Over the past five years, American television has gone through dramatic changes as producers were forced to recalibrate in order to adapt to the harsh realities of the industry. One series that felt this impact clearly was Chicago P.D., NBC’s beloved entry in the “One Chicago” universe. As the show approached season 8, the creative team decided to pause and evaluate what was working, what wasn’t, and which elements needed to be trimmed. Out of that reflection came one of the show’s most shocking moves: the abrupt departure of Lisseth Chavez as Officer Vanessa Rojas. For many fans, the news hit hard—Rojas had only just started to make her mark in season 7. Yet, in the writers’ pursuit of reshaping the Intelligence Unit, the character was written out, leaving a painful gap for those who had grown attached to her.
Vanessa Rojas was never just another supporting character. She brought a fresh perspective to Chicago P.D.’s undercover unit, forged by a backstory as gripping as it was heartbreaking. After enduring life in 32 different foster homes and eventually surviving on the streets, Rojas discovered a sense of purpose at the police academy and later found her place within Intelligence. Audiences had been primed for rich storylines exploring her resilience, but season 7 faced major challenges in production, and many of those narrative threads were abandoned. Just as the character seemed poised for deeper development, her journey was cut short. For a series renowned for its gritty portrayal of policing, this decision felt like a blade slicing through unfinished possibilities, leaving viewers with a sense of loss.
Yet, at the very moment when misfortune seemed to strike Chavez, another opportunity opened its door. Almost immediately after her exit from Chicago P.D., she landed a high-profile role on The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow. Where Chicago P.D. thrived on tension, darkness, and realism, Legends reveled in chaos, humor, and fantastical time-travel adventures. Chavez stepped aboard the Waverider as Esperanza “Spooner” Cruz, a paranormal investigator with a fiery spirit, joining forces with longtime cast members like Caity Lotz and Jes Macallan. Her arrival injected new energy into the ensemble, and for Chavez, it was a chance not only to keep her career momentum alive but to explore a completely different creative space.
The final two seasons of Legends of Tomorrow were short-lived but daring. With the knowledge that The CW’s direction was shifting, the creative team unleashed some of their boldest ideas yet. From wild time-travel escapades to doppelgänger storylines, the show leaned into its eccentric strengths, offering its actors the freedom to take risks and push boundaries. For Chavez, playing Spooner meant embodying both a fearless warrior and a woman scarred by her past—an opportunity to showcase her emotional depth while embracing the show’s quirky humor. While her time as Rojas ended abruptly and left a trail of what-ifs, her stint on Legends allowed her to thrive in a role that was as unpredictable as it was memorable, cementing her as a standout in the Arrowverse’s twilight years.
Looking back, what once seemed like a setback turned into a pivotal moment in Chavez’s career. Fans of Chicago P.D. may still lament the fleeting presence of Vanessa Rojas, but the reality of television is that scripts can change in an instant. For Chavez, stepping away from a gritty procedural into the vibrant chaos of a superhero saga proved to be a bold but rewarding leap. Rarely do both sides—showrunners and actor—benefit equally from a split, but in this case, they did. Chicago P.D. found the focus it needed, and Chavez discovered new horizons. From the streets of Chicago to the stars of time travel, she has shown that she is not only adaptable but also fearless in her craft, leaving fans eager to follow her wherever her next adventure takes her.
