T-minus 9 days till we return to the Windy Metropolis.
After months of ready, the ninth season (!) of Chicago Fire premieres on Nov. 11, and we couldn’t be extra excited.
The air is rife with risk, so let’s dive in.
Titled “Rattle Second Metropolis,” Chicago Fire Season 9 Episode 1 finds Firehouse 51 welcoming a brand new member to the crew.
This new crew member isn’t sudden, seeing as Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 20 noticed Annie Ilonzeh’s Emily Foster exiting the collection, as her alter ego returned to medical faculty.
Vagrant Queen star Adriyan Rae has been tapped to play Foster’s alternative.
Rae will star as paramedic Gianna Mackey, who’s described as a “loveable troublemaker with a twinkle in her eye,” whereas additionally being “charming, scrappy, enjoyable, witty, and good-natured.”
Anybody else getting Dawson-esque vibes from the casting description?
Mackey’s arrival at 51 is poised to trigger some issues, which everyone knows is code for romantic interlude.
In any case, there have been only a few characters over the present’s eight seasons who haven’t blended enterprise with pleasure, and it looks like Gianna and considered one of 51’s most interesting might be headed down that path.
Many of the firefighters are concerned in a method or one other, leaving only some characters as contenders.
My finest guess is Mackey is about to be knocking boots with Gallo.
Derek Haas told TV Insider in mid-October that Gallo’s efforts to win EMT Violet Lin had fizzled, which is unsurprising seeing as ended with the pair breaking apart after an impromptu proposal from Gallo.
Fairly onerous to come back again from that.
So, it appears like Gallo is formally in the marketplace.
The writing on the wall couldn’t be clearer until Chicago Fireplace plans on making my desires come true by making a Gallo/Ritter romance canon.
Haas did say Ritter could also be taking a break from his boyfriend, and if mentioned break occurs to guide him into the arms of Gallo, then who’re we to complain.
No matter occurs, there will likely be extra Ritter on the horizon, as Daniel Kyri has been promoted to a collection common.
Frequent TV Fanatic readers know I really like any and all issues Ritter.
So devoting extra display screen time to his extremely underrated firefighter is ok by me.
Elsewhere within the premiere, “Boden sees nice potential in Kidd and proposes an concept that might have lasting repercussions.”
Whereas longtime viewers might in all probability learn between the traces and parse collectively what the longer term might maintain for Kidd, we, happily, don’t need to.
Haas informed TV Insider Boden asks Kidd to take the lieutenant’s examination, which might trigger pressure between her and Severide, together with different seasoned members of 51.
First off, Kidd completely deserves to be promoted to lieutenant.
Her management and initiative final season proved she’s greater than able to rising to the problem, and it’s about time the collection prominently featured a feminine firefighter ready of energy.
Whereas solely a small share of firefighters are girls in the true world – as of 2018, the Nationwide Fireplace Safety Affiliation estimated 8% of all firefighters have been feminine – Chicago Fireplace, as a tv present, has the chance to showcase better fairness.
Kidd’s potential promotion also can function a approach for the present to acknowledge that feminine firefighters aren’t lower than their male counterparts.
The present’s misogynistic method to feminine firefighters being lower than has develop into tiresome.
The subject first had benefit when Dawson grew to become a firefighter throughout Chicago Fire Season 2 however grew to become more and more problematic because the seasons progressed.
What first began out as a dialog a few girl’s potential in a male-dominated discipline rapidly grew to become a sexist cliché.
Even when the collection tried to deal with gender dynamics final season, a lot of the makes an attempt felt false.
Any kind of push for better equality inside the firehouse from the feminine first responders was met with both naïve condemnation or throwaway feedback in regards to the inherent unfairness of accommodating a fundamental request from Kidd, Brett, and Foster.
It simply got here off as anti-feminist and made the showrunners’ views about girls obvious.
This season, although, the writers do have an opportunity to make issues proper, they usually can do this by specializing in seniority quite than gender.
It’d be nice to see different members of 51 questioning Kidd’s promotion, not as a result of she’s a lady, however as a result of she has fewer years of service than among the others like Mouch and Cruz.
That kind of shakeup inside the firehouse can be attention-grabbing to look at and hasn’t been mentioned a lot.
Positive, the problem got here up a bit when Casey was promoted to captain, however ultimately everybody obtained on board as a result of Casey, is properly, Casey.
Kidd’s eventual promotion is a approach to tackle this and this time get it proper.
This avenue can also be a approach to trigger drama for Stellaride in a approach that doesn’t really feel as compelled as making a pointless non-love triangle, which all of us knew would by no means go anyplace.
I imply how does the pair deal with this variation?
Severide has come a good distance over eight seasons, and whereas we need to think about he’ll be supportive of Kidd, previous actions dictate he’ll be battling this flip of occasions.
He didn’t deal with Casey’s promotion properly, and the identical is probably going for Kidd.
For so long as the couple has been collectively, Severide has all the time been on this place of energy, from knowledgeable standpoint.
So how will issues change after they’re the identical rank? How will this have an effect on them, each personally and professionally?
It’s one thing I’m excited – and nervous – to see play out.
Lastly, we’ve to speak about Brettsey/Bracey/Casett. Critically, does anybody know their official ‘ship title?
The synopsis makes no point out of what’s on the horizon for the two-season romance within the making, however Haas mentioned the primary two episodes will reveal what’s in retailer for the potential couple.
Everyone knows a romance is on the horizon; it’s simply now a query of when quite than if.
Indicators appear to level towards the pair lastly taking the plunge, however there’s additionally the likelihood the writers will drag this out for an additional season.
On ‘shippers aspect is Brett’s latest lack of her beginning mom.
If dropping Julie taught Brett something, it’s that life is fleeting, and also you by no means know the way a lot time you will have left.
So, you may as properly rise up the nerve to inform that boy captain you want him.
Positive, it’s sophisticated as a result of he was once married to your finest good friend, however hey, so is each different relationship on this collection.
In any case, there’s no time like the current, so carpe the diem.
So what do you suppose, TV Fanatics?
What are your ideas on new paramedic Gianna Mackey?
Can the remainder of 51 deal with Kidd being promoted?
Is that this the season for Casey and Brett?
Hit the feedback beneath to let me know your ideas.
Jessica Lerner is a employees author for TV Fanatic. Observe her on Twitter.