Thoughts on CF 1.14
AAAAH CHICAGO FIRE
SPOILERS follow.
1. I’m always excited when I see Matt Olmstead’s name in the writing credits. His episodes are generally better structured, and flow more naturally. There’s plenty of drah-mah of course, but it doesn’t really test your suspension of disbelief.
2. THAT WAS SEVERIDE’S BIG SHOULDER STORYLINE? Whatever, show. I have to be honest and say: I haven’t liked any of Severide’s storylines so far. Not the aborted ‘rivalry’ with Casey after Darden’s death; not his broken vertebra storyline (i still can’t get over that resolution-THAT’S IT?); not Renee number two or Renee number one.
2.5. That’s not to say I dislike Severide himself. He’s amazing! I think he’s the kindest, most warm-hearted character on the entire show. He started off with this devil-may-care, bad-boy image, but he’s a gigantic softie. I think what’s amazing about him is how spontaneous he is with his kind gestures. It’s not like Casey, who measures stuff in his head before coming out and doing something which will appear to be the right way; Severide made Vargas feel welcome, he invited Vargas to his dinner with Renee, he seems to get along splendidly with not just his squad, but the Truck crew as well, and I haven’t forgotten his impulsive decision to help that old lady with her harassers way back. Like Hermann said, “He may be arrogant, but he won’t hesitate to give you the shirt off his back when you need it.”(but then again, he does take his shirt off a lot, so that may have been a joke.)
3. HAHAHA OTIS. I was pleasantly surprised by how they dealt with his decision to transfer. I mean, there wasn’t some big moment where the house realised OH MAN WE HAVEN’T BEEN APPRECIATING HIM ENOUGH (which is what Otis really wanted). And finally Severide tricking him into staying! Adorbs.
4. Shay/Clarice YES. I was so afraid we were going to have a ~dramatic birth with a last minute complication or something from the Big Book of Cliches, and I’m glad that wasn’t the case. But now the husband’s wrangling for sole custody of the baby! Damn.
4.5. So I guess my point is I’m starting to love Shay/Clarice, and I’m rooting for them to keep the baby.
5. I was a bit shocked by Antonio Dawson. I mean, I knew what was going to happen to him at the end of this episode, but wow. He looked wrecked. I think Jon Seda was ill or something? I mean, it does look like it’s very cold out there (I mean-Spencer’s usually pretty pale, but in this episode, particularly in the outdoor shots, he looked practically bleached). Anyway-against all odds, the drug storyline worked. I mean, it was full of the implausible melodrama that’s come to characterise Chicago Fire, but it really, really worked. I really felt for Antonio and his desperation. And Gabriela’s own determination to help her brother.
6. PLEASE TALK TO CRUZ, CASEY. Really worried about him. :(
7. I think I might be in a minority here, but I really, really look forward to the Mills/Dawson/Casey drama every week. Dawson’s crazy about Mills! Except she’s not really, because she’s still not over Casey. The awkwardness! The angst! I love it!
7.5. Agh, poor Casey, though. He’s the only one involved in the triangle who isn’t aware that there’s a triangle at all. Although with the mis-sent text, I’m pretty sure he has a very strong inkling about who the third one is. He’s an intuitive one, is Casey. (But he did look so disappointed, though. C’mere. Let me give you a hug.)
7.78. I’m trying my best to be neutral, but the moment Mills said, “Am I getting in the way of you and Casey?” my immediate reaction was“Yes you are! Now scat.”
7.8. I love you, Mills, I really do!
8. NANCY. Wow, she’s actually a bit creepy. I kind of loved her and Casey’s reunion-both Spencer and Kathleen Quinlan played that scene so well. Nancy’s relief at finally getting out-the way she isn’t even able to really focus on Rick, the way she doesn’t even have the words… and Casey! His utter joy at the seeing his mother again, the way his face lit up as soon as she stepped out of the gates… lovely!
8.5. The way she went, “oh she’s adorable, such a joy,” at Dawson creeped me the hell out. Also: “she’s the woman I envisioned you with.” Agree with the sentiment there, Nancy, but um, awkward. Also, don’t you diss on Hallie, mmkay?
(Honestly, at this point, I feel like Hallie is better off being not involved with the Caseys. Kya family yaar!)
8.9. Where’s Nancy going? Where is she getting all these pen-pal friends? Intriguing. Also scary.
9. Finally, CASEY. Can I just say I love the tension between him and his mother? Can I say I just love how things are obviously more complex than they seem? And Christie hasn’t even entered the picture yet! So excited.
9.5. The moment he blew up at Nancy I raised my arms to the heavensand screamed “Hallelujah!” Well, no, I didn’t-what I did was pause the episode and do a little celebratory jig. It just feels great to have spent so much time figuring a character out and have the very next episode validate it for you, y’know?
9.7. I’m talking about Casey’s infamous anger issues. Sure Nancy was violating her parole barely one day after she got out, but did you notice what he said? “Nobody talks to me like that-especially in my own house!”
WOW. Are we getting flashbacks to Daddy Casey yet? Is that what you used to hear your Dad say as a kid, Casey? Did Nancy just suddenly look at her son and see George screaming those very words at her? Were they both living one big flashback?
Chilling.
And so damn exciting.
Casey, you are no saint. You’ve never been one, and the more we see you, the more grey and tangled up you are.