The fourth season premiere of Chicago Fire set the stage for what is sure to be a tumultuous and emotion-filled season.
We pick up right where we left off, with Gabby calling her brother for help after she finds Casey’s club informant Katya dead in his apartment. Voight and his team get to Casey in time, and by that I mean they get to him before he can kill Nesbitt. A few days later, both Casey and Dawson are struggling with what happened, but for different reasons. Antonio has to inform Casey that since Nesbitt was a confidential informant for the FBI unbeknownst to Intelligence, he is going to get away with everything. I wish I could say this is going to change, but it looks like Nesbitt is one step ahead and milking his free pass for everything he can. Given this, Gabby doesn’t know how to tell Casey she is pregnant.
A large house fire makes all the difference for the couple this week. An irate Casey is able to take out his frustrations on a couple of cars which have blocked the house’s way to the fire. They unknowingly think they are just letting a building burn, but they have no idea there was a man inside, one who doesn’t make it. Dawson struggles with even going to the next door house to evacuate given the amount of smoke she could be inhaling. She finds an old man who refuses to leave his home, but he has no choice once the roof from the burning building collapses sideways into his home, and directly onto Gabby. Everything turns out fine, but looking at the damage to her jacket scares both her and Casey. Casey realizes he wants Dawson back, and after one of the most romantic speeches I’ve ever heard, Dawson tells him she’s pregnant. There’s crying, laughing, and smiling, and that’s just me!
Every season has to have a unique struggle for this particular cast. It’s necessary, given the pressures of constantly being in life-and-death situations. This is particularly true for Brett and Chili, who make the call to deliver the baby of a gunshot victim in the ambulance instead of the hospital. They save the baby, but are no longer able to revive the mother. After a tough day, a trip to see the newborn they saved is just what Chili and Brett need to know that they did the right thing.
Speaking of tough calls, here comes trouble. The amount of men who have come in and out of squad have put a black mark on Severide’s leadership skills, so he is stripped of his rank and Squad 3 gets a new leader in Captain Patterson. Severide is rightfully upset, even more so when he finds out he has to take a course in proper management. Squad 3 is still loyal to Severide, but as much as he tries to meet Patterson halfway, he just can’t stomach it. Severide being Severide, he of course finds a pretty girl with whom he can connect with in times of need. I sincerely hope that lawyer Dani Gillian could be the one to pull Severide’s commitment side out, and not just be another passing phase. He may need her given that Patterson isn’t going to allow Severide to regress from Squad. It’s too late, though: Severide has already made the decision to leave, which Cruz begs him to reconsider.
Another new addition is truck candidate Jimmy Borelli (The Vampire Diaries alum Steven McQueen), who makes quite a first impression on the house. Literally the worst way to meet your new boss is wrapped in plastic wrap like a mummy with duct tape on your mouth as part of a hazing ritual. Boden immediately orders Jimmy to go home and never return. The new guy doesn’t give up that easily, and he immediately apologizes to Boden for his behavior. Boden accepts him back with the understanding that Jimmy will not be given any more chances, and Jimmy walks out with determination to live up to Boden’s trust.
There have already been a few staffing changes, but Boden’s going to need all hands on deck because Firehouse 51 gets slapped with a complaint from that car-blocked fire at the end of the episode.
Thoughts on the Season 4 premiere?
[Photo via NBC]
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