Alarm bells saved going off for me this whole episode, but fortuitously, it wasn’t 51 responding to any four-alarm fires.
Years of watching tv has contributed to my paranoia, and at any time when one thing appears too good to be true, I normally assume it’s.
I saved ready for the opposite shoe to drop on Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 16, however I am pleased to report all are protected and sound — for now — for our native heroes.
A part of my paranoia might be blamed on the promo for this episode as NBC hyped the “case of the week” as a staged accident.
Whereas I in all probability ought to have recognized higher, I could not recover from my skepticism about Lisa Burke, the proprietor of the automotive, being harmless.
When she got here to Casey with some sob story about being scammed, I assumed it was only a mislead cowl her tracks.
I saved ready for it to be revealed Lisa had murdered her fiance, however that second by no means got here.
She was only a girl unfortunate in love who was catfished by a scumbag who drained her checking account and staged his personal loss of life.
The worst half is I could not even get pleasure from watching Casey step up and play detective as a result of I used to be satisfied that I, just like the captain, was being duped.
Severide: Morning.
Kidd: Hey, so you know the way we needed to preserve quiet final evening so we didn’t get up Casey?
Severide: Mm-hmm. He left?
Kidd: Time to get up the remainder of the constructing.
It wasn’t till Casey and Lisa confronted the con artist face-to-face that I lastly realized the one factor nefarious concerning the state of affairs was her supposed fiance.
The identical line of considering additionally applies to Brett’s beginning mom Julie.
Since studying Julie was pregnant on Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 15, I felt the timing of the entire ordeal was suspicious.
I feared that the one cause Julie reached out to Brett was as a result of the mother-to-be wanted one thing from her organic daughter, similar to an organ or bone marrow transplant, which is typically how this stuff pan out of TV reveals.
This concern was solely compounded by Julie’s husband’s preliminary response to Brett.
It was as if him slamming the door in Brett’s face was an indication of his discomfort along with his spouse’s presumably ulterior motives.
Heck, even Brett had her reservations, although hers have been extra affordable than mine.
Julie: However hey, I need to be taught extra about you.
Brett: Oh uh …
Julie: Like what’s your favourite film?
Brett: Uh, I should have watched ‘La La Land’ like 100 occasions.
Julie: Ugh, I beloved ‘La La Land’ ‘til it bought unhappy.
Brett: Oh identical. I flip it off once they break up.
Julie: Effectively, they need to have ended up collectively.
Brett: Completely.
Julie: Effectively, what about your favourite meals?
Brett: Do you actually need to know what sorts of meals I like?
Julie: Sylvie, I need to know all the pieces.
She feared her bonding together with her beginning mom could be minimize brief when the brand new child arrived, as Julie would have a brand new and glossy household to concentrate on, one which wasn’t so fraught with unease and remorse.
It is fully comprehensible Brett would have her doubts, particularly provided that it is a TV present.
It would not have been surprising if Julie turned out to be a con artist or grasp manipulator, but it surely looks like Julie is a lady who simply needs to get to know her organic daughter.
She’s even prepared to maneuver to Chicago to be nearer to Brett and get to know her daughter higher.
It could be a rush to judgment, however I believe Julie’s intentions are pure.
She appears to be a traditional, first rate human being, and let’s hope these aren’t phrases I die by.
Talking of dying — sure, I am totally conscious of how dangerous a transition that is — that is what Casey was making an attempt to keep away from when he stopped Severide and the remainder of Squad three from looking for the MIA driver.
It is not typically that Casey and Severide get into it over a name, however when it occurs, it may be ugly.
Casey: I can’t allow you to go in Severide. It’s too harmful.
Severide: We don’t have a alternative.
Casey: Severide I mentioned no. They’ve been within the water too lengthy. It’s not definitely worth the danger.
Severide: Chilly water can protect a drowning sufferer. You understand that.
Casey: It’s been 40 minutes, at the least, possibly loads longer. This isn’t a rescue. It’s a restoration. Let the police divers deal with it. Stand down. That’s an order.
Severide: If that sufferer has any hope, you’re gonna make them anticipate police divers?
Casey: I mentioned it’s a restoration. I’m not sending you into harmful waters to retrieve a corpse.
Severide: Pack up the gear guys.
Each are willful and cussed in their very own proper, however once they discover themselves on reverse sides of an argument, it is best to take cowl.
Neither one is especially eager to again down or admit “defeat,” so to talk, however this dynamic has modified over the sequence.
When Casey and Severide have been each lieutenants, issues like these have been normally deferred to Boden.
Now that Casey outranks Severide, the lieutenant is typically compelled to concede, even when it is one thing he feels strongly about.
There was no heated blow up this, which could possibly be taken as an indication of maturity on Severide’s half, although giving Casey the chilly shoulder would not precisely scream “mature grownup dialog.”
It is a course of, I assume.
In a roundabout means, their non-argument does find yourself getting resolved.
They could not have talked it out like adults, however they have been grownup sufficient concerning the state of affairs to maneuver previous it.
Casey: OK, I’ve to ask: Are we good?
Severide: What do you imply?
Casey: I didn’t see you on the house off shift. You simply avoiding Kidd whereas she’s on the psycho weight loss plan, or do you and I would like to speak about our argument on the lake?
Severide: Speak?
Casey: By no means thoughts.
I believe they each realized they have been fooling around about the entire thing and determined to simply transfer on with their lives.
They in all probability felt there was no must hash issues out, as there by no means was a battle to start with.
That is my tackle the state of affairs, making an attempt to come back at it from a mature standpoint.
It is also simply as attainable they have been guys about the entire thing and did not really feel like speaking about their emotions.
That concept is considerably backed by Kidd, Brett, and Foster’s dialog after the decision, the place they acknowledged Casey and Severide could be do the “manly” factor and by no means discuss it once more.
Regardless of the cause, Casey and Severide have been in a position to make good by the tip of the episode, which is all that basically issues.
It is all the time higher when these two are preventing collectively quite than with one another.
Lastly, as frequent readers of my evaluations will know, I am not normally a fan of the filler subplots.
Whereas good for the occasional laughs, I principally discover them distracting from the episode as an entire.
Gallo: OK, look, there’s wholesome, after which there’s this. What do I do with it?
Ritter: I don’t know.
Gallo: OK, effectively you bought us into this mess, so determine it out.
Ritter: What? I’m not the prepare dinner; you’re.
Kidd: What’s happening?
Gallo: Mr. Suck Up right here supplied to make Chief Boden separate meals.
Ritter: Whoa, what was I alleged to do? He was standing right here, all cranky, yelling concerning the stuff that Donna dropped off.
Gallo: I don’t even know what these are.
Ritter: They’re flaxseeds. I informed you.
Gallo: See, that doesn’t assist me in any respect.
Kidd: OK, that is ridiculous. We will’t stay underneath this tyranny. I’ll speak to the chief when he will get again from the district assembly.
Nevertheless, the subplot involving Lily’s new enterprise enterprise is likely one of the few exceptions.
That is principally because of the reappearance of Otis’s former girlfriend, who was final seen on Chicago Fire Season 7 Episode 20.
Since Otis’s loss of life on Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 1, Lily has been however a blip on my radar.
Till this episode, the one replace viewers had on the character was that Molly’s North closed as a result of it was too painful for Lily to be surrounded by the reminiscence of Otis all over the place she regarded.
Like they are saying, “Out of sight, out of thoughts.”
Although considerably out of the blue, it was a pleasant deal with to see her once more.
It additionally made sense from a storytelling perspective that Lily would go to Herrmann for recommendation about opening a brand new enterprise.
Whereas Herrmann has a spotty monitor document on the subject of enterprise, he is all the time able to attempt one thing new.
Herrmann: Seems I can’t put up the cash I promised you. I assumed I may rearrange some stuff, but it surely doesn’t add up. I’m sorry.
Lily: Rearrange?
Herrmann: We’ll discover a new area for the bakery, you already know, simply nearly as good.
Lily: Wait, you’re nonetheless gonna assist me?
Herrmann: Yeah, in fact. I simply don’t have the funds …
Lily: Oh no, I don’t care concerning the cash Herrmann. I simply … I would like your assist and recommendation. I can all the time discover a cheaper area however from the way in which Brian talked, I do know I’ll by no means discover a higher mentor.
Herrmann: Otis mentioned that?
Lily: Yeah.
Herrmann: Jesus. Hear Lily, you’re all the time gonna have my assist, OK. And you’re all the time — and I imply all the time — gonna be part of this 51 household.
Lily: Took me slightly too lengthy to comprehend that however I believe I lastly get it.
It is that can-do angle and everlasting optimism that make him, whereas not essentially the most savvy businessman, an ideal mentor.
Herrmann could also be annoying and out of contact among the time, however he may also be your largest cheerleader.
It is occasions like these the place we’re reminded of why we put up along with his occassional misogynist nonsense.
He was prepared to place his household in monetary jeopardy simply so he may assist out Lily, a lady who’s solely a part of the 51 household by way of Otis.
That sort of loyalty is tough to search out, and Herrmann’s willingness to assist Lily out hammered dwelling to her simply how a lot of a household 51 is.
Although she now not has Otis to function a conduit, she remains to be thought of household to them.
It took her some time to determine that out, however Lily bought the message loud and clear: There’ll all the time be a spot for her among the many firefighters at 51.
With that in thoughts, one other go to from Lily could possibly be on the horizons, and I would not be against devoting extra of the restricted display time we have now to her.
Casey: Every thing all proper, chief?
Boden: What’s that alleged to imply?
Herrmann: You appear slightly on edge, that’s all.
Boden: Donna’s bought me on some rattling weight loss plan.
All: Oh.
Cruz: We’re all achieved by shift’s finish.
Severide: Donna needs you to drop extra pounds?
Boden: Do I appear to be I must drop extra pounds?
Kidd: In fact not chief, however that’s what diets are for typically.
Boden: Look, my final checkup, my ldl cholesterol numbers are excessive. Now I’m following one thing I discovered on the web known as a surplus weight loss plan.
Mouch: Oh, I examine that: surplus of fiber, not fats.
Boden: A surplus of hunger is extra prefer it.
It is undoubtedly higher than the choice, which turned out to be a ridiculous weight loss plan subplot this episode.
Certain, watching Boden and Kidd being all cranky and grumpy was good for just a few laughs, however was it essential to spend a lot time watching them be on edge?
For The Powers That Be, apparently it was.
Some stray ideas:
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Did anybody else neglect that Casey and Severide nonetheless stay collectively? With all these video games of musical residences, I typically neglect who lives with whom. Since that’s the case, did Severide ever even ask Casey if it was OK if Kidd moved in with them?
I am assuming that second occurred off display, however with these two, who is aware of?
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With each passing episode, I fall extra in love with Gallo and Ritter friendship. Like I’ve mentioned, they’re no Crotis, however Rallo or Gritter or no matter ‘ship they’re known as is freaking cute.
How cute was it watching them argue over cooking Boden particular meals as a part of his weight loss plan? The one factor that would make me happier could be in the event that they bought collectively romantically. Do you hear me Powers That Be? I would like this to be canon.
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Horny Stellaride mornings. That’s all.
So what did you suppose Chicago Fireplace Fanatics?
Did you retain ready for the opposite shoe to drop?
Is Julie too good to be true?
How did Casey and Severide resolve their non-argument?
What are your ideas on Lily’s return?
Hit the feedback beneath to let me know your ideas. In case you occurred to overlook the most recent episode, you are in luck.
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Jessica Lerner is a employees author for TV Fanatic. Comply with her on Twitter.