‘Chicago Fire’ 11×18 Review: “Danger Is All Around”

Chicago Fire 11×18 “Danger Is All Around” brings back Matt Casey in an hour that comes off more as a “see you later,” than another goodbye. Matt Casey might not be ready to return to Chicago full-time just yet, but this storyline seems certain to bring him back at least once more, and if the way this episode left things with Brettsey is to be believed, that story is nowhere near over.

It makes sense, in a way. Writing out a main character is always complicated, but the way Chicago Fire wrote out Casey always felt like he could come back — like he would. To be fair, the same thing happened when they wrote out Gabriela, who had a very easy way to return, and then never really did, not in the way Casey has.

Because even when Gabby returned, her return was about tying loose ends with Casey. Matt Casey, meanwhile, isn’t back just for Sylvie Brett – though there’s an open storyline there. Instead, his returns gets him back out there with Truck, allows him to interact with Stella, Boden, Gallo, and even Carver, provides us an update about his future that makes it feel like a return is inevitable and it does all of this while reinforcing why Matt Casey will always be part of Firehouse 51.

All of these are, of course, writing choices. The show could have chosen to bring back other characters they wrote out (except for the ones they killed off, and I will never, ever forgive them for Shay, even all these years later), and Casey is the one getting this storyline. So, let’s hope that means hope can turn into reality sometime in the near future and that when Taylor Kinney returns (we will accept no other possibility), he and Casey can be together again in Firehouse 51.

THIS IS STILL HOME

Casey says a lot of stuff in Chicago Fire 11×18 “Danger Is All Around” that feel like setup for an eventual return, from “this is still home,” to the very straightforward “I’d love to return, but some things have to fall into place first.” This can only be interpreted in two ways – either the show is baiting us with the possibility Casey could return because Taylor Kinney’s temporary absence has left them at a loss, or there have been conversations with Jesse Spencer that make Casey’s return a real possibility and they’re setting up a possible eventual return.

Nothing else really makes sense, and TV shows are not usually in the business of setting up things that are going nowhere. It’s no guarantee, of course, things don’t always work out, but it’s easier to feel hope right now than it has been for a while.

The rest is … easy. Matt Casey has always felt like a part of Firehouse 51. How could he otherwise, when the show was built around him and Severide? And though there are other compelling characters in the show right now, it’s hard to root against his return (and Kinney’s). Firehouse 51 is a family, and that means that even if someone leaves, they will always be welcomed back with open arms.

Plus, a Casey return frees up Stellaride, for perhaps, the next step in their marriage journey, hopefully, one without so much drama.

IS BRETTSEY ALIVE?

Brettsey was alive! And then it was sort of dead. Then it was dead dead, but then it wasn’t …except, it was? And now, well …it feels more alive than it has since Casey first left. It’s hard to interpret Casey’s lie and Sylvie’s tears as anything other than …two people who still have feelings for each other. But that part isn’t actually a surprise, it would be strange if they had somehow gotten over each other, no doubts whatsoever, so quickly. It hasn’t been that long, not really – especially considering they have had to live with the notion that they never really got all that much time together. There was no beginning, middle and end to their relationship …there was a beginning and an end, nothing more.

The thing that feels especially significant for Brettsey in Chicago Fire 11×18 “Danger Is All Around,” however, isn’t just the obvious feelings – it’s that the episode spends a considerable amount of time on Casey’s POV. He lies about being in a relationship, seems eager to spend time with Sylvie after acting very awkward around her when they first see each other, and he basically tells Stella the reason he isn’t dating anyone else is obvious. We don’t even need Severide around for Casey to be obvious about his feelings!

Before this we hadn’t really had any proof that Casey was still thinking about Sylvie. We saw Casey after his last two breakups, but we hadn’t really seen him after this one, so there was no way to gauge how dead Brettsey really was. It could have been alive for Sylvie, but if it wasn’t alive for him, then what would have been the point? Chicago Fire 11×18 “Danger is All Around” establishes this isn’t a one-sided thing, not even close, and the real question is …why now? If Brettsey can never be a thing, wouldn’t it have been easier – and better – to just kill it dead, once and for all? That they made a different choice has to mean something, otherwise, it’ll be a slap in the face of both fans who want this, and fans who don’t want this.

GRIEF DOESN’T EVER END

Gallo’s storyline in Chicago Fire 11×18 “Danger Is All Around” underscores the fact that grief isn’t a straight line, and loss isn’t something you ever get over. You get better, and you cope, but despite what people say, you never really move on. You just find a new normal, one that works for you. And this is especially true when it comes to the kind of loss Gallo suffered, the kind of loss he might suffer again when he’s finally allowing himself to open up to the possibility of the good parts.

Carver is an important part of this Gallo storyline because just as Gallo was there for Carver once before, Carver is there for Gallo this time. There to remind him to seize the good because the bad, well, you can’t escape that. There to tell him that loss is hard, and will continue to be hard, but sometimes shutting down means you avoid the pain, but also the love.

It all works with Carver’s character, and with Gallo’s, and it makes it feel like Carver really does have a place in Firehouse 51 – which is why it’s so concerning that it all seems to be leading towards …another love triangle? Because there’s now a vibe between Violet and Carver, but still feelings between Gallo and Violet, and boy, that’s going to be awkward when Gallo finds out.

We don’t want it. We really, really don’t. Let Carver and Gallo bond without this added drama. And let Violet have the time she needs to properly heal.

Things I think I think:

• Okay, but what in the world is this show playing at with Violet and Carver? And is it more about Violet and Carver or about …Carver and Gallo?
• We were all rooting for Tony to break the record, not just Cap and Mouch.
• Casey knowing where Severide was warmed my heart. There’s that, at least.
• The way Casey didn’t even NOTICE Violet next to Sylvie.
• How could anyone believe Casey’s “I’ve been seeing someone too”?
• This feels like season finale setup, at least.
• I’m glad we’re getting a Gallo storyline that isn’t about his love life.
• But Ritter also needs that, and a storyline that has nothing to do with Gallo or Violet.
• “I can’t think of anyone more trustworthy.”
• CASEY.
• I would like to hug Gallo. For like, a minute.
• “I’d love to return, but some things have to fall into place first.” LIKE WHAT?
• The Casey and Gallo save was perfection.
• Look, the episode gave Brettsey more hope than the episode Casey left and last year’s finale combined.
• WHY THIS CLIFFHANGER?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 11×18 “Danger Is All Around”? Share with us in the comments below.

Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.