Fire.

Young girls in particular need to see that they can aspire to be strong women; they can go into a man’s world. They need to see that those “male jobs” aren’t open to all. The only way to show that is by making positive characters like Erin Lindsay and Gabby Dawson on shows such as Chicago P.D. and Fire.

This isn’t about equality on the TV screens. I always think that the best actor should get the role. This is about creating a positive role model for young girls to look up to. TV shows have a duty to show that women can be anything they want to be, in a world where women’s rights are constantly being taken away or trampled over by men.

Despite Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed creating some wonderfully positive women, female role models are hard to come by. They are making a comeback, but it’s still not easy to find them. Too many are overshadowed by stronger men or villains that constantly put them in danger. They spend more time being saved than doing the saving.

With Bush’s exit, Chicago P.D. needs to take action. Dick Wolf likely has some ideas and he has certainly brought some excellent female characters to our screens. There are also Kim and Trudy in P.D. who will remain (at least for the time being) and help to create a strong view of women in the police force. But Bush’s character is leaving a hole and that hole needs to be replaced with someone equally as sassy and confident as Erin Lindsay is.

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I’m looking forward to Chicago P.D.’s return in the fall. It has been my favorite Wednesday night show for the last couple of years and Bush leaving probably won’t change that (I love Voight, Olinsky, and Kim). But I would like to see more strong female characters in a world that is fuelled by testosterone.