Chicago Fire Season 15, Episode 6 ‘Over the Edge‘ does a pretty good job with the division of labor in Firehouse 51. Kelly and Stella are the leaders, and I don’t just mean that they’re the characters we ship and have the most investment in. No, they’re literally the characters everyone is following in the Firehouse, and it’s good to see them working together and separately to keep 51 working.
But the episode also shows why, even though we have several characters we have already invested in, it’s so easy for this show to bring in people who fit pretty well with what’s going on. The foundation works, and when you’ve got a good foundation, you can do a lot with the moving parts. You can grow Vasquez little by little. You can make Violet and Lizzie’s friendship feel fundamental to what’s going on. And yes, you can even bring in some probies and make us invest.
This is a show on its 15th season. Of course things are different, and replacing Cruz is a big task, just as replacing Otis before, and Casey and Shay and so many others. But Chicago Fire has continued to do it, and though they haven’t hit a home run every time, they haven’t really struck out either. And hey, there are still plenty of reasons to keep watching.
MORE: Read what Joe Miñoso said to us about saying goodbye to Joe Cruz
IT’S COMPLICATED
Violet’s story about her mom explains a lot, but it also doesn’t really scratch the surface of her mommy issues. And those are probably not getting better anytime soon, considering the bomb Margaret Mikami drops on her this hour. Because as much as Violet has valid reasons to be upset at her mom, and to keep her distance, the truth is that this does change a lot. And Violet’s face proves that she understands that.
This is an interesting storyline for Violet, because it gives us a lot of context on her, and because the other Violet-related storyline in this episode, the one about the journalist dude, wasn’t something I could really engage with. Look, we spent a lot of time with Violet and Gallo. Then Violet and Hawkins, and Violet and Carver. We even went through our Violet and Vasquez stage. And I don’t really care for her next big storyline to be about some dude, any dude.
I would much rather have it be about her mom and about complicated family relationships in general. Especially because this also gives Lizzie the chance to be the support Violet needs, a role she hasn’t had to take as much. Ships are great! I love ships, especially in procedurals. I’ll defend them until my dying breath. Ships make the world go round and all that. But it’s also not just good, but necessary, for shows to give female characters as many storylines outside of a possible romance as men get.
MORE: Read our review of the show’s 300th episode
WHAT DOES THIS TEAM LOOK LIKE NOW?
The loss of Cruz isn’t just a problem emotionally, but logistically. His spot has to be filled. And honestly, this show has felt a little light on characters the past year or so, so even though I wasn’t always the biggest fan of the probies storyline, it’s been good to have more people around. Of course, we already knew Burke was staying past this episode and this shift. So the question was always, where would he land?
Maybe even a few weeks ago, I would have said it didn’t matter, because I didn’t care about Burke. And I can’t say he’s at the top of my list now. But, just as with Vasquez, the show has done a pretty good job of dropping enough little hints about who he really is and what could make him a good fit for 51 that I’m starting to see the vision, especially on Squad.
Of course, I’m going to need more. We’ve barely scratched the surface with him. But that’s kind of the interesting part: that he’s gone from unbearable to somewhat interesting in just a few short weeks. This show has always been pretty good with new characters, and though we never did get as attached to the other probies, that was probably by design. We were meant to keep just one.
MORE: What did Victor Teran tease about this season?
Things I think I think:
- Burke’s got a sense of humor!
- I mean, Violet and Lizzie making TikToks is hilarious.
- The picture!
- I like that we get these little Kelly and Stella moments every episode now.
- “You’re gonna be riding with Squad today.”
- Look, the little look between Stella and Kelly? I can live off little looks.
- “You don’t know my mom.”
- I love the Violet and Lizzie stuff.
- Well, budget cuts I guess? How can there just be one open spot in the entire CFD?
- “Did you fact-check it?” Yes, fact-check ChatGPT all the time.
- Well, that’s a bomb from Mom.
- Stella is indeed going the extra mile.
- Vasquez really got a read on them.
- Look, again, my full respect for firefighters because that was wild.
- Tony giving instructions to Burke!
- You get to have feelings, Violet.
- I kinda felt bad for Burke as he was leaving, thinking he was the odd man out.
- Herrmann should have stopped at the good advice.
- You lost your chance, Vasquez. You lost your chance.
- “I want you on my rig.”
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 15, Episode 6 ‘Over the Edge’? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
