There’s a lot we love about One Chicago shows beyond ships but, let’s face it, we can’t live without ships! And couples are important to the emotional development of the characters in Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med, so we’re going to analyze the progress of our beloved ships each week in a roundtable.
All our feels about these ships will be summarized here and we’re only going to dedicate ourselves to them for, you know, reasons … but you can check our full reviews if you want much more. And now, let’s take a look at the love lives of our favorite firefighters, cops and doctors!
Here we go!
Chicago Fire came for our feelings. Why do you think it’s “not so easy” for Casey to talk to Brett? Do you think she knows how he feels, or does she need Casey to follow his advice and act? What did you think about that last scene of Severide and Casey looking at the loves of their lives, and why can’t you stop crying thinking about it? Stellaride is close to a proposal! Do you want that?
Raquel: Casey you need to tell Sylvie! She is not a fortune teller, for God’s sake! If she was, she would already be with you. If she knew, you would have been back together a long time ago because there would be no doubts or fears on her part. She loves you, dummy.
I think this is just an excuse. For Casey “it’s not that easy” because it means just … it just means having to open his heart wide, give it to Brett to do whatever she wants with it. For her to hold it … or for her to destroy it. And that scares Casey. It terrifies him. Because … he already took a risk once and his heart broke. He barely endured it, he could barely stick the pieces together … if it happens again … he’s not sure he can do it again.
And it’s hard, and it’s painful, and he’s so scared … that he doesn’t know how to deal with all of this. He doesn’t know what it means. If Grainger is right, what does it mean? Because Sylvie didn’t get close to him that way … is she still on the page of forgetting him? Will she believe him if he tells him that Gabby means nothing? And if she does, what will happen? Because Casey is terrified that Sylvie will reject him … but he’s also terrified of the future.
It’s what he wants. A life with her. A future with her. But, sometimes, the big steps, of which we are most sure, are the ones that give the most vertigo. It is not easy to go for your dream, to fight for it. When you feel that it’s close just … you feel that knot in your stomach, that fear of the unknown … that wonderful fear that is the best we can feel.
So Casey doesn’t know what to do. The man is a little slow and he didn’t realize that Sylvie needs precisely this, that he fight for her. And I’m sure he will.
Severide. My God, Severide, I love you. He is the perfect boyfriend. The perfect man. When asked how to show character growth, a wonderful evolution over the years, Severide is the answer. And I love him here. Pending at all times what was happening with Stella, worried about her … but also nervous about the future. Wishing to live it and with that feeling of vertigo that we talked about before. And also with fear of her rejection, that she is still at the point of not wanting to marry.
But the best thing about Stellaride is that they have grown together in a precious, special and magical way. And I love it when Severide doesn’t take shit from Casey. That’s good advice, but he should follow it too. Don’t try to fix other people’s lives if you don’t have your shit together first, Casey. Of course I want a proposal from Stellaride. I want it like yesterday and I’m going to cry when it happens. I know.
That last scene is … the future. And yes, I cry every time I see it because it is a perfect shoot of what awaits us. The future never felt more perfect … and I never wanted to get there more.
Lizzie: Kelly Severide, light of my life. I never thought I’d say this, but what an episode for Severide. The heart eyes. The way he loves Stella. The way he wasn’t putting up with any shit from Casey. This is the Severide I’ve always wanted, the one the show has always deserved, and to see him get here makes my heart grow three sizes.
And yes, I want a Stellaride proposal, because that’s what they want. They love each other, and they want to be together, they are better together, which makes it incredibly easy to root for them to get just that. And, as you all know, I’m a big Stella fan, so whatever makes my girl happy, I’m here for.
Back to Brettsey, no, I don’t think she knows, Casey. If she knew, she wouldn’t have stopped you! She needs you to say to her everything you’d made obvious to other people. Just, use the same words. It’s as simple as that. Because everyone BUT her can tell you absolutely love her. Don’t you see how that’s a problem? With Severide you’re basically at the I care so little about Gabby that I’m just going to call her Dawson stage, and with Sylvie you’re like yes if you say I need to think about this maybe I do. So of course she doesn’t get it! There’s nothing TO get. Use your words, cause I’m tired.
Finally, the scene at the end, with Kelly and Matt looking at Stella and Sylvie ….was I the only one that got a chill? Talk about setting up the future, right there. And what a fun future it is.
Samantha: What an episode for Severide! I already loved him, but this episode made me love him even more. The way he loves Stella just makes my heart swoon. Kelly Severide is the boyfriend every girl wants and needs.
As for rather or not I want a Stellaride proposal, the answer is yes. A million times yes. They are the definition of soulmates. They make each other better, on and off duty. And it’s no small thing that Severide is thinking and talking about marriage. We’ve come so far since the circle of Severide. The fact that a Stellaride proposal may be in the near future is everything, and Severide actually mentioning the word marriage was music to my ears.
Now on to Brettsey. No, I don’t think she knows how he feels. Casey needs to follow his own advice and act. Tell her how you feel, Casey. It actually is that simple. The only reason she thinks Dawson is an issue between you guys, is because you led her to think and feel that way. The only thing Brett’s been led to believe is that you haven’t gotten over your feelings for Dawson. If you want her to believe otherwise, you have to TELL HER. Use your words. We all know you’re capable of doing it. Heck, we’ve seen you tell Severide EXACTLY how you feel. Brett needs you to say to her everything you’ve said and made obvious to other people.
And finally, that ending scene. Matt looking at Sylvie, Kelly looking at Stella. They are both so in love. It’s painfully obvious. I think we got a glimpse of the future, and the future is beautiful.
Logan: Kelly Severide has grown so much and that alone makes me want to cry! He went from finding Mouch and Trudy boring because they wanted to sit on the couch and watch TV together back in season four to actually finding someone he looks forward to doing that with himself! That cigar chat where he turned to Casey and said he wants to talk to Stella about getting married left me cheering! What a mature and grown up thing to do! You go, Kelly Severide! You commit to your amazing goddess of a girlfriend! Go all in! We’re all here for it!
This episode was truly a love letter to Kelly and Stella’s connection and it was beautiful to watch! Severide being nervous for Stella, reassuring her when she needed it, simply being there for her when she didn’t, staring at her with the biggest teariest heart eyes I have ever seen, and then glowing with pride when she passed her test like he always knew she would! He was perfect from beginning to end!
And the way Stella threw herself at him when she found out she passed! Oh god, please get married, make babies, be happy forever after! They deserve all of that and so much more!
But I also love that Severide is very aware that Stella might not want to get married and is considering that when contemplating a proposal! Men of the world, take note! Not all women want to get married or see marriage as the be all and end all of commitment! Be like Kelly Severide, don’t assume that’s what every woman dreams of! Consider our experiences and past pain and the heavy things we confess to you before you simply pop the question out of the blue! We like that!
Now for Brettsey, I love that this episode used one small scene to make it clear to Severide and the audience that Matt is ready to move on from Dawson. But there’s just one small problem…
He still needs to make that clear to Brett.
At this point, I’m not sure how Casey still doesn’t understand the problem. Sylvie has all but spelled it out for him. She has told him multiple times that she thinks he’s still in love with Gabby and never once has he made it clear to her that he’s over her the way he made that clear to Severide. So, no! Of course Sylvie doesn’t know how he feels about her! And I’m not sure why he would think she does!
He’s told other people everything he should be saying to Sylvie and I understand that maybe being face to face with her short circuits his brain, but the time has come, Matt. It’s time to put on your big boy pants and tell her how you feel in no uncertain terms! If she insists you’re in love with Gabby then you say, “No, I’m not.” It’s really not that hard. Stop saying things like “I don’t know” or “Regardless of Gabby”. Stop staring at her in stunned silence. Stop making vague statements like “You were right” without telling her exactly what she was right about!
I love you, Matt Casey, but man you are not making this any easier on yourself. You may think she knows, but isn’t it better to be explicitly clear so there’s absolutely no question that she knows? Kelly was right. You need to follow your own advice and act! You might find that Sylvie’s open to a lot more than you think once she truly knows how you feel!
Also, that last scene at Molly’s better be the vibe for season 10! It was everything I’ve ever wanted! Stellaride and Brettsey being happy and smitten and so very proud of each other! They are my fantastic foursome and I need the show to give me more of them together! Get Brettsey together so they can go on double dates or maybe investigate weird cases together! Clearly, Stella and Sylvie have their own investigative genes based on episode 13 and episode 11! Let’s get this quartet started and make them the best couple friends we’ve ever seen on television! I’m ready!
Chicago PD gave us a good dose of Upstead angst. Do you think Voight is right or is it fear that he is right that makes Hailey act the way she does? What do you think of Hailey’s decision to change partners? What do you think Voight meant by that final phrase? Is that phrase the beginning of the end for Upstead, at least for a little while?
Raquel: I have to say I don’t like the way Chicago PD treated Upstead this week. It’s like drama for drama’s sake. I think the issue of whether being together affects them professionally was something that had to be addressed … but not like that. I mean, I don’t like that they show Hailey so … insecure about her decisions and what she’s doing.
And yes, I think the fear that Voight is right is what makes her act like that. At some point, she can’t stop wondering if she would have done something different if she wasn’t in a relationship with Jay. But … it’s unnecessary drama. They have to talk about this but they make a grain of sand like a huge mountain and all this was not necessary when it can be solved with a conversation.
I particularly hate the way that last sentence is phrased. Voight wants to show that Hailey is the dark and Jay is the light. Why the hell? I mean, yeah, Hailey broke the rules a few times but Jay too and having Voight saying all this is like the most hypocritical thing ever.
As for Jay … it’s not like he’s an angel either. In fact, I think Voight sees him a bit like that. As the moral counterweight to him. She always saw Antonio like that … and now he sees the same in Jay but it’s not like that. Jay is not Antonio and he is not Voight’s moral counterweight. Jay is … he breaks the rules if he thinks it’s the right thing to do and especially if there is someone he loves involved. Exactly like Hailey. Exactly as Voight. Exactly like Adam. Exactly like Kim. Exactly the same as everyone.
So I hate that thing of Hailey is dark. That’s bullshit! Hailey is not darker than the others. And the great thing about Upstead is that they blend seamlessly. When one of them gets too carried away, the other is always there to support them but also to prevent them from doing something that they will regret later. They share everything, their lights, their shadows, their light, their darkness. They are partners, in every sense of the word. And that is not going to change.
That said, I think Voight definitely got into Hailey’s head. After all, we witnessed it throughout the entire episode. That is why she asked for a change of partner. So she tried to prove herself in front of Voight. So … this unnecessary drama may be the reason Hailey decides to get away from Jay for a while. To reevaluate whether she can live with Jay as her partner in both aspects of her life.
It would be a stupid and pointless decision … but it is something that I do not rule out, especially since both Upstead and Burzek have made great strides this season and Chicago PD has not shown us two happy couples together before … I don’t know if this will be the first time they do it. Fingers crossed.
Lizzie: I just wrote an article about this, so I don’t want to repeat myself, but I think Voight was only there to add unnecessary drama, and to make Hailey question herself. I’m not too fond of how the show continues to try to paint Hailey as dark for decisions absolutely everyone on this unit has made. And to bring Voight, of all people, into it. Just reeks of manufactured drama, because God forbid a couple gets to be happy on this show.
I just hope they allow the resolution to this to be organic, aka Jay and Hailey just talking to each other, working through this. I think the end conversation with Hailey and Voight, where she basically offered a change in partners was her saying I’m not breaking up with him, so, I guess I need a new partner. Voight said no.
So I don’t think this is the beginning of the end, or anything close to that. I think it’s the show harping on this storyline of Hailey and Jay having different perspectives – not always in the best way. And I also think Voight is projecting a little, because he wants Jay to be what he never has been. That’s always been his thing. And so he doesn’t want anything – or anyone – to be the reason Jay might make the wrong choices. It’s just awfully unfair to put that on Hailey.
Especially as the romantic part of their relationship doesn’t really change much. If they break up tomorrow, the feelings don’t go anywhere, and the decisions he would make based on those feelings wouldn’t change. You can’t turn off caring about someone. So really, the only sane way of dealing with this is talking about it, finding a middle ground. Because Hailey and Jay have always been each other’s balance. They can continue to be that now, if the show allows them. And they’ll be better for it.
Samantha: I think Voight was definitely getting in Hailey’s head. Upstead have been partners for a long time now, and she’s never questioned herself like this before. Not like this. Sure she’s doubted herself before. She’s human. But she’s never doubted her relationship with Jay and whether she can trust him. Voight’s words definitely made Hailey question herself, and I’m not here for it. Sure, Hailey has a little bit of darkness in her. They all do. She’s not any more dark than anyone else in the unit.
I have mixed feelings about Hailey asking for a new partner. On one hand, it broke my heart. She went from asking Voight not to separate them and reinstate them as partners last season because “they’re good together”, to now wanting a different partner because she thinks Jay and their relationship affects her too much.
They’ve always had an affect on each other. It’s part of what makes them so great together. Being an official couple is not going to change that. But on the other hand, I think Hailey asking for a different partner was her way of saying she’s in this relationship for the long haul. She’s basically saying “I’m not breaking up with Jay, so I guess I need a new partner”. So let’s get one thing clear: This is not the beginning of the end for Upstead. Not even close.
Logan: After all that waiting they made people do for Upstead, this better not be even the temporary “beginning of the end” for this ship. There’s been so much build up and to have it fizzle out after a short season like this one would be anticlimactic.
I also don’t understand the way they used Voight in this episode. He brought up the problem in the first place and then at the end reassures Hailey that she and Jay are a good team that he wouldn’t want to break up. It doesn’t make sense because if that’s the case Hank then why bring it up in the first place? Also, why just bring this up with Hailey?
I had a flashback to when Atwater got pulled up to Squad and Burgess didn’t all because she dared to date Ruzek. Mind you, Voight didn’t look down on Ruzek for dating Burgess. No it was all on Kim. That bugged me back then and this bugs me now.
There are two detectives on his squad in this relationship, he should talk to both of them. I was definitely with Jay on this one during that bedroom scene. Voight made it about their relationship, they both should have gotten to talk to him about it. The fact that Voight pinned any possible disruption on the female half of the relationship does not sit right with me.
I think Voight got in Hailey’s head. I think her instincts are just fine and Voight made her doubt. For some reason, Upton really wants to impress Hank and I’ll be honest I don’t understand why. He booted her, albeit temporarily, off the unit for acting too much like him. At that point, I’d care more about being proud of myself than making Hank Voight proud of me.
I don’t think Upton truly wanted to change partners, I think she asked to change partners because she thought she should and she thought that’s what Hank would want her to do. In my opinion, you could tell by the way she said it that she was hoping Hank wouldn’t agree with her.
As for his final phrase, I truly don’t understand why the show wants us to believe Upton would be a corrupting influence on Jay. Jay is pretty dark all on his own. He’s been through a lot and yes he is fairly rigid on playing it by the book most of the time, but even this season we’ve seen him bend the rules plenty of times. Jay doesn’t need Hailey’s influence to do that. Also Upton is not doing anything different than anyone else in the Unit, let’s be honest. What has she done that’s worse than anything current or previous characters have already done? Absolutely nothing.
Again, this putting Jay’s goodness on Hailey’s shoulders concept doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like they’re punishing the female half of the relationship for no real reason, which is what they did with Burzek in the beginning too. Can we skip that this time? There are plenty of other ways to create drama for Upstead. Let’s pick one of those in the future. And for goodness sake, do not have them become an on-again off-again mess. Burzek already has that down. We don’t need another couple to take up that mantle.
Bad decisions are still a constant at Chicago Med. Do you feel that Will was right in what he said, but that it was hypocritical for him of all people to say it? Do you think that, if this has consequences for Natalie, would it be fair? Do you think Natalie chose Will over Marcel here? Will this be the definitive end for Mancel?
Raquel: Yes, I think Will was right but of course it all felt too hypocritical coming from his lips when he did similar and worse things several times. With the departure of the actress from the show, it seems that the consequences for Natalie are inevitable and that there are consequences in this show is something welcome but not when Natalie is the only one who suffers them. Will and other characters also went overboard and nothing happened to them. It doesn’t seem fair that only Natalie has consequences.
This is definitely the end of Mancel. The actress leaves the show and Natalie chose to trust Will here over Marcel … that’s never a good sign.
Lizzie: Considering the news that Torrey DeVitto is leaving the show, I’m not even sure where this could be going other than …consequences, for Natalie. I just feel this is supremely unfair. Like, supremely. I should be feeling differently, I should be all like: yes, finally, consequences! But when they only write up consequences for some, it’s just more annoying than anything. And Will, of all people, having the moral high ground? Or pretending he does? That just rubs me the wrong way. And I want to love Will, I do!
And yes, I think this is the definite end for Mancel. They had to end it someway, considering what I said before. I’m just kinda sad they brought up Marcel’s past, made him relieve it, made him think Natalie was going to be there for him …and then ended it this way. Way to twist the knife.
Samantha: Since the news broke that Torrey DeVitto is leaving the show at the end of the season, it’s hard to not believe that there won’t be consequences for Natalie. Which to me seems a bit unfair.
Logan: So, I’m really not sure what to say here now that we know Torrey DeVitto is leaving. It seems fairly obvious where this story is heading now. But as for Will freaking out on Natalie this episode, it seemed hypocritical to me for sure. Especially considering how he unblinded a patient without authorization or disclosing that to his boss earlier in the season.
Honestly, I think if any doctor should face consequences on the show it should be Will. He’s gone rogue and played God more than any of the other doctors and yet he always seems to get away with it. So, if Natalie (and Noah earlier this season) are the examples those show chooses to use to finally have doctors face consequences then that definitely seems unfair.
I have no idea what the show is doing with Mancel. Honestly, if they knew Torrey was leaving all along then I kinda wish they wouldn’t have even gone there because now all it’s doing is hurting Crockett. I am hoping that they’ll give Mancel a bit more closure before the finale ends because right now it seems like that “I love you” they exchanged didn’t even happen.
If we’re being honest, I don’t know what Med is doing or will do in the future with their ships but it’s going to be hard to root for any ship going forward considering the fact that they’ve never been able to let a single couple have a true long term relationship that lasts.
That seems a bit weird to me when you consider they’re going into season seven, and up until now the only major exit they’ve really had was Colin Donnell, who’s on screen ship partner (Norma Kuhling) exited with him. Unlike PD or Fire, they didn’t have a Sophie or a Monica leave to disrupt their main ship so there’s no excuse for why Manstead or Chexton didn’t become a committed fixture on the show similar to Dawsey or Linstead on the other two One Chicago shows.
But I guess next season they essentially have a chance to start fresh so we’ll see what they do with it!
Agree? Desagree? Don’t hesitate to share it with us in the comments below!
One Chicago airs Wednesdays on NBC.
