Chicago Fire Review: Casey Makes a Dangerous Deal

When Lieutenant Matt Casey said he wanted to be an alderman for the people, he took that promise seriously. The way in which he has stood by his house for four seasons reflects in the way he stands by the people in his district. The latest episode of Chicago Fire, “I Will Be Walking”, is no exception. It’s what you would expect from Casey, and it balances out the unexpected crisis another firefighter might soon be facing.

Firehouse 51 gets a call where they find a teenager chained 50 feet in the air under the L tracks. The boy, Victor, is just a sweet high school senior about to graduate. Victor’s older brother was in a gang until he flipped and started working with the police. In retaliation, Victor’s safety is no longer in his hands. As Alderman, Casey feels it is his responsibility to intervene before the city is thrown into a full blown gang war. Boden reminds Casey he has an acquaintance who has pull with the gangs. The drawback is that there is always a price to be paid. Casey’s man arranges a sit-down with the gangs, but they refuse Casey’s deal. Victor refuses to let anyone scare him into missing his own graduation. Casey wracks his brain trying to think  of a way to solve this as an alderman, but instead he does it as a man and a firefighter. All of Firehouse 51 stands tall as Casey walks Victor to his graduation. This act draws recognition not only to Victor, but to Casey as well. A political consultant approaches Casey about his future political career on the national stage.

While Casey is dealing with some very serious issues, Dawson has some fun in the house. Molly’s revenue is down from last year. Stella challenges Herrmann to a competition to see who is strongest in all bar and alcohol-related facts. Let the Bar Olympics begin! Herrmann wins when it comes to liquor, Stella wins when it comes to wine. Only one can be the victor. The final round-cocktails. Both Herrmann and Stella are excellent barkeeps, but only Stella realizes that the table doesn’t have the correct syrup for the drink. Therefore Stella is declared the winner! Stella doesn’t want the prize money, just the chance to manage Molly’s. Of course this was Dawson and Stella’s plan all along.

Jimmy and Brett get a call from an patient with an infection following a tummy-tuck. At first she is embarrassed, but as soon as she sees Jimmy she is downright flirtatious (which really doesn’t work with the vomit in her hair). She wants to feel like she is still attractive after that incident, so she calls 911 again so that Jimmy can come over. After double-checking that she is okay, he spends a few minutes drinking some of her tea, then leaves. Boden is not amused when she sends over a gift basket to the firehouse, but understands when Jimmy explains he just wanted to allow the woman a chance to reclaim her dignity.

Severide’s new lady friend FBI Agent Holloway entrusts him with the care of her son JJ at the last minute. Severide finds it curious since a) they don’t really know each other that well for her to trust him with her son, and b) she asks for this last minute favor with a very serious demeanor. Antonio tells Severide that Holloway is prepping for a case against a recently captured associate of El Chapo. Holloway leaves JJ with Severide a second time without notice. Sure enough the reason JJ has been a regular guest at the firehouse is because threats were made against Holloway and her son to shut her up from testifying on the case.

We got a mix of the good, the bad, and the funny, but none of it compares to the crisis ahead. Otis turns up with strange bruises on his body. Even if he had been seriously hurt on a call he would have noticed that immediately. If he had accidentally bruised himself, it would also be isolated and not nearly as pronounced. It doesn’t do any good to jump the gun, but cancer is a possibility. Otis is so scared by this that he avoids taking the blood test. Given the severity of those bruises, Otis needs to get check out sooner rather than later.

Anyone else worried that Otis may really have cancer?