Welcome Back: Chicago Fire "Rattled Second City" Season Premiere

 Chicago Fire is back, and it feels so good, but it left us with a shocking breaking-off in this season's premiere. Here's a recap!

"Rattled Second City" started classily: Joe Cruz ran to the firehouse as he was late for the new paramedic, Gianna Mackey, and work. But it made one hell of an introduction.

Due to COVID-19, Kidd tries to get her "Girls on Fire" program back on track and tries her best with the top heads to get it open. Soon, she gets the word that they'll allow for only a short class at a time and to be outside. With Kidd saving both Severide and a victim from a studio fire, Boden advises her to take the lieutenant test. It looks like she's going to do it!

As Molly's Patio will soon open, there is no buzz. That is until Herrmann comes up with the idea to get a treasure hunt going with poem-given clues, as the prize is a lifetime of free beer. With Mouch and Ritter helping, it looked like Ritter's poem would be the best to use until they went with Mouch's poem, which pretty much laid out where the treasure was: Firehouse 51. 

On Mackey's first day on the job, she and Brett treat an OD victim but soon have the guy's brother pointing a gun at them to ensure Rother doesn't die. While on the way to Med, the victim dies; Brett later sees her apartment door open and calls Casey to help check the place out. Casey decides to stay with no one and makes a fun night with Brett with the Heads Up game. 

But things take a turn later on as Brett and Mackey get called for a wellness check, followed by the OD's brother chasing them in his truck and pointing a gun at them. He drives them off the freeway and crashes, ending the episode on a shocking cliffhanger.

I loved this episode! While I did yell at the top of my lungs at the end, it was fun and had some of those classic Fire moments during Kidd saving Severide and Brett and Mackey treating an OD victim. Cruz running to work was a great way to kick off the season because it was funny. Not to mention that Gallo and Mackey hit it off, Cruz being the big brother was good side humor for the episode, along with Herrmann and Mouch. 

The elephant in the room, what about Brett and Casey? While that scene as they play Heads Up was my favorite thing of the episode, that could have been the deciding factor that I want these two to be together. I wrote more about it here if you want to check it out. 

Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10.

What did you think of the episode? Leave a comment! 

Follow @abaker20

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

Here's a promo:

Come Together: Chicago Med "When Did We Begin to Change?" Season Premiere

 

Chicago Med returns with a season premiere that hit all cylinders. Here's a recap!

"When Did We Begin to Change?" was a very intense, at times, intensely emotional episode to kick off the season. Will rides with Hannah in an ambulance as she comes in from an overdose. Will tries to deny Hannah's actions until he realizes after treating a patient that he thought was in the same boat but wasn't. Will and Hannah break up.

Natalie has moved to "Club Med," where doctors and nurses stay during COVID-19 so they can work and not bring any of that home. She teams up with Crockett with a patient whose cancer is back but can't decide which treatment would be best until it has to go down to Crockett's idea of surgery. The two bonded over the case and Crockett's daughter. 

Dr. Charles came back to Med after he suffered from COVID-19. While he was there to help with Will's troubles, it took him a day to realize that his daughter was upset with him for not being mad at her for giving him the disease as she went to a friend's place during the shutdown. As he apologizes, he tells her why she should stay with him, to keep him honest as he tries to hide his feelings. 

The big story comes with April and Ethan as they have broken up but are treating patients for COVID-19. There, they're dealing with one patient who needs the ventilator while a patient dies. As the day ends, the nurses and doctors gather on the rooftop, light their phones with a lit candle, and name the names that have died that day. 

I can't stress enough that this premiere, while it was exciting and entertaining, was highly emotional. The Natalie and Crockett story was excellent and meaningful; Will's was fun and engaging with that medical case. But it was April and Ethan and dealing with COVID-19 patients that were so heartbreaking. The writers depict what it's like in the ER during this situation. I had a lot of tissues around me by the time this episode ended. 

Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10.

What did you think of the season premiere? Leave a comment!

Follow @abaker20

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

This Is Us "Honestly" Preview

Here's a preview of tonight's episode of This Is Us titled, "Honestly."

"Honestly"

Malik shadows Randall at work. Kevin struggles to connect with his new director and Jack and Rebecca struggle to sleep train their babies.

Photos:

Clips:

What are your thoughts on tonight's new episode? Excited to see what happens next? Leave a comment!

Catch up with recaps!

You can catch This Is Us Tonight at 9/8c on NBC.

 

Chicago Fire: #Brettsey To Be or Not To Be

 

It's been a dilemma since Season Seven, but the question remains that has me going back and forth: Should Sylvie Brett and Matt Casey be in a relationship? 

Since the episode in season seven where the spin cycle instructor told Brett that she and Casey were meant for each other, that pretty much got the ball rolling with #Brettsey. At first, I was all for it, but when Gabby Dawson returned and that one night with Casey, things took a back seat. 

In my head, questions pop up like what happens if Gabby comes back and reveals to Casey that she had that child and it's his. It seems far-fetched to go on with this show, but things could happen. Heck, we thought he would have a child, but it turned out it wasn't his. 

And there's the friendship that, why ruin, the best company these two wouldn't do for helping each other after a traumatic call, like Casey almost getting his head blown away or Brett reuniting and losing her mother. Why ruin a good thing going, right? 

And there are these music videos on YouTube of them from scenes that have been fueling me to get me thinking that they should be a couple. It's just wild!

But let's not shine away from this: they both ended their relationship with the Dawson siblings on a rocky but mutual breakup. Brett and Casey connected with a TV series (Emergency) during that game night. 

So, after last week's season premiere, I think I've decided where I stand on this. I can't deny that scene of Brett and Casey at her apartment playing Heads Up was the nail in the coffin that I want them to be in a relationship, and hopefully a long term at that, like Severide and Kidd. 

Plus, I know that this week's episode will determine whether or not they share their feelings, and the latest promo doesn't shine away from it. 

So, as of now, I'm on the entire board with #Brettsey. 

Was I crazy about going back and forth on this? What do you guys think? Are you all in for #Brettsey or not? Leave a comment below!

You can follow me on Twitter @abaker20.

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

Open Up and Connect: This Is Us "Changes"

Last week's episode of This Is Us was as good once again. Here are my thoughts!

"Changes" was a very good episode that had a ton of great moments that dealt with the characters' mental and physical health in a way. 

Randall as he looks for a new therapist, a couple didn't fit right with him, maybe because they were too hands-on but that was until he found the right one that he could probably play to him. His therapist gives him the assignment to write something down that no one knows about and tell it in his next session; well from the end of the episode, we see him writing down (which we see in a flashback) about a time when Kate's friend wanted to kiss him but back away but when he was done writing it he sits the book down next to another book which could only mean that he's going to be doing what he's been doing on trying to get better by himself. 

Kate and Toby got to meet with the parent given her baby up for adoption. The three hit it off so well with pop cultural connections from the Buffy tv series to Ghostbusters and more. We learn that she lost her husband to cancer and that the child she's convinced happened when she had a night out. As things had to cut short, Kate and Toby give her a lift but also catch them arguing about diapers but I don't think the mother would hold that against them. I don't see anything wrong as I think this story will go well. 

Meanwhile, Kevin and Madison deal with they don't know one another and their demons like for Madison and her eat disorder. But Kevin talks to her about how he too has demons of working out too much, daddy issues, and is a recovering alcoholic, and soon the two connect and pretty much moved forward on. I think this was probably my favorite storyline in this episode as two people who about to have two babies to connect with each other. 

Randall and Beth deal with how Tess had a viral video with her friend telling their teacher to not call them a certain gender or touch their hair. Beth and Randall didn't take it too well and soon Randall lays down the punishment to Tess that didn't go well but what she did wasn't the right way to handle things anything to their knowledge. It wasn't the best storyline in this episode but it had some good moments like Randall talking to Tess before handing her punishment. 

And the mystery as the episode began with a grandfather and granddaughter fishing. Who are they and what makes them connect with the story; it just so happens that the man is with Randall's biological mother. 

I enjoyed this episode and while it might not live up to the premiere, the episode had so many good moments. For now, I thought that Justin Harley gave a very good performance in this episode. Serling K. Brown gives another awesome performance. The writing was so good once again and that mystery family was such an intriguing story to see who they're connected to. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10. 

What did you think of last week's episode? Leave a comment below! 

You can catch This Is Us Tonight at 9/8c on NBC.

Together: This Is Us 'Forty, Part 1 & 2" Season Premiere

 

The season premiere of This Is Us delivered a jam-packed premiere with a ton of high emotional moments that were both up and down but left us with a surprising moment. Here's a recap! 

The episode doesn't waste time introducing the COVID-19 storyline and George Floyd news as they address that within the first five to ten minutes of the episode. Kevin breaks the news to Kate and Toby about Madison pregnant with twins and that he's the father and after a scare when Madison had an accident they learn that their babies are okay and they're having a boy and girl. 

We come to the point in time where Rebecca had her episode but learned that she had a reaction to the medication that was mixed in her system. Toby and Kate got a match for their adoption process. 

Randall is trying to figure out what to do after the news of George Floyd with his family and his mental health. After talking to Malik and seeing Rebecca that he's going to make some changes and seeing a black therapist instead of the therapist he's been seeing. But he questions whether if he was born the same day as Kate and Kevin; thinking that it was impossible. 

We see a flashback of William and Randall's birth mother, Laurel, who was planning nothing but the best for their child. That is until the day Randall was born in their apartment and she needed something to take the pain away with heroin.  Soon William finds her not responsive and when the paramedics pronounced her, he left but not realizing that Laurel would be revived. 

"Forty" was such an amazing episode, as it had tear-jerking moment after tear-jerking moment. The writing was so powerful with strong character developments with William, Randall, Laurel, and even Rebecca. Not to mention Jack as well, with that moment in the chapel and calling his father. And that final moment was such a shocker! The cast gives an excellent performance once again. Overall, I give these episodes 9.5/10.

What did you think of the season premiere? Leave a comment below!

You can catch This Is Us Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

FBI Most Wanted Season 1

 

This summer, I got to catch up on last season's best new series, FBI Most Wanted. Here are my thoughts!

FBI Most Wanted feels like the lovechild of the FBI and Chicago PD with a traveling van. That may sound bad but let me tell you, it's not, as it's pretty much my new favorite Dick Wolf series to date so far and could be better than its predecessor, CBS's FBI. 

The concept is that this FBI task force solves crimes and hunts down criminals now placed on their most wanted list in the same style as any crime procedure drama. The characters are grounded, mostly Jess LaCroix, played by Jullian McMahon. We see a balance of work and family life and that he's trying to help the suspects without getting into a bad situation. 

And this ensemble cast is fun and exciting to watch from Kenny Crosby, who reminds me a bit of the lovechild of Jay Halstead and Adam Ruzek for some reason. Keisha Castle-Hughes as Hana Gibson is my favorite character other than LaCroix on this show as the group's high-tech. 

The stories in season one were solid and intriguing and had me on the edge of my seat, like episodes "Defender," "Invisible," "Ghost," and "Getaway," to name a few. But let's face it, if you are a fan of the show like me, the best episode was the crossover with FBI, which has the slight edge as the best two-show crossover last season (edging out with Chicago Fire and PD). That episode had so many cringe moments, but it was so good.

I highly recommend watching FBI Most Wanted. If you like crime-procurement shows that follow the clues, strong storytelling, and a tremendously solid ensemble cast, this show is for you. I give Season 1 a 9/10.

Season Two of FBI Most Wanted premieres tonight at 10/9c on CBS.