Chicago Fire Review: Shut it Down (Season 8 Episode 14)

Gallo gets the chance to shine in an endearing way on Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 14, “Shut it Down.”

For the most part, Gallo’s introduction and integration into the cast of Chicago Fire has been done incredibly well, and this episode continues that when a fire hits a little too close to home.

It would be difficult enough to see a small child hurt so badly in a fire, but for Gallo, this is more painful because it reminds him of the sister he lost when she was the same age. That makes Gallo feel more invested, and he commits to continue stopping by the hospital to check on her even though it’s going to be a long recovery. 

There’s a sweetness to Gallo that really comes through here, and one of the major takeaways of who he is as a character is his attitude. Being the only one to survive that fire when he was just twelve years old could have certainly hardened him, but instead, he’s become a firefighter with a relatively positive outlook on life. It’s inspiring, and it’s certainly making him an interesting character for the show.

To make it even more emotional, Stella spends some time learning about his past after Casey points out that Gallo isn’t just having a hard time because the girl is so young, but because she’s the same age his sister was. Something about that newspaper article she pulls up makes it all feel more concrete.

Meanwhile, Brett receives a letter from her birth mother, and she asks Casey to throw it away for her so she won’t be tempted to open it. Obviously, Casey knows better and keeps it set aside instead. And thankfully, he does that twice, because Brett eventually shows up to his door wanting the letter.

This is interesting because it’s not only allowing us to see Brett’s character explored further, but it’s also providing a vehicle for to continue becoming closer to Casey.

He’s still acting just as her friend, now, but it’s noteworthy that she goes to him with all of this as opposed to either Brett or Foster. That’s not an accident. 

And the look on her face when she watches Casey in danger during a fire isn’t entirely subtle. 

The groundwork is there, and the slow, careful progression is paying off. It’s thoughtful storytelling and if it goes where it seems like it’s going, it’s going to be worth it.

While all of this is happening, there’s the overarching story of the gas leaks occurring throughout the same neighborhood. Now, at this point, if we listed every time that an episode followed the formula of “such and such mysterious thing that keeps happening in the city has the firefighters concerned,” we’d be writing a book.

However, what works well about this is that it doesn’t wind up being foul play, but instead an honest error that comes straight from the gas company. That feels realistic, and unfortunately, a little terrifying since it seems like something that could happen anywhere. 

Other thoughts:

• Joe freaking out over wedding details is both adorable and relatable. But really, 27 flavors of cake? Let’s calm down.
• Severide does need to jump in and be more helpful. Booking the venue isn’t nearly enough for the bachelor party, either.
• It’s a lot of fun to see Ritter teach Mouch some new things. And hey, even if he doesn’t actually have to prove he knows it all, the time he spends learning it may come in handy in the future.

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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