Chicago Fire - Episode 2.01 - A Problem House - Screener Review

NOTE: This review contains possible spoilers. Read at your own risk.




The season premiere of Chicago Fire introduces a new character and antagonist named Gail McLeod (The Killing’s Michelle Forbes). She is in charge of making budget cuts and doesn’t show remorse to shut down fire houses. She tells Boden that 51 are on the short list. After an intense meeting with McLeod, Boden must tell the firefighters about the new changes due to budget cuts, which do not sit well with the team. This consists of overtime paying not being available. The squad must have a locker partner, which mostly everyone does not like.

The late Andy Durden’s wife, Heather is still grieving over his death and is comforted by Casey. Like her grieving over someone she cared about the most, Casey is still thinking about her late fiancé and Gabriela Dawson and him decide to go out for a drink to take his mind off of things.

Severide has so many issues to deal with such as the baby situation with Renee, being targeted by an arsonist after his badge number was on the building and his car being blown up.

Shay and Dawson had many situations to deal with:
- Finding a bloodily wounded guy thrown off the car and Dawson tries to save his life.
- Trying to save a mother with chest pains from a burning house on the fourth floor.
Shay's issues are more than Dawson as she is anxiously awaits to take care of Renee's Baby.

Despite Peter Mills’ bitterness of finding out that he did not make squad, he is still at the fire department as a candidate. Later, he meets up with Detective Antonio Dawson while working out. Dawson says he saw his police application. He also lets Mills know that he would make a great cop.

There is a new firefighter transferring from another department named Jeff Clarke. He’s the guy who took Mills’ potential position for Squad. Also, he is asked by McLeod to look out for 51 due to the bad reputation that they had especially with the sexual harassment from last season.

Meanwhile, Mouch has brought home a new girlfriend named Mari. Also, he decides to run for union president against Hermann’s enemy, Greg Sullivan. The episode ends with a shocking arrest.

What I liked about this episode:
- Respectfully remembering Andy Durden’s death.
- The bar scene where a patron bonds with Gabriela Dawson.
- Cruz going secret shopping at Game Day but turned out he had fun at that place.
- Hermann going crazy about his nemesis, Greg Sullivan running for union president.
- The chemistry between Mouch and his girlfriend, Mari.
- Mouch takes a stand to run for union president against Sullivan.
- Gail McLeod in her office explaining to Jeff Clarke about 51 and her sabotaging them.


What I didn’t like:
- No Renee as I was anticipating her return after the end of the season finale.
- The episode did not explain why Mills came back to the fire department.
- The episode did not explain how Mari and Mouch met.


Overall, the Season 2 Premiere was great to watch. In my opinion, having some new faces coming in will make me tune into the show every Tuesday. Grade: B+

Here are some sneak peeks of the season 2 premiere.

Also, there are some promotional photos for this episode.

Here is the Season 2 Promo. Starting September 24, Chicago Fire airs Tuesdays at 10PM after NBC's smash hit, The Voice.