Chicago Fire - Madmen and Fools - Review

“We all get invested, but there’s a line you can’t cross, okay? Don’t get involved.”

First, I want to talk about the new cast photo that was released. Yes, all of the major characters are included. I was surprised to see Sylvie included, as she is still a recurring character. Newhouse, on the other hand, was not included. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, or maybe Newhouse should be worried…

I’ll always be honest in these reviews, so I feel obligated to say I didn’t really care for this week’s episode. Unfortunately, I think it’s because Casey’s “Knight in Shining Armor” story took center stage, and I hate to say that Casey has not been captivating as of late.

What I was really hoping for early on this season was a lot of Casey/Severide scenes, and I think we’ve had one or two. Casey just hasn’t been the lead he should be and I hope it’s turned around soon.

Okay, ranting over.

Picking up where last week’s story left off, Casey is still fighting his sister Christy’s battle. Casey wants Christy to fight her soon-to-be ex-husband Jim for more support, and she just wants to let it go and move on.

Casey approaches Newhouse for a good divorce attorney and of course, he delivers. When Christy still says she doesn’t want to pursue, Matt can’t let it go and tells Newhouse to dig deeper.

“Dig deep enough, sooner or later, you are going to find a body.”

Oh Newhouse, only you (a burned spy) can charm Connie. He uses her computer (maybe because she has access to files?) and gets info on Jim’s new squeeze, Carrie, who apparently has a warrant out for her arrest. Casey blackmails Jim into giving Christy the money she and Violet deserve. Good for them, but that story line was boring.

On the first call of the week, a little boy has his head stuck in the balcony railing. When the mom protests having him taken to the hospital, Sylvie insists on taking him anyway. The boy is taken away from his mom at the hospital, as there is a past record of abuse.

The mom, Mrs. Keating, stops by the house to explain how she fought for her son and got rid of her abusive husband. She asks Severide and Sylvie for help and Severide harshly tells her it’s not their problem. I was so impressed with the way Sylvie handled the whole situation this week. Instead of letting people walk all over her, she stepped it up and told Severide he was wrong.

Of course, Severide warns Sylvie to not get involved, because of Shay. He brings up the suicide case that both Shay and Dawson dealt with last season. Sylvie tells him to be human being, and they go to help the mom. I really did think (and hope) that Severide would find his way back to normal through time spent with Casey and/or Dawson. I’d still like to see that, but I also absolutely loved his time with Sylvie this week. I really think she’s getting to him, and I see a real friendship (maybe more? One day?) growing.

Sylvie really stepped it up this episode. I think letting go of her fiancé helped her realize that she is tough and strong and able to thrive in Chicago. I’ll admit, I didn’t care for her at first and was skeptical with her clearly being Shay’s replacement. I’m pleasantly surprised with her character and love the way she now fits into the house. I’ve said for weeks I hope she sticks around for a while, but now, I hope she sticks around for good. According to the new cast banner, she might be doing just that.

Sylvie and Severide had a lot of screen time together this episode, and I have to say, I absolutely loved it. I’ve said it before, I really like the chemistry between these two (again, not necessarily romantic chemistry, though I’m not opposed). He even asks her to go to Vegas with the squad (and by that of course, I just mean Severide, because everybody else bailed). I was mad at her for saying no, but fine. If the writers want to develop that a bit more, I’ll trust them.

The wonderful subplots of the week:

Peter takes Newhouse up on the extra job offer. After shift, Newhouse and Peter pull up to a sketchy place, and Newhouse tells Mills to keep the car running and call him if anyone comes. Moments later, shots are fired and Newhouse comes running to the car carrying a dog. So, totally normal after-hours gig. Basically, Newhouse has this sketchy side business that pays him in cash, so I’m betting illegal. Or at least, highly frowned upon.

When Mouch, Cruz, and Otis see the giant wad of cash Peter gets from his job with Newhouse, they want in. Newhouse’s face was priceless. He’s clearly not letting any of them in on a job, ever. But can you imagine? It would be hilarious!

Ex-job titles in the running for Newhouse:
1. Burned spy
2. Bounty hunter

Later, we briefly see Newhouse at home with his daughter. He’s looking for his phone, and realizes he left it in the car. It was at that moment I knew something bad would happen. Thankfully he’s not killed, though his sketchy business may lead him to that point (I’m hoping not).

I really believe that you don’t know how much you love a character until that character is in danger. Needless to say, I really love Newhouse. Can we do away with the random nobodies on Squad and focus more on Newhouse? And bring back Clark? Ah, wishful thinking.

I was impressed with how Casey handled Dawson as the candidate this episode. He kept it completely professional and even reminded a complaining Dawson that she needed to go to Herrmann. I don’t see this professionalism lasting long, but it was nice at least for now.

Herrmann basically sidelines Dawson during their first call, and then puts Dawson through some crazy training at the house, something he calls the Christopher Herrmann School of Firefighting. Dawson is not enjoying it, to say the least. In my favorite line of the episode, a frustrated Dawson yells to Peter, “I have a fiancé I can’t marry and a mentor who’s treating me like a child!” I forget sometimes that Peter and Dawson were once a thing. I love their chemistry, and I’d like to see them together more.

On the second call, Dawson gets to actually do her job. Scratch that, it seems she wanted to do her old job. Am I reading too much into this? Her first instinct seemed to be the victim who needed medical attention, and in that moment, it was clear she missed being a paramedic. Well I miss her being a paramedic too! I love Sylvie, but oh how I would love to see Dawson and Mills paramedics together.

And finally, congratulations on the weirdest closing scene I have seen, maybe ever. Let me just re-paint this picture for you. A random girl walks up to the craps table, stands right next to Kelly (but doesn’t look at him), says two words to him, and walks away. Kelly asks her to come back and play and she does, with a stroke of beginner’s luck. So naturally, she and Kelly start making out just because. Totally normal.

Who is this girl, why is she kissing a complete stranger, and why should I care about her? It was just weird.


What did you think about the episode? Will Dawson continue on the firefighter path? What would turn around Casey’s lackluster story line?

About the Author - Meghan Reynolds

A Colorado native, Meghan was born a raised a Denver Broncos fan. Aside from football, she loves storytelling, whether it be movies, television, books, or music. Some of her favorite shows of the past and present include LOST, Friends, The Office, Scandal, Chicago PD, and Chicago Fire. She is excited to be reviewing two of those shows for SpoilerTV, Chicago PD and Chicago Fire.