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!
Chicago Fire is torn between fears and support for Stellaride and Hawkami. Did Stellaride worry you in this episode? Do you think Emma will somehow end up cracking the Hawkami unit?
Raquel: Stellaride didn’t worry me at all. Their problem is not about not loving each other or not being ready to get married. It’s all about the fear of not being good enough for other people’s expectations, of not doing the right thing for other people.
It’s a normal fear although it doesn’t make sense. A wedding is not for others, it’s for you and your love. A wedding is about you both, no one else. But Stellaride feels the pressure of trying to do what they’re supposed to do to make everyone happy…not realizing that the only ones who need to be happy with the most special day of their lives are them. The rest can go to hell. They will talk and get to that point too.
I’m proud of how Hawkami handled things. The united front is the answer. But if I’m honest, I’m a little worried about Emma blowing that up. She’ll try and I don’t rule out that she’ll make it for a while – after all, this is TV and there has to be drama – but it won’t last too long. Hawkami is here to stay. That’s a fact.
Lizzie: I wasn’t that worried about Stellaride, because I figured that, no matter their issues, they’d get to the point where they’d just talk about them. And though I’m not a fan of the pre-wedding jitters storyline in every show, I’m kinda glad Chicago Fire dealt with it this way, quickly, in one episode, and with the two of them talking about it and finding a way through, together.
It’s very Stellaride. And also, it does make sense for two people with their pasts to sort of …approach a wedding with trepidation. It says nothing about their love for each other, or their commitment. That part is clear.
As for Hawkami, the only way Emma would crack the Hawkami unit is by literally hurting one of them (please, no). She’s an obstacle, but not a romantic one. Evan and Violet are a team, and as he offered this week, they will go down together if needed be.
I don’t think that’ll be the case, I think they’re going to find a way to stop Emma, but how will she react once they do? I assume not well, and I’m worried. Mostly about Hawkins. Don’t make me suffer through a cliffhanger of something bad happening to him, please. Don’t.
Shana: I wasn’t worried about Stellaride at all—I’ve seen this way too many times on way too many shows. It almost always winds up being drama for drama’s sake; however, Chicago Fire did it about as well and true to character as it could be. And then, there was that pain in the hospital scene. So good. I love to suffer!
Emma’s giving me Kimberly on Melrose Place vibes. So…Eh. I don’t know what, exactly, she’s going to do. I just know it doesn’t feel good, especially since this series always gives us some kind of devastation to take us into hiatus.
In Chicago P.D. we have few ships moments…but we have an Upstead united front. That’s winning in our book, right? However, we do have that final scene…what was your reaction to seeing it?
Raquel: Upstead crumbs are always a win in my book! And that scene… just broke me. Seeing Hailey like this, so still, so unconscious…my heart pounded in my chest for a full minute until I was able to convince myself that it was Hailey and Chicago P.D. won’t let anything happen to her. And Jay’s face the moment he sees her. That anguish, that terror in his eyes… will haunt me forever.
Lizzie: I mean, Chicago P.D. hasn’t really been as interested in Upstead after they got married, which I admit is a bit disappointing — all we need is some acknowledgement! A line or two! Their friends saying something! Will learning about it!
But I kinda hope that last scene, where Jay and Hailey, especially Hailey, end up hurt because of Voight’s decisions, brings us some sort of confrontation between Upstead and Voight, or at least Jay and Voight. I think Hailey was right about Anna, and what she needed to know, and I think Voight didn’t keep to his “no secrets” deal, no surprise there, and now Hailey got hurt. Can’t imagine Jay will be too happy about that.
Shana: I was honestly too stuck on someone on that series thinking I needed to see the perps in the act when they were assaulting that girl to care about the ship stuff. Just, honestly, WTF. Or. Wel. I was stuck on that and Voight being awful—as usual. Voison when.
That cliffhanger of an ending definitely has my Upstead senses tingling for the finale, though. Angst or GTFO.
In Chicago Med, lies test all kinds of relationships. After what we saw, which ship do you think has a better future, and which one should be finished for good?
Raquel: Lies…yeah, they’re never good for a ship. I think Dr. Charles and his relationship should end for good. It shouldn’t have even started but here we are. End it, Chicago Med. NOW.
A ship that has a huge future and potential is Dr. Blake and Dr. Too Handsome To Be True. I think the show is investing in them and I can understand where the lies come from…and where the understanding comes from. I can feel with them and that’s all I need.
In the middle are Hannah and Will. Will can’t help but try to protect and save everyone, even though that does more harm than good and I rolled my eyes at that because it’s so typical of him…but I liked that Hannah dotted the i’s.
Of course, this ship is closer to wanting it to end for good at this point for me but they have potential…if the series decides to do it right. Only time will tell…
Lizzie: I actually think this was a good episode for Will and Hannah, and whatever the show wants them to be in the future. Will needed Hannah to confront him with his issues, and the way he always tries to save people.
It’s not a Hannah specific thing, but that doesn’t mean it’s good or the right way to support her in her recovery. And I’m glad she was clear with him. If she hadn’t, I would have thought they were falling back into worrying patterns. Now …well, who knows? Maybe, down the line, there’s a future.
As for Crockett and Pamela, they seem solid right now. She listened to him when needed, and she was also there to support him when he needed it. They seem so solid that I’m worried because the season finale is coming and Sarah Rafferty is a big star — and a recurring character too — with other projects lined up. But boy, if this relationship also goes south, how is Crockett ever gonna believe in love again?
Shana: Ok. Let’s start with Hannah and Will.
I just. Ugh. Will, sweetie. I understand—I do. You think you’re a helper…But back off. Supporting someone in recovery is not always assuming they’re going to slip up or that you need to coddle them every minute to avoid a setback. In fact, giving the message that you don’t believe in an addict’s healing is one of the easiest ways to make it all fall apart.
I know, from first-hand experience, how easy it is to want to protect something as fragile as a loved one’s sobriety. But they’re the only ones who can really do that. It’s hard, but to steal a phrase I’ve heard far too many times, “it works if you work it.” And right now, Hannah is, in fact, working it…but could something go wrong? It’s always an option.
There’s a very fine line to tread here. Yes, you want to watch for the signs of someone needing help because, even when they’re doing well, this is an illness that, even those getting help aren’t able to ask for help with when it starts to feel like a relapse is coming on.
So, you want to be ready to catch people if they fall, all without expecting the fall or giving the message that you are. Basically, there’s no real way to win other than to hope—to pray, if it’s your thing—your person can kick, and continue kicking, this disease’s ass. To steal another phrase I’ve heard even more times, “it is what it is.”
Now, specific to Chicago Med, I love that Hannah confronted Will. It’s exactly what she needed. And honestly, while her needs are most important right now, it’s exactly what they both needed if they’re ever even going to be friends. Which, actually.
Hannah probably needs a friend much more than she needs a romantic entanglement right now (said the person who lives to ship things on all the shows, all the time). So, I honestly don’t know with these two. It’s doable. The door hasn’t been barred closed or anything. Just…they shouldn’t try to force it open anytime soon either.
Now, onto the next pair of potential…somethings. I’m basically in the same boat as Lizzie on all of it. There was a lot of solid communication—even the tough conversations—and mutual support yet again this week. Pamela and Crockett really, truly, have become something good…and I’m scared, with Sarah Rafferty being the icon she is that it won’t last. I really, truly, don’t want to see what the fallout of that would do to Dr. Gorgeous. Nope. (I bet Rains would kill it, though.)
One Chicago airs Wednesdays on NBC.
I agree with a lot of what was said. However, there is a big “elephant in the room” concerning Chicago Fire; what will the fate of Brettsy be? Will they continue with the long distance relationship, break up or will Sylvie move to Portland? I think all are possible. I would hate it if Sylvie moved and I might actually throw up if that meant that Emma was staying at 51 and Violet was forced to work with her.