Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 5 Review: On the Hook

Somewhere along the line, we’ve lost the thread. While Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 5, “On the Hook,” has plenty of fun moments, it’s another episode that makes this season seem like it’s been thrown together too quickly.

It also lacks any real action, and though it’s nice to see other kinds of calls and the lighter storylines of what goes in on the firehouse, that action and suspense are desperately needed.

I can’t help but feel like storylines are being recycled, even as new characters come into the mix. Maybe, more so, because new characters are coming into the mix. 

The mess with the defibrillator is just one example. We’ve seen plenty of episodes where something goes wrong for a paramedic, their job gets threatened, and then it turns out it wasn’t their fault after all. Heck, we’ve even seen this with new paramedic chiefs. 

And this new paramedic chief is perhaps too plainly an antagonist, looking at a seasoned paramedic as though she’s barely qualified to do her job. That type of conflict is wildly overdone by now.

Another example is the suspicious nature of the newest firefighter at 51. This is somewhat intentional, I think, because the family culture of 51 would always be hesitant of a newcomer. It’s also been the case plenty of times that newcomers have been problematic. 

That said, Carver and Gibson’s interactions make for the most interesting scenes on this episode. There’s a complexity to both characters and with both of them being new to the group, there’s a good opportunity for bonding there that’s fun to watch. Carver has brought a great energy to the show overall, and it looks like Gibson may do the same. 

My one complaint here is that Carver has done too much of a 180 from when we first met him. The growth and development is excellent, but it’s also far too abrupt. 

Meanwhile, Joe Cruz’s big conflict revisits “The Slamigan,” which is a nice callback. It’s a perfectly realistic conflict that production would be down for a product that never really needs replacing. Cruz’s panic over Javi going to college in eight years also offers a lightheartedness that’s really fitting for his character.

This could be the fun, lighthearted storyline of the episode, but the episode has another as well: Herrmann’s recliner. This is another plot point that feels all too familiar — and maybe just a little too silly.

It’s not nearly as silly, though, as the mix-up with Brett and Casey’s wedding venue. 

Tony doesn’t even seem to register Brett’s shock over this “Aquarium” not being the beautiful, nice aquarium she assumed they were going to. Worse, it once again shows that Brett is about the worst wedding planner ever to be seen.

She hasn’t spoken with the venue herself? Even though invitations have already gone out? 

All of the issues with the wedding have been too much of a stretch, making the leadup to what is one of the most anticipated weddings on Chicago Fire feel like a disappointment. (I won’t even go into the fact that we don’t get to see the bachelorette party.)

It wouldn’t be so bad, either, if these logical misfires weren’t so distracting. 

Either way, the next episode will be the wedding, and I’m holding out hope that it will be a good one.

What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 5? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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