Chicago Fire Review: A White Knuckle Panic (Season 9 Episode 15)
Joe Cruz is a rock star, and he’s definitely not a pushover.
On an episode that’s heavy on the romance, Chicago Fire Season 9 Episode 15, “A White Knuckle Panic,” also offers a chance for Joe Cruz to shine in a new way.
After saving a man from a surprising plane crash, the victim, Mark, becomes a little too interested in Cruz, and it all takes a nasty turn. The man he saves is beyond wealthy, and just so happens to be someone who invests in start-up companies.
He takes a quick interest in Cruz’s invention of the Slamigan, but the sacrifices Cruz would have to make to follow along with his plan would mean becoming someone he isn’t.
The last thing he wants to do is leave firefighting altogether to become a businessman, and he certainly doesn’t want to start traveling now that he’s about to become a father. There’s no question. He doesn’t even blink when he learns what this guy’s proposal would really mean.
Cut to Mark threatening Cruz to get what he wants. It’s too bad the fawning over Cruz doesn’t last, and instead turns into this. But here’s the thing, Cruz isn’t someone who can be threatened so easily.
Nothing is more satisfying than seeing him Put Mark in his place — and put a little fear in him — with a couple of other members of Squad standing behind him to have his back.
Truth be told, the catalyst of all of this feels a little silly, and Mark is almost too comically villainous. But what it does for Cruz’s character is wonderful to watch, and I appreciate how much the Slamigan continues to make it into stories on this show.
Meanwhile, Casey and Severide start making phone calls to help find the right place for Stella now that she’s a lieutenant. They learn from Boden, though it’s not a big surprise, that there’s not a place for her in this role at Firehouse 51. So in order to take the position, she’ll have to go elsewhere.
It’s not the most interesting thing to watch them making calls and discussing the best options, though I suppose it’s necessary.
There’s also a hint that changes are coming to Firehouse 51, and I can’t help but imagine those changes are going to include a simple fix for this problem, somehow keeping Stella right where she is.
Severide doesn’t just have helping Stella get a good job on his mind. He’s thinking hard about marriage, which seems like a logical next step for the couple we know as #Stellaride.
Stella’s said she’ll never get married again, but as usual, a good, honest talk between Severide and Casey is helpful for both of them.
I don’t know that proposing in the middle of a fire is the best idea or even the most realistic one, but it’s definitely a special, fitting thing to see Kelly get down on one knee with flames blazing behind them. And the visual of the two of them enjoying their moment in the midst of fire and smoke is unforgettable to say the least.
I mentioned that Severide and Casey’s talks usually offer inspiration for both of them, and Severide isn’t the only one of them who takes a bit of a risk for love on this episode.
Phone calls from Gabby lead Brett to feel uncomfortable and a bit emotional, but for Casey, they’re about closure. We’re not privy to exactly what Matt and Gabby discuss on their later phone call, but it does suggest a finality that we didn’t quite have before — especially considering Gabby’s visit to Chicago not too terribly long ago.
Casey finally tells Brett how he’s feeling — saying what she needs to hear for the first time. He’s in love with her and no one else. Now we can all just breathe a sigh of relief, maybe?
The moment is left to simmer. She doesn’t leap into his arms. She’s left stunned, left to think, as he turns and walks away. That seems better, because after all of the back and forth of this painfully slow burn, we don’t want to see any more questions on either of their minds.
The last key plot point of this episode is Mouch’s ceremony, which sadly feels less important than it should. Much of the focus is left to the younger members of the firehouse — with Violet, Gallo, and Ritter searching for the perfect location for a socially distanced event.
It’s a bit silly and it’s too bad it takes away from other things, though it is a lot of fun to have Trudy involved.
The ceremony winds up being exactly where it should be. It takes place just outside Firehouse 51, and it’s a nice moment nonetheless. Plus, celebrations continue, and it seems they’ll continue for a while. It’s great to see Mouch getting that kind of attention.
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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.