Chicago Fire Review: No Such Thing as Bad Luck (Season 7 Episode 18)
I’m happy pretty much any time Boden gets a good storyline, and Chicago Fire Season 7 Episode 18, “No Such Thing as Bad Luck,” doesn’t disappoint in that regard.
I would have liked to see it all developed a little more, but the focus is interestingly on parenting for Boden. His own concerns about his child up wind up changing when runs into an old friend/girlfriend at a fire.
She’s the one that needed to be rescued, but then Casey brings up concerns and he and Severide believe that the woman, Jasmine, hasn’t been telling the full truth and that she could be in danger.
It’s a nice little look into Boden’s past at first. There’s a flicker in his eye when he sees this woman, and it’s fun to see him interact with someone from his teen years.
But even as she tries to push him away, his worries make him that much more focused on making sure she’s okay. That’s encouraged by Donna, which shouldn’t go unnoticed.
She’s quick to be concerned and supportive of Boden wanting to check on Jasmine, as opposed to being jealous. It’s wonderful to see.
It turns out that the danger comes from Jasmine’s son, and Boden arrives (in true Chicago Fire fashion) at just the right moment. He has the perfect balance of stern reasoning and quick thinking, trying to reason with the boy and then getting the gun away from him without letting anyone get hurt.
Those are the kinds of moments that make me enjoy Boden storylines so much. He’s a character who can show so much with his eyes and his voice, and when we get to focus on him, we remember what a complex character he really is.
Meanwhile, Cruz is set to get an award for his work from the Chicago Fire / Chicago P.D. crossover episode, but the news is complicated by the fact that he’s feeling put down a bit by Severide.
It’s the second time in a row we’ve seen a supervisor scold another member of the fire department, and holy cow, please note the difference. On Chicago Fire Season 7 Episode 17, “Move a Wall,” Casey lets his temper show when he blasts Herrmann for making a mistake.
On this episode, Severide scolds Cruz, but he does so in a way that shows his leadership skills, even pulling him aside to talk calmly about the issue. It’s still uncomfortable to see any character get scolded, but it has to happen sometimes. Unfortunately, Cruz wears his heart on his sleeve and this gets to him.
What I love about Cruz on this episode is that so much happens without him saying a word. It’s his actions, it’s his face, and it’s his posture. Joe Minoso does a really great job showing that emotion with nuance throughout the entire hour.
When it’s time for the ceremony, Cruz is surprised by who will be speaking about him and giving him his pin. It’s Severide.
It’s a sweet little moment where Kelly speaks highly of Cruz, noting that he’s not only great at his job but that he’s a good man who he himself has something to learn from. It all goes back to the most important part of the show, which their found family and how meaningful that is.
And speaking of Severide, he’s missing Stella, but it’s not clear what’s going to happen next for these two. He’s been hanging around the bar when she works, and offering to help with small things — even the “good luck” mug situation.
But Foster wards him off a bit. There’s a small part of me that wishes she hadn’t, but mostly, I love the sisterhood that’s already formed and I love that she sees how easily Stella could be hurt again.
It also serves as a nice reminder that even if you do want these two back together again, Severide put Stella through too much for them to be able to go back to the way they were easily.
It’s good storytelling and it’s thoughtful character development for there to be some caution here. It would feel unsatisfying, and a little cheap, if Stella just went back to him because he’s being sweet and showing interest again. There’s too much going on beneath the surface that needs to be addressed first, one way or another.
Other thoughts:
- The good luck mug! It’s at least a relief that it doesn’t turn out to be something more sentimental for Herrmann.
- It’s a nice detail that Brett ends up being the one to go to Cruz’s ceremony.
- I love that Stella doesn’t actually need any help dealing with the drunken patron who wants another beer. She basically diffuses the situation on her own, even if it does start the problem with the mug.
What did you think of this episode of Chicago Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c 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.