Legacy of Remembrance: Chicago Fire "Sacred Grounds" Season Premiere

The season premiere of Chicago Fire left Firehouse 51 mourning a loss of their own. SPOILER ALERT! Here's a recap!

The season premiere episode picks up seconds after the season finale, where Casey and company are in the basement; Herrmann and Ritter are trying to cool the furnace pipes before they go, and Boden, Brett, and Foster are trying to take victims out until the furnace explodes. Boden, Brett, and Foster were taken down, with Brett suffering from a severely broken arm; Casey and Company seem to be okay until someone's alarm goes off, and it turns out to be Otis. 

As everyone brings out Otis, Cruz goes with him and sees the severe burns that he's suffered. Back at Med, everyone awaited word about Otis until Boden confronted a nurse who gave the worst news: Otis died. But we see one of the most emotional moments so far, as Cruz tells Otis that it's okay to go and that he hopes he would save a spot for him, too, until Otis opens his eyes and speaks in Russian and quickly dies.

We jump three months later; the firehouse is still mourning the loss of Otis. Cruz is trying to find meaning and figure out what Otis said. Toasey is under review for the decision-making that got him worried. Still, Boden took the blame from him as he decided to bring Brett and Foster into the warehouse, but it was still not going to take the pain of losing a firefighter away.

Brett is now in Floweton; she's just got her cast off on her arm and gets the job as a full-time EMT at the local fire station. But there's an issue: being in a small town, she knows someone from her past who is married to one of the firefighters. The Chaplain offers her a solution of not working but working as the Chaplain's wife, who does work. I'm not seeing this last too long, as she will miss Chicago.
With Brett gone, Foster gets a floater like Mr. Rogers meets Clark Kent. Mouch sees the guy's photo in a magazine.

Near the end of the episode, Boden gets everyone from the firehouse outside, where he has an honorary memorial for Otis. He even translated what Otis said to Cruz just before he died. As soon as Cruz kneels in front of the statue, everyone from Casey and Severide do the same while holding each other's backs. 

"Sacred Ground" was an episode that marks another shift change in the series. Not since the Season Three premiere has it been this powerful, and knowing that the outcome will be even more painful. The writing was so damn good, and even the character developments between Cruz and Casey were so good. I still hope that Brett will call off the engagement and move back to Chicago, maybe ask Casey out on a date, but I know that's way too much to ask for.  Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10.

You can catch Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

Chicago Fire "The White Whale" Episode Preview

Here's a preview of this Wednesday's episode of Chicago Fire.

"The White Whale"

A serial arsonist cold case is reopened when Severide finds a connection to the recent salon fire. Firehouse 51 celebrates a retirement party.

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Oh man, I can't wait for this episode. Even the sneak peek doesn't give anything away about Severide's investigation, I'm still hyped up. The second to last episode of the season. Hard to believe.

You can catch Chicago Fire Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

Facing Head On: Chicago Fire "Try Like Hell"

From a mysterious fire to will they, won't they, here's a recap of this week's episode of Chicago Fire.

When Firehouse 51 comes to another apartment/salon on fire, Severide and Boden get word that it might be arson, and the salon owner is the suspect. But Severide doesn't think so in his opinion and soon proves that theory that it might have been set up by someone else. Later on, Severide tells Boden that something seems so familiar like he's seen this case before; right when he figured it out, he found the case file of the same arson case in Benny's cabin. We got ourselves a cold chance to solve!

Casey and Brett get close and help each other with their relationship problem. Brett tries to set up Casey with a friend who works at the gym, but she doesn't think so after the game night they had had. But she tells Brett he's perfect for her as they connect, playing charades. Even Casey tries to talk to Kyle about Brett about the same thing. Hell, you know I've been saying Casey and Brett look like a relationship is starting to bloom after the second episode.

Also, Mouch, Herrmann, and the gang get called out by another firehouse for stealing equipment. Of course, they tell them they returned it; even Boden receives an invoice for $1,000 for the thing and even calls their chief about it. But the guys found that piece in their firehouse and tried to take it back with Kidd's help, but the plan failed, and Boden not only apologized but made Herrmann, Kidd, Mouch, Cruz, and Otis clean that other firehouse's trucks.

"Try Like Hell" was another excellent episode that has two storylines that will carry into the season finale; one is the mystery arson case that has reappeared, and two is the relationship between Casey and Brett. I think this cold case, arson, will not only give Benny some closure, but I guess Severide with his relationship and that he can let it go.

The Brett and Casey thing seems to be progressing smoothly and building up. Will they come to grips with it, or will they push each other away? I've said it since episode two of this season, and I think they should try it, and I think it would work out. When playing charades, Brett was given clues, and Casey got it right: Emergency the TV Series (look it up!). Also, I took a poll on Twitter during the show, and a good margin wants them to be in a relationship.

The episode had standout moments like Boden standing up for his firefighters. Plus, Severide stands up for the lady who lost her salon: good writing, good character development, and overall good performances. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.