Chicago Fire Review: Devil’s Bargain (Season 6 Episode 5)
No one ever said being leader would be easy.
Casey and Severide clash on Chicago Fire Season 6 Episode 5, “Devil’s Bargain,” and it’s honestly difficult to watch.
We know that Casey is capable of being a strong leader — it’s why he received the promotion to Captain in the first place. No one can deny that. But this promotion is an adjustment, and it’s one that I don’t think he was completely ready for.
It’s one thing for him to overstep his bounds after calling in Rescue Squad, not letting Severide do what he felt was best for the victim. It’s quite another for him to insist he did the right thing in pulling rank, even after Severide is honest with him about why he’s upset.
This is, quite frankly, pretty out of character for Matt Casey. It just doesn’t ring true.
Casey feels certain the real problem is that Severide is having trouble seeing Casey as an authority figure. Maybe that’s true somewhere deep down, but the real issue feels like Casey has some insecurity with taking on the new position.
Because it isn’t just that one incident with Severide. He also lashes out at the other firefighters as well as lashing out at Gabby at her father at home.
That’s coming from somewhere more than just being upset about Severide’s reaction. He’s under a lot of pressure, and there’s been no chance for him to even process his new responsibilities.
It’s also not the first time we’ve seen him take on a new role like this — remember when he was an alderman? Casey had to take a step away from that when he realized he wasn’t cut out for it, and that he didn’t enjoy it. I wonder if some of those feelings are transferring to this new position as captain.
Meanwhile, Hope proves just how manipulative she can be. She isn’t just messing with Stella by hiding her paycheck, she places herself in a position to be the hero. Even Chief Boden is impressed with her “tenacity” as she’s willing to go wear down the people in the payroll office to get Stella her check.
When she pulls through, Stella naturally questions her own assumptions about Hope — but she does so just as Brett starts to catch on to her games.
Poor Brett — she really does always see the best in people, and she’s been refusing to believe Hope could be up to anything that would hurt her or the people she works with.
And she doesn’t consider for a second that the cute doctor could be married, though let’s be honest, who would? At least she found out after just one date.
Other thoughts:
- Oh, Otis. For some reason it’s not at all surprising that your big surprise is an actual firefighting robot.
- Herrmann is the voice of reason when it comes to Otis, explaining to Casey that he just wants to feel useful. Honestly, Herrmann would be so deserving of a leadership position in this firehouse.
- When Casey goes to Boden to get advice about leadership, Boden’s response is bleak — and pretty heartbreaking. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
- I love that Dawson says she’s proud of Brett for the comment about Severide, and even Stella has to agree that she’s proud of her too.
What did you think of this episode of Chicago Fire? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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Chicago Fire airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.