Chicago Fire Season 11 Episode 16 Review: Acting Up

Chicago Fire Season 11 Episode 16, “Acting Up,” makes the most out of Kelly Severide’s absence by allowing Cruz to grow as a leader.

It’s a natural, smart place for the story to go, and it’s generally just great to see Cruz get a storyline like this. He’s acting as lieutenant while Severide is away, but Boden worries that Cruz is feeling burdened by the extra responsibility.

It’s a learning curve, and Cruz is getting plenty wrong — from issues with paperwork to being able to put a new floater in his place when he needs to. But it’s nothing he can’t handle, and it’s interesting to see him struggle with the responsibility and his own self-confidence. 

The funny thing is, Cruz would usually go to Severide if he needed advice on something like this. Without him there, though, Stella Kidd takes on that role and tells him exactly what he needs to hear.

It’s a beautiful scene that feels incredibly genuine. Not only does it allow us to hear what Severide thinks of Cruz taking over, but it directly defines imposter syndrome, which is incredibly relatable. It’s also the sort of thing that makes sense for Cruz’s character. He’s always been a little warmer, more open, and more sensitive.

So it’s not surprising how much he’d internalize the troubles he has with the role and compare himself to Severide.

Stella also reminds him that he doesn’t need to be Severide. He should just be himself — and that’s what he does when he finally has the new floater meet with him and lays out some ground rules.

I hope we get to see more of Cruz’s leadership going forward, just as long as Severide isn’t gone for too long.

Stella is feeling the effects of Severide’s absence too, which is a good thing. Noting that it all feels sudden is key since that’s the way the audience feels too. I mean really, the whole thing is a bit of a stretch, even if doing something related to OFI is the thing that makes the most sense for Severide’s character.

It does worry me that Stella is over here thinking something more is going on in terms of their relationship, but she also points out she did the very same thing a year ago — so there’s that.

Meanwhile, Herrmann desperately wants Cindy to be able to celebrate that she’s had her last chemo treatment, but she’s still feeling down. She doesn’t want to celebrate when she’s unsure if the cancer is completely gone, and she also doesn’t want many people to see the way she looks.

Enter Trudy, who is always great at saving the day on Chicago Fire. The way she helps uplift Cindy in this case is really sweet and heartfelt. This storyline has been so special this season.

It’s been a chance for Herrmann to have something new to work with emotionally, and it’s also helped us fall more in love with Cindy and with the relationship the two of them have. And if we’re talking about romantic relationships on this show? I can’t think of any that rival the relationship between Herrmann and Cindy.

When she walks into the bar with her fun new makeover, she’s glowing, and the connection between Herrmann and his wife is so palpable and so sweet. It’s truly one of the best moments of the season so far.

Other thoughts:

• I wish we had a little more backstory for Carver to make him selling his car seem more realistic. It’s a sweet gesture, and it does make him fight right in on with the other firefighters who have pretty much all done something above and beyond to help someone in the community at some point, but it’s also really extreme. 
• The girl being stuck in that mask is one of the more ridiculous things we’ve seen happen on this show, and of course it’s followed by a love interest for Gallo. Of course it is. 
• Someone please give Sylvie Brett a storyline of some substance. Soon.

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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