According to Gwen Sigan, the writers always planned for Eva Imani’s search for her missing sister to become the emotional centerpiece of the season’s ending. While Shari is finally found, the heartbreaking twist is that she no longer recognizes Eva, leaving Imani devastated and emotionally conflicted heading into the finale.

Sigan explained that focusing the finale on a newer character instead of Hank Voight or the entire Intelligence Unit allowed the series to explore a fresh dynamic. She also revealed that Imani’s relationship with Voight became one of the most important emotional storylines throughout Season 13.

For Arienne Mandi, taking center stage in the finale was both exciting and emotionally exhausting. The actress shared that Eva is torn between her responsibilities as a police officer, the desperate search for her sister, and the painful reality that Shari may never fully remember who she is. Mandi described the role as one of the most emotionally demanding performances of her career so far.

Gwen Sigan also noted that introducing Imani into the Intelligence Unit brought a completely different perspective to long-established characters. Unlike others, Imani is not intimidated by Voight’s reputation and often jokes with him in ways nobody else does. Her direct attitude toward Torres has also created some of the show’s most refreshing character interactions this season.

When comparing Eva Imani to Noor from The Night Agent, Arienne Mandi explained that although both projects fall into the action genre, her experience on Chicago P.D. has been far more physically and emotionally intense. She revealed that the production style on set gave her much more freedom as an actress, with cameras following her movements naturally instead of forcing her to stay in strict positions during scenes.