Chicago Fire Review: Smash Therapy (Season 9 Episode 3)

After waiting a little longer for its return, Chicago Fire Season 9 Episode 3, “Smash Therapy,” feels like comfort TV. It is also, at times, pretty darn frustrating. 

Brett and Casey are taking steps backward, Severide does what he thinks is best for Stella, and Mouch loses his confidence in his abilities. It’s a pretty standard episode with no major surprises, but it’s solid. 

Brett and Casey

Casey just can’t give Brett the answer she needs to hear when it comes to Gabby, and Brett is protecting her heart in the best way she knows how. That shows growth on her part, even as she tells Casey she needs some space right now. But good gosh, it’s hard to tell now if anything will come of these two. 

Casey confides in Severide later that he’ll take a step back because that’s what Brett wants, and also because it seems to be what she needs.

What’s frustrating is that he also tells Severide he hasn’t thought much of Gabby in a long time. It’s Brett who’s been on his mind. So the question is, why doesn’t he say that to Sylvie?

And look, it’s a good thing that this has been a slow burn, and it’s even better that Gabby is coming up in the conversation. I’ve said this before. Matt and Gabby’s relationship was significant, not just to the characters but to the world of the show. It only complicates matters further that Brett and Gabby were such good friends. 

That doesn’t make me any less desperate to see this resolved, one way or another. 

Stella and Severide

Speaking of someone taking a step back… oof. Severide, this is dangerous territory, even with the best of intentions.

Stella is preparing to take her lieutenant’s test, and she’s nearly treated like a celebrity at the candidate’s meeting. But she’s not impressing everyone, as Severide finds out when he runs into Chief Conway.

Conway, not so nicely, tells Severide that everyone thinks Stella’s moving up the latter quickly because of who she’s sleeping with. 

First of all, it won’t be the first time Stella gets knocked for not being an older, white male. She’s fought this type of battle before, but this feels different, and I can’t decide if I’m glad we’re seeing it happen because it’s so unfortunately realistic, or if I’m annoyed by it for the same reason. 

What I do know, is that Severide choosing to not help her prepare and instead take a step back is not the right choice. Maybe it could be if he were honest, but he’s avoiding the issue instead. It’s not a great move if their relationship is going to stay solid. 

Mouch

My heart really hurts for Mouch on this episode. He’s an older firefighter, sure, but he’s still sharp and knows what he’s doing. It’s actually hard to believe Casey would be so quick to think it was a mistake as opposed to a problem with the machinery, but even still, it’s nice to see that Casey, Severide, and Herrmann would all support him. 

Herrmann knows his friend a little better than that though, and he makes it his mission to find out the real issue. Go figure that this can all be traced right back to Gorsch. 

It’s generally a good enough storyline, but haven’t we been here before? Sure, the circumstances are different, but the theme is the same. 

Other Thoughts:

• The most satisfying scene in this entire episode is when Brett smashes the heck out of that drone. I feel you, Brett.
• I always love getting to see these serious conversations between Casey and Severide. 
• It’s so fun to watch Boden try to hide his feelings over that standing desk. I think I’m going to like the dynamic between him and Kylie. 
• Is it me, or does it seem like the existence of the pandemic is disappearing from this world a bit? 

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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