Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1 Review: Kicking Down Doors

Chicago Fire drops a disappointing bombshell just moments into its Season 14 premiere. On Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1, “Kicking Down Doors,” Stella and Kelly learn that Stella is no longer pregnant, potentially sending their trajectory of starting a family in another direction.

It’s a frustrating turn of events, given that Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 22 ended with Stella telling Kelly she was pregnant. That felt like a major reveal and an important, pivotal moment for the two characters.

It also left audiences believing all summer that this was where the story was headed. So, to kick off the season premiere with them learning that she’s no longer pregnant feels more like a “gotcha” moment than a plot point that’s meant to offer meaningful character development.

And yes, there is character development for both of them because of that disappointment. For one thing, Stella carries her frustration to work, and it makes her have a little less patience for the new member of Firehouse 51 — Sal Vasquez. It also leaves Stella and Kelly open to a new possibility when Terry arrives, hoping they’ll be willing to take in a teenager who needs a home. 

Meanwhile, much of the focus of the episode is on the new arrival.

Sal Vasquez, played by Brandon Larracuente, is placed at Firehouse 51 under mysterious circumstances. Dom Pascal is in the meeting where this is decided, and there’s clearly more to the story than what we see in those brief moments. Pascal also isn’t given a choice in the matter.

Vasquez seems like a good addition to the team, but the story is one we’ve seen more times than I can count. He’s a mysterious new firefighter with a tendency to go rogue, and just about everyone is suspicious of him.

At this point, it’s predictable, standard stuff for Chicago Fire, and this character is going to need a lot more development to make it feel any different.

The new firefighter is also there to fill the shoes of Sam Carver, who we said goodbye to at the end of last season. It’s worth noting that Jack Damon is also gone, written out with the quick explanation that he has been transferred. 

Thankfully, though we know Ritter will be leaving soon as well (the news that Daniel Kyri was also exiting was announced earlier this year), he’s very much a part of this episode. The setup for his character’s exit seems to begin in this episode as well, and if it’s what it looks like, it will be meaningful. 

Ritter reveals to Violet and Novak that he and Dwayne have been texting with one another following Dwayne’s move to New York. It’s had him feeling hopeful that they could reconnect, but then Dwayne went silent. After asking Mouch to see if Trudy would check on him, Mouch returns to Ritter with some upsetting news: Dwayne is in the hospital with a gunshot wound.

Ritter wastes no time heading there to see Dwayne, who is clearly happy to see them. This signals the potential for reconnection — and possibly, a way to give Ritter a happy ending.

This episode also shows Mouch in his new role as lieutenant, but Herrmann is reluctant to give up his office. It seems like the sort of thing that would be automatic, maybe even managed by Pascal, but instead, it’s a struggle that’s meant to offer some levity and insight into the friendship between Mouch and Herrmann.

While it’s not far off from Herrmann’s character to want to drag his feet on something like this, the audacity to drag it out so long and to be downright manipulative about it is. It’s hard to watch, especially since it drags on for such a long time. 

The only thing that makes it better is the reveal that Mouch has played intentionally on Herrmann’s guilt, even complaining that he hasn’t been able to finish a report that, in fact, he’d turned in hours prior.

I’m excited to see Mouch really take over in this leadership role this season, though. And if this office issue is any indication, it may also provide an interesting dynamic with Herrmann needing to adjust to no longer being in that position. 

And since Firehouse 51 is facing some new challenges, Mouch’s leadership skills will probably also be tested. The calls that occur on this episode lead to a bigger plot point — the 911 call center is understaffed, the police are understaffed, and the budget cuts coming from the city are about to hit CFD as well. 

This is a topical issue that started at the end of last season. It was obvious budget cuts were on the way, and this episode highlights how, even in the early stages, those cuts are impacting the community in major ways.

911, as it turns out, has only been able to keep up with about half of the calls that come in, and when backup is needed and can’t get there, it throws the entire city into chaos. 

As much as I’m interested in what’s happening with our characters, this is the part of the episode that’s most captivating. 

It positions Pascal as a strong leader as well. While most of Chicago Fire Season 13 was about adjusting to Pascal and determining whether or not the firefighters (and the audience) could trust him, now he’s in a place where he can be seen as a leader of a team he now says he knows to be the best. And that’s a great way to start the season.

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

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