Chicago Fire Season 11 Episode 18 Review: Danger is All Around

Any excuse to bring Matt Casey back to Chicago Fire is a good one, even if it feels wildly convoluted. And when Jesse Spencer returns as Casey on Chicago Fire Season 11 Episode 18, “Danger is All Around,” that’s exactly what it feels like. 

He’s back in Chicago because of a Homeland Security Task Force.

He’s also chosen Stella to be a liaison. It’s all a surprise, especially for Brett. And I’m not entirely sure I buy that he’d show up like that without so much as a text message.

Even the explanations about the task force and why Casey chose Stella to be part of it all feel thrown together. It’s a shame, really. His return could have carried a lot more weight to it with even just more details and realism.

After all, there has to be an explanation that has Casey in and out quickly. That explanation also has to have him visiting at a time when he couldn’t see his best friend. But everything about it is too quick, and the dialogue and brief scenes leave these explanations feeling thin. 

All of that said, it does feel good to see Casey back.

And if any part of this is realistic, it’s how awkward Casey and Brett are when they see each other.

It’s friendly, and it’s clear there are still feelings there. That’s expected given the only reason they called things off was that a long-distance relationship wasn’t doable. 

Both actors play the subtleties of all of that well, even as poor Matt lies and says he’s seeing someone back in Portland. 

The best part of Casey’s return, though, is that he takes a day to do a ride-a-long.

Stella even treats him like a new candidate. He shows his talents during drills and proves he’s still one of the best there is. He even helps Gallo with an amazing save.

It makes for a feel-good return. He even keeps the door open to returning to Chicago one day.

When Boden asks him when he’ll be back, he doesn’t say “never.” He just notes that there are several factors to consider.

Meanwhile on this episode, Gallo’s aunt shows up.

Her visiting Chicago brings back some deep emotions and trauma. She should have been around to care for him after he lost his parents and sister in the fire, but she deserted him and left him with an uncle he barely knew instead.

Now, she’s back to make amends, and he’s not having it.

I really appreciate that we get to revisit Gallo’s backstory in this way. It’s such a key part of who he is as a person and as a firefighter. 

It winds up being Carver who acts as a mentor to Gallo with this. He convinces Gallo that there’s something to be said for her trying to make things right, even if it is so many years later. 

Unfortunately, he gets a message from her that leads to a tragic cliffhanger. It’s a little too perfectly timed, but an emotional moment nonetheless. He arrives to see she’s been in a wreck, and it looks bad.

No matter how that shakes out, this has the potential to have a profound effect on his character. 

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Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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