Chicago P.D.‘s LaRoyce Hawkins Talks Atwater’s Tragic Love Life — Is Burgess a Potential Romantic Interest?
Kevin Atwater’s love life on Chicago P.D. has been tragic, to say the least. He’s only had one real romantic interest over the course of the NBC drama’s eight seasons so far, and that did not end well.
In the Season 6 episode “Black and Blue,” Atwater shared a brief romance with Laila (Milauna Jemai Jackson), a wholly likable woman with a criminal past. Their chemistry was off the charts, and it looked like the pair had the potential for a long-term relationship. However, things fell apart when Laila was charged with murder despite covering for Kevin when he was close to being caught while undercover. Though it was the District Attorney’s decision, Laila saw this as a huge betrayal and a failure on Kevin’s part to protect her. The episode ended with Laila verbally berating Atwater before heading off to jail, closing the book on their romance.
Atwater has remained single since then, only enjoying some light flirting with rookie cop Vanessa Rojas (Lisseth Chavez) before she exited the series at the end of last season. LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Atwater, says the Intelligence detective has learned a lot from his past mistakes.
“I think Atwater would be guilty of not having certain love skills as highly developed as they should have been,” Hawkins tells TVLine. “I think about that episode [with Laila] all the time. I actually just watched it not that long ago [and wondered] what could Atwater have done differently to preserve that rhythm to keep her safer, or at least for her to feel more protected by him. By the end of the episode, she’s going off, and doesn’t even trust Atwater or respect Atwater as much as she does at the beginning because of how he handled things. He lost his brothers and sisters because of a job that he didn’t know how to stand up to, and perhaps he lost the only love of his life that we have reference of because of a job he didn’t know how to stand up to.”
Given the experience, Hawkins assures that Atwater will make a stronger romantic effort if the opportunity presents itself again. “I’m pretty sure the next time Atwater finds himself in a romance, he’s gonna do his best. But he’s also going to require a lot of patience and understanding because, you know, he might be a little jacked up,” he explains.
While we don’t know when Atwater’s next romance will come, you can probably rule out his best friend Burgess as a potential match.
“That would be unfortunate if that happened, because she’s the best friend that almost married his best friend. With Ruzek and Burgess being his best white friends, it’s hard to say that Atwater would find a way to infiltrate or intercept that love,” he adds. “But this is television, and anything can happen.”
As much as I’m not crazy about her character, what about him and April from Med? They’d be cute. He deserves more character development than he’s gotten, regardless.
Nahhhh, the end game will always be April & Choi…
April is too sweet and Choi has become a real butt hole on Chicago Med!
April is a disaster who thinks her brother should be given a pass no matter what he does.
Can’t stand Choi any more. He has become a real jackass.
Not Burgess! I think they are better as best friends.
NO RELATIONSHIP W BURGESS, PLEASE!
Yes!’ I love April on Chicago Meds. I love Atwater and hoping he finds true love soon 😊
No April. Someone new
That would be great.
I personally love April. She’s so sweet and very smart. Should have been a Dr.
OH MY JULES, THAT’S A GREAT IDEA!
If they go that route we may as well just get them all to throw their keys into a bowl at the start of the day & then you just go home with whoever’s keys you pull out.
Chicago Swingers anyone.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Yeah, after everything that’s happened between Burgess and Ruzek (of whom I’m not a fan), it would feel weird to see her paired romantically with Atwater. Plus, I like their friendship. And I’m also not a fan of characters dating multiple people in the same small department. Seems like it would create a hectic work environment.
Ok Upton and Atwater???? She’s done Halstead, Ruzek and some of us believe Voight and Dawson (lol) maybe just kidding but all she needs is a bad day and some cocktails and she’s anyone’s! Atwater, no way…he’s too good for her. He knows her, and don’t care to be just another notch on HER bedpost or belt.every office has a —-, why should Intelligence be any different….Atwater too much class for her….just our opinion!
I truly hope that do not happen
Oh please NO! That would be so distasteful. Atwater deserves a fresh new love. Lauren London, Sharon Leal, Bresha Webb, or Amber Stevens-West would be great choices.
Why because she’s white and he’s black? Kim dated a black cop before. I would love to see Kevin and Kim get together romantically they were best friends that’s how a relationship starts what’s wrong with that especially now that Kim has Michaela in her life he can help rise her and maybe be a father figure towards her. The way you all are acting like Kevin and Kim are two men trying to get together romantically or something I can see you all saying that as distasteful but a man and a woman that are in a different race because they want to date is distasteful is called beinging racist
Are you really trying to use cancel culture? Not appropriate.
I’m sure it’s not a race thing. Those two are already established as bffs and he and Ruzek are best friends. Pairing them together doesn’t make sense there is too much already established between Burgess, Ruzek and Atwater.
Nobody has mentioned race, except you.Not everything is about race. Most people see this as a male and female remaining friends, because it does happen. Strong Male/female non-sexual relationships deserve as much attention as romantic ones.
Stop trying to turn this into something it is not, if you like them fine, support it, but don’t try and make up fake outrage & accuse people of saying things that they aren’t.
By calling them distasteful What was that about? Like it’s disgusting for a black man and a while woman to date or something. Or They would make a disgusting pair or something just by looking at them? I mean the way you act like Kevin and Kim are two men trying to date or something. My goodness Kim has dated a black man before what’s wrong with her and Kevin getting together romantically is it against the law if they date or something? Are they related by blood or something? If they date that will be the end of Chicago PD forever? As I’ve said I support Kevin and Kim romance and I’m not the only one that feels that way. You’re right men and women can be friends but for how long? Someone is going to like somebody. Now as for Kevin and April, nah April is too in love with Ethan, didn’t April date Seride at one? Or were they just friends?
How about people think dating you best friends ex, when they are obviously still involved to some degree and clearly still have feelings for each other is distasteful?
How about respecting your friends feelings? Is that distasteful?
Not one person mentioned anything about race, but do go on and hop up on your soapbox.
Also interesting that you think that two men dating is distasteful, because by equating people not liking the idea of Atwater & Burgess dating and your perceived racism to people ‘acting’ like two men were trying to date sounds pretty homophobic to me.
So you don’t want April to date Atwater because she’s in love with Ethan, but coming between Burgess & Ruzek is fine. I didn’t know Ethan & Severide were best buds…must’ve missed that storyline.
Ship who you want. There are fans of every ship possible. I’m sure there are even Burgess & Voight shippers…. But stop accusing people of being racist when the only person who bought up race is you.
Oh and it was LaRoyce who mentioned his ‘white friends’…is he racist too?
In all fairness the article refers to Kim and ruzek as his “best white friends “
I’m not sure why you’re so triggered by the word distasteful and jump to assume I was talking about their race. I have zero problems with interracial couplings of any culture. I was thinking it was distasteful because Atwater is good friends with Ruzek and it would be like your own brother dating your ex.
I don’t see it as racism, I see it as incect. They are like brothers.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE!! It was made clear the way the article even emphasized Burgess and Ruzek were his white friends!!! Its a race thing all the way! Im not saying it has to b Burgess as it could mess up other story lines but the way everyone is acting at the fact that she is white seems to b everyone’s issue!! His character deserves a good romantic interest regardless of the womans color they bring into his characters life.
I think you’re the only one has spoken of race. What we’re speaking of is “friendship”. Their friendship appears to be so sacred…something that you would hold dear to your heart. A stay up and talk all night kind of friend. No! No! No! Why interfere with perfection.
They are such good friends because they came in together and were partners before they joined intelligence. She slept with everyone that would so far. Kevin needs to stay out of her sexual drama. He really needs to date one of her friends outside of the unit. It’s not supposed to be allowed in the unit, but it keeps happening anyway…… and Ruzek. He and Kevin need to remain good friends and not have Kim come between them. Kevin’s too good for that.
Really
He who writes it ! Shame on your negative beliefs
Kim has had an on again off again relationship with ruzek…let’s see if they still have a chance. She has really become cold hearted tho. Kevin needs his own love story…not someone from the team
I don’t think race has anything to do with it stop passing Burgess around like a Cook County county rat
Honestly, I think if Kevin can get past seeing racism over every shoulder, he deserves someone better than Kim. He’s a good guy in a tough job. She’s slept with half the department as it is. Kevin needs her as a friend. He’s too good to be screwing her and causing more division between he and his friends, especially Adam. He and Adam need to remain close. Once Kevin gets back to his old joyful self he can run that unit one day.
Yes I agree, I feel like they belong with each other especially because of their good friendship, I can see Kevin as makayla dad oh yea
I was thinking Jerrika Hinton. She use to be in Grey’s Anatomy.
I like your choices for Kevin, but who is Bresha Webb? What has she been in? He might look good with India A’Rie or Latoya Luckett. Or Tika Sumpter.
no thanks, she’s been with every guy on there
Jan, You got that right. Halstead was with both his coworkers. Burgess has been with EVERYONE!!! They ALL need to go outside the box. Only Sarge went to Chicago Fire to get her man.
Every guy is Ruzak and Roman??? Weird.
Ikr? Only 2 guys from intelligence.
I mean only one intellegiance and the other her partner.
She’s been with 2 Regulars on the show. Hailey’s also been with 2 Regulars on the show. Even Erin managed to be with 1 PD Regular and 1 Fire Regular.
.
The business reality is that you date within the show to save money: as Recurring love interests cost extra money. Why pay a third party $10,000 a week when you’re already paying 8 people $100,000+ a week?
.
The reason At and Bur are bad is because they’re close friends, and because they’re both in a close relationship with Ruzek. Nothing good can come out of such a relationship; unless more of the actors are just wanting to leave the Series.
Please leave Burgess alone! That wouldn’t be a good match! Find someone else
They better not let him have a relationship with Burgess. Have him find his own true love that have nothing to with the police..how about an old friend from his past that becomes a teacher that helps the kids in the neighborhood, that he can rely on for inside scoop to the streets LOL
This is TV, so how about liala getting out of jail and some how she and Atwater get that romance going again. I liked them together. It would be good to see him with a lady love. You guys can do it. Make it happen
I agree. Bring Laila back from serving time in Jail. Maybe if she find out that he helped her nephew. She would trust him again and slowly start dating again. Loved their chemistry
Bring back Laila. She. Has served her time. They were great together.
Burgess would not be a good fit for Atwater. Find him an actor who challenge him as a man and support him as a police officer. Her ethnicity is not an issue. Someone new.
I love that idea!!!!!
Atwater need to have a brand new woman. Some one fresh. Or bring back Lilia. But he need to go an see her n jail. Then work from there. Wit trust.Atwater is my man Fan. Handsome Man.
Yes Lilia Beautiful couple
I absolutely LOVE Chicago PD. All of the characters and, especially Atwater’s, are
played by stellar actors. My husband and I don’t always agree on everything but, we always agree on watching our favorite program, and that’s Chicago PD for sure.
Can’t we bring Laila back? I’m sure she got out early on good behavior. They were good together. If not, I can see him and April together…
I think the person who wrote this is really stupid cos burgess is a BITCH in this movie and she screws any man that comes along her way. ..atwater is to good for the bitch
Ya but they said tonight that the car that the new guy Cooper was in “got on THE 290”.
We don’t talk like that in Chicago. The car “got on 290” or “got on the Eisenhower.”
Mr. LaRoyce you are so right. I would like to see you Burgess, but she has laid with to many. As well as Jay and ruzek. You will find her.
This would be the most absurd thing to do. Atwater and Burgess are best friends and that would be a low thing to do to Ruzek, his best friend. There is too much established between Burgwater as a brother and sister type relationship.
No would like to see it happen it would make for great tv
I would love to be a potential love interest for Ofc Kevin Atwater. I already call him my TV husband. Reach out to me. I’m a Chicago native, and Chicago PD, is my favorite show.
I love the show, “ CHICAGO PD”. The sensitive loving act they perform for the victims, but especially the kids. They help. As far as the cast I love every one of them, Voight, Kevin, Erin, Jay, Adam and Trudy. Omg… would love to meet them. Kevin not having a significant other is great, I haven’t come around. He would love me, and me him. Please make it happen.. I don’t feel him and Kim is compatible.. PLEASE LOL
Leave him and Burgess as friends . Let him date Upton.
Please dont put him with another cop who has already had 3 relationships whit otherofficers. There are too many women in chicago. .let him build a relationship with a Black women from the media.
I am not a fan if Burgess. She has had her chance with Ruzek.. enough already! I would feel sorry for Atwater of they stick him with her! She has been with practically every guy on the show! She’s nasty!
Who Ruzek & Roman? That’s 2
What about Ruzek? He’s been with the only 2 females, what about Upton she’s been with 2 out of 3 IU members. Halstead’s been with both his partners.
I guess they are all nasty then?
Do not break the bond of friendship. Keep it clean. Let him cross over ti Meds or Fire.
I love me some LaRoyce Hawkins he is the best on the show I haven’t miss a episode I can tell each one from the back of my head. That is the most handsome man
I agree 100%