Chicago Fire - Call It Paradise - Review

“United we move forward.”

It’s chilly in Chicago. No, chilly isn’t right. Chicago is a frozen tundra. Yes. With the wind-chill, it’s negative 40 degrees, and all emergency services are down. In the words of Chief Boden, “It is war out there, and we’ve got to be prepared.” The cold sets the tone for the episode, as just about every storyline revolves around it.

The ambulance is temporarily out of service, and Cap volunteers to fix it. I think this is the most screen time Cap’s ever had. When the ambulance is finally up and running again, Peter hears radio chatter (as the normal channels are down) about a possible call, and he and Sylvie head out. They get to an abandoned warehouse of sorts and due to a pair of wacked-out drug addicts, Sylvie and Mills are split up.

For an all-around good episode, the scenes with Mills and Brett this week were boring. Normally, their scenes are among my favorites, so I don’t know what it was about this episode, I just wasn’t invested.

After a few hours of no contact, Cruz, who is toeing the line of earning Worry Wart as a nickname, sends out a desperate plea for contact to Ambulance 61. Truck and Squad are on scene soon, and help Mills and Sylvie wrap up the call, thank goodness. It was so boring. And seriously, if Cruz and Sylvie last much longer, I’m going to write a letter.

Speaking of Cruz, he is such a baby! Look, no one enjoys negative 40 degree weather. NO ONE. But suck it up, quit complaining, and do your job. I had zero tolerance for him in this episode.

“I barely survived my last Chicago winter, one more might kill me.”

Well, then you can leave Chicago. I, for one, wouldn’t miss you in the slightest. Seriously, Cruz was good for nothing in this episode.

Chief Boden wants Papa Boden to take part in a cancer treatment trial, but Papa Boden won’t have it. All he wants is that dang party and then to go out on his own terms. Last week I mentioned that I was skeptical of Papa Boden and what he’s really up to. I carried that skepticism throughout this episode too.

But, I was wrong. While looking at a family album back at Boden’s house, Papa Boden passes away. Seeing Boden find him, after talking with him just moments before, was absolutely heartbreaking.

Captain Cunningham meets Severide at Firehouse 51 after he ignores her many calls. She wants Severide’s help with an open case, possibly arson. Severide reluctantly agrees to look at the images, and he’s actually able to determine what happened. Cunningham is pleased, and even offers Severide a position with arson investigation. It’s an interesting offer, and he would be fantastic at it, but I knew right away he wouldn’t take it. Severide loves what he does and he’s phenomenal at it. He’s not giving up his lieutenant position anytime soon…or is he?

Firehouses are safe havens for unwanted babies; you can drop off a baby at a firehouse, no questions asked. Dawson finds a baby outside the firehouse and I don’t know if it was that cute baby or if we saw a side of Dawson we haven’t seen in a while, but I didn’t hate Dawson this week. In fact, I felt like I was watching the old Dawson, the Dawson I really liked and respected.

Things do get a little crazy when the baby’s supposed mom shows up wanting the baby back. Crazy Lady insists that it was the baby’s father who gave up Grace (the baby), and Crazy Lady wants her back. The firehouse can’t just give the baby back, so they tell her to come back with proper documentation and she can have a sit-down with the proper department people. Something is obviously not right, and Gabby senses it right away. When a pediatrician comes by to check on the baby, Gabby shares her concern. But, the doctor says that for a preemie, the baby is in great shape.

While everyone but Dawson and Chief Boden are out on a call, Crazy Lady shows up with “paperwork”. Dawson’s suspicions about Crazy Lady are confirmed when she tells Dawson how the doctors called the baby the healthiest, most beautiful baby they had ever seen. Busted! Crazy Lady knows she’s in trouble, so naturally, she whips out a gun. But thankfully, Truck and Squad pull in and Crazy Lady realizes she’s outnumbered and quickly runs off.

Oh Casey and Dawson, how you play with my emotions. They’ve been frustrating, to say the least, but boy was their chemistry back in full throttle this week. Now that’s the Casey and Dawson I love! Where have they been? I’ve been tough on both of them this season, especially Dawson. And just when I declared I didn’t like her anymore, she goes and has an episode like this.

For you Casey and Dawson shippers out there (I am still all aboard that ship, my friends), this week was a step in the right direction. We got a glimpse of what Mama and Papa Casey will look like (yes, I say will), and I love it! Seeing Casey react to Dawson and the baby was perfect, and he was clearly concerned when he walked in to see a gun pointed at Dawson. Casey and Dawson had so many great moments this week – it really did feel like a flashback to before they dated, when that chemistry was building.

Dang it Severide! Way to ruin the Casey and Dawson train. Severide suggests that it’s time for Casey to move on, and Casey agreed…too quickly. Later that night at the luau, Casey spies a girl, who we will call Bar Slut (because come on, she couldn’t look more like one if she tried), and goes home with her. NO! It’s just a rebound, right? It has to be. It is.

After the luau, Severide heads home and pops in one of the home DVDs he made with Shay. I think Severide is finally in a place where he can watch a video they made and genuinely love and cherish the times they spent together with a smile on his face. Of course, seeing him watch the video made me cry. It also got me thinking that he might end up taking the arson job, because of Shay.



What did you think of the episode? Is Dawson back to her old self? How long will Casey’s fling last? Will Severide take the arson position?

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.