We’re someway inexplicably dwelling.
There wasn’t something that particular or out of the peculiar on Chicago Fire Season 9 Episode 8, however for the primary time shortly, it felt like we had been again.
All of the items and numerous storylines managed to return collectively and coalesce in such a manner that for simply an hour we had been transported again to a pre-pandemic Chicago, making me understand simply how a lot I’ve missed these kinds of episodes.
It is laborious to level to 1 factor that made this installment really feel prefer it was shot through the good outdated days — when the present was at its prime and earlier than the world ended — however one universality is that for probably the most half the storylines had been character pushed as a substitute of plot based mostly.
Positive, our favourite heroes responded to a number of calls, however they did not subsume the episode in a manner that overshadowed the common solid.
Severide: You headed someplace?
Dylan: Wherever however right here.
Severide: You gonna stroll out in your dad and mom like this? Together with your mother within the hospital?
Dylan: You don’t perceive. I heard them speaking. They attempt to preserve their voices down, however I sat on the steps and heard them. All the cash went to drugs for me. They don’t have anything for themselves. They’re higher off with out me.
Severide: That the place you hid your stuff?
Dylan: It was right here earlier than I moved in.
Severide: I made it. Used to steal cigars from my dad and conceal it in there.
Dylan: There was a notice in right here after we first moved in. I don’t keep in mind what it mentioned.
Severide: I’m right here anytime you want me. It was written by a lady who used to stay up the road. I used to be going by some tough instances again then, similar age as you. You already know what I realized? You gotta lean on the individuals who love you. I met your dad, and he loves you child. It’s throughout his face, and your mother, she’s gonna want you, now greater than ever.
Dylan: I’ve triggered sufficient issues.
Severide: The lady, the one who wrote that notice, she saved me again then, and he or she’s nonetheless serving to individuals, and he or she’s actually good at it, and I feel she may also help you too.
Dylan: How?
Severide: Come on, let’s go see your outdated man. Let him know you’re OK. I’ll let you know about it on the best way.
Take the “name of the week” plot line, as an illustration, which managed to set itself aside from the various different emergencies that 51 has responded to over the course of Chicago Fire Season 9 by anchoring the narrative to Severide.
Having Severide and the remainder of 51 reply to a hearth on the lieutenant’s childhood home was a sensible solution to interweave the 2 storylines and permit Severide to be a focus with out placing his relationship with Kidd by pointless drama.
It has been some time since Severide has been pressured to confront his elements of his previous and surprisingly this time he did not change into undone in a much bigger manner.
I really anticipated him to retreat inward and attempt to shoulder all of this on his personal, so it was refreshing that he did not.
Exhibiting that our religion in him hasn’t been misplaced — a minimum of not all the time — Severide leaned on these closest to him as he tried to assist out the household who lived at his childhood dwelling.
He confided in Kidd in regards to the emotions that being in his childhood dwelling stirred up from him, and as a substitute of letting these painful reminiscences drag him down, he was capable of keep in mind what, or quite who, helped pull him out throughout these darkish instances.
It has been seasons since Severide and Chicago Med‘s April have shared any scenes collectively — so lengthy that I virtually forgot they had been pals of their youth — so their on-screen reunion of kinds was a welcome deal with.
Actually, an enormous a part of this plot’s power was having Chicago Med’s April round for a couple of scene.
For April was not solely capable of assist Severide out in his quest to interchange the household’s misplaced insulin but additionally reminded her former neighbor that issues are by no means as unhealthy as they could appear.
Severide: It was so unusual being in there. I suppose more often than not I used to be busy sneaking out of that place.
April: Yeah or sneaking me in. I’ll always remember 2 within the morning. You thought you locked the door.
Severide: I did. Benny rigged the bolt so it wouldn’t latch.
April: I’ve by no means been out of a window so quick in my life.
Severide: I keep in mind.
April: Your mother soured on me after that.
Severide: Ah, she was simply going by it then.
April: Yeah.
Severide: You had been there for me once I was at my lowest, you understand that?
April: That yr made me understand I ought to do that for a residing ‘trigger if I may assist Kelly Severide, I may assist anyone.
This got here in particularly helpful as Severide confronted Dylan who, believing he was sparing his dad and mom from additional monetary pressure, was about to run away.
Severide was capable of get by to Dylan as a result of he had been within the younger boy’s footwear as a young person, understanding higher than anybody how laborious adolescene could be.
However due to April, Severide was additionally reminded of simply how issues may enhance, and he handed these phrases of knowledge onto Dylan.
Elsewhere, Casey let his emotions for Brett cloud his judgment when Granger quickly subbed in for Herrmann.
At first, Casey’s rudeness towards Granger could possibly be missed, however because the episode progressed, it turned more durable and more durable to again Casey after Granger went out of his solution to make amends and nonetheless continued to bear the brunt of the captain’s anger.
Sure, Granger overstepped his place when 51 first arrived on scene, however like he later instructed Casey, it was an trustworthy mistake.
Granger acknowledged that he was flawed and apologized, and if it had been anybody else, Casey most likely would have buried the hatchet then and there.
Nonetheless, since Granger is perhaps type of seeing Brett, Casey could not assist however let his jealousy get the higher of him, going out of his solution to give Granger a tough time.
And whereas calling Casey out whereas on shift wasn’t probably the most skilled factor to do, however Brett’s new beau can hardly be blamed for wanting to put into Casey.
Brett: What’s flawed with you?
Casey: What?
Brett: I heard the best way you had been speaking to Granger earlier than that final name.
Casey: You then heard him out of line.
Brett: No, Matt, he wasn’t. You had been. You’ve been using him for 2 straight shifts.
Casey: I’ve not.
Brett: You could have. What you’re not getting Matt is that this doesn’t have something to do with Greg Granger. It doesn’t even must do with me. It has to do with the truth that you’re nonetheless in love with Dawson. I known as you out, and also you haven’t completed something about it. Perhaps it’s best to attain out and resolve that, so you possibly can return to being the Matt Casey that everybody appears to be like as much as round right here and never this.
Casey, although, simply noticed this as one other likelihood to flaunt his superiority over Granger, as if that can someway make Brett wish to be with him.
At this time limit, Casey both must man up and struggle for Brett or let her go as soon as and for all.
This deadlock is not doing both of them any favors, and Casey virtually let his anger and jealousy bleed over onto a name.
One thing like that may’t occur once more, and Casey must determine what he needs.
Brett retains claiming that Casey nonetheless loves Dawson, so Casey ought to take that to coronary heart and see if her phrases bear any weight.
In the event that they do, Casey wants to deal with his unresolved emotions for his ex-wife, and if they do not, then he wants to inform Brett that.
This backwards and forwards that they have been doing all season has begun to put on skinny, and a few decision on this storyline can be good.
If which means we get one other look from Monica Raymund, then all the higher.
Lastly, Cruz determined now was the time to develop his Slamigan model in probably the most Herrmann manner attainable, having his fellow firefighters at 51 pitch him their numerous concepts.
This was a enjoyable subplot at first, and it was entertaining to look at the blokes pitch one ridiculous thought after one other.
Nobody considers a lady’s physique, do they? This can be a job designed by males for males, and the gear isn’t any totally different, and so what, I bought these women trying as much as me each week at Women on Hearth, and I gotta clarify to them that the gear is designed for males solely? How is that alleged to encourage them?
Kidd
Nonetheless, issues hit a snag on the finish when Cruz unveiled his designs for female-tailored firefighting gear.
The concept itself was impressed, and I cherished that it stemmed from Kidd’s rant in regards to the inequity feminine firefighters proceed to face even within the type of one thing so seemingly mundane.
You’d assume the producers would have realized that ladies have totally different wants in the case of gear and turnout gear and such, however since they apparently nonetheless stay within the 20th century with all of their patriarchal bullshit, Cruz’s thought was easy but elegant resolution.
It appeared as if the present had lastly produced a female-friendly storyline the place the ladies weren’t the punchline, however alas, I spoke too quickly.
Cruz’s mock designs had been sexist to say the least, and I’ve a tough time believing he would really draw such misogynistic clothes.
Coming from Herrmann, I may consider that, however Cruz, it simply did not make any sense. The daddy-to-be could be dense at instances, however even he isn’t that silly as to assume that is how feminine firefighters costume.
The one clarification is the writers wished to discover a solution to infuse extra comedy into what turned out to be simply one other under common subplot tinged with sexist undertones. If that was the purpose, then kudos.
Some stray ideas:
-
A part of the magic of the OneChicago Universe was that it really felt like one universe, what with all of the little crossover moments and frequent cameos. Nonetheless, these small however unparalleled moments have principally disappeared through the 2020-21 TV season because of the pandemic.
With April showing in just a few seasons this episode, I hope which means issues are getting again to regular, or no matter model of regular it’s now transferring ahead.
-
Brett is a badass with that axe. Neglect kick axe. All we want is a daily axe for our lady.
-
Was anybody else hoping that when Brett was berating Casey he would spontaneously declare his love for her? Solely me? It simply felt like one thing Casey would have mentioned within the warmth of the second after Brett claimed that he nonetheless cherished Dawson if that is really how he feels.
A part of me needs that Casey had mentioned these phrases, if solely as a result of it might have moved this storyline alongside and pushed Brettsey out of relationship limbo.
-
Herrmann ought to at all times seem on an iPad any longer that manner we’ve the choice of pulling the plug or muting him when he says one thing offensive or thoughtless. That might enhance his character by leaps and bounds.
So what did you assume, Chicago Hearth Fanatics?
How a lot of Severide’s habits impress you?
Can Casey let Brett go?
Was the subplot sexist or all in good enjoyable?
Do not forget to hit the feedback under to let me know your ideas. If you happen to occurred to overlook the most recent episode, keep in mind you possibly can watch Chicago Fire online on TV Fanatic.
Jessica Lerner is a employees author for TV Fanatic. Observe her on Twitter.