Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 7 Review: Welcome to Crazytown
Jessica Lerner
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O' Severide! Our home and native hero. True patriot love in all of his command!
For those wondering, that is a riff on the Canadian national anthem, but it felt appropriate given that Severide is literally stepping up and taking one for the CFD.
He may not want to be joining OFI, but Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 7 firmly cemented the lieutenant's fate, for the time being, as he has been temporarily detailed to the unit.
Viewers -- myself included -- saw this job change coming from miles away, but it didn't exactly go down as expected.
Yes, Severide was recruited by an eager new lieutenant at OFI about transferring, but as anticipated, the leader of Squad 3 was adamantly against the idea.
Seager: I’d love for you to come work for us Severide.
Severide: I appreciate the offer, but I’m happy where I am.
Seager: I thought you might say that but maybe take more a little more than half a second to think about it.
I thought he might have at least considered the offer for an episode or two, getting torn between his love for firefighting and his desire to do some good or potentially reap in any offered perks, such as a salary raise and promotion, before deciding to stay at 51.
What was surprising was that Severide had very little choice in the matter, as viewers' least favorite commissioner made a surprise return and ordered Severide to help clear OFI's backlog.
When it was clear that Grissom was the one behind Severide's transfer, I thought for sure it was due to some sort of retaliation for the events of Chicago Fire Season 7.
Even though Severide and his former mentor seemed to have made up, it wouldn't have been out of character for Grissom to overstep his authority and punish his former protegee for the past.
Related: Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 6 Review: What Went Wrong
However, Grissom's reasoning for transferring Severide to OFI, at least temporarily, surprisingly didn't come with any ulterior motives.
As commissioner for the entire CFD, Grissom is tasked with overseeing the department in its entirety and doing what's best for everyone.
As has been established time and time again, Severide has a unique set of skills and is wholly qualified to determine if the cause of a fire is arson.
He's made so many incredible saves, and just like his late father, he has a knack for putting the puzzle pieces together.
Public service isn’t about doing what you want to do, Kelly. It’s about sacrifice, it’s about doing what others need you to do. Right now, OFI needs help, and you are uniquely qualified to provide it.
Grissom
With OFI being short-staffed and having a huge backlog to clear, Grissom made the sound decision to assemble the best possible team to tackle the daunting task ahead, and that included Severide.
It was nothing personal against Severide, or even Grissom trying to get the lieutenant ahead in his career; the decision was made for the greater good of the department.
Grissom was even nice enough to let Severide return to 51, which he will, when the backlog is cleared.
Severide may not be happy about the transfer but it is moving forward. All he can do now is keep his head about water and try not to make too much trouble.
Herrmann: Hey, can we get this squad car moved?
Officer: I’m a little busy or didn’t you notice we got a hostage situation.
Herrmann: Yeah, no kidding, but I’m under orders to get my engine connected to that hydrant.
Officer: Yeah, sounds like your problem, not mine.
Of course, Severide didn't leave emptyhanded as a condition of him "graciously" accepting the transfer was Grissom getting Herrmann out of some hot water with the department.
Related: Get HBO via Prime Video Channels for Addictive Dramas, Hilarious Comedies & Hit Movies!
Herrmann usually has the problem of sticking his foot in his mouth and saying things that aren't exactly politically correct. I'm not always his biggest fan, but he was certainly railroaded this episode and could have lost everything.
That Officer Hartle was a massive prick, and it was easy to feel sympathy for Herrmann in this situation.
Sure, he may have overstepped by moving the police cruiser, but he had a job to do and possibly saved the lives of Casey, Severide, and the woman during the hostage situation.
Even if it wasn't clear who was at fault, Herrmann proved to be the bigger man and reached out to Hartle, trying to make amends for what went down, something that the character isn't exactly known for.
Herrmann: Do you think you might be able to talk some sense into him for me?
Burgess: Is it not obvious by my tone I’ve had my own run-ins with the guy. No, Herrmann, there’s no talking sense into Hartle. What you can do – maybe – is to appeal to his sense of victimhood.
Herrmann: How?
Burgess: Do a mea culpa. Say you made a huge mistake and you’re really sorry. You know, extend an olive branch.
Herrmann: Or maybe Voight could wrap him in duct tape and lock him in a car trunk until he changes his tone.
It was heartbreaking that Herrmann could have lost everything due to the filed grievance, especially after he worked so hard to become a lieutenant and the leader of Engine 51.
And questioning whether he deserved to be a leader at the firehouse just broke my heart.
He's not the easiest guy to feel for, but the situation reminded me why we put up with Herrmann: He may not be perfect, but his heart is always in the right place.
Speaking of hearts, Brett was hesitantly ready to get back out there, but things just never seemed to click with her and Ryan.
He was a nice enough guy, but he was never going to be the one, especially with the way Brett and Casey kept making eyes at each other.
Brett: It’s not a date, right? Drinks and dinner is a date, but lunch, that’s daytime, which means it’s professional.
Kidd: I need carrots to win but I keep getting these little green things. What are those, apples?
Foster: That’s broccoli girl.
Brett: Does anybody care about my crisis?
Kidd: I’m sorry. I do, but it’s just that the guy at the deli said this is the game people seem to win the most.
Brett was sure that Ryan wasn't it for her, but she left herself get talked into going on a date with him by Foster and Kidd.
I guess it's easier to give in than to tell her friends the real reason she doesn't want to go out with him. You don't exactly tell your best friends you're "in like" with your best friend's ex-husband, and you think he may feel the same way.
It's a complicated situation all around, especially because neither Brett nor Casey wants to admit how they feel.
They keep doing this awkward dance where they talk around their non-relationship at hand without really addressing their true feelings.
Casey: Ryan's the guy you were dating, right? He seems really invested, which makes a difference in those situations.
Brett: I wasn't dating Ryan. We had a drink once at Molly's to talk about Isaac.
Casey: Either way, it's nice to know there's someone in the system advocating for kids like that.
Brett: Um, why was I so defensive about Ryan? It's super weird.
Foster: Don't ask me, partner.
And it doesn't seem things will get any easier for the pair, as Dawson is set to return in the fall finale, also known as two episodes from now.
Related: Chicago Fire Season 8 Episode 5 Review: Buckle Up
There's no way to know how Casey and Brett will react to seeing her, but it will definitely throw a wrench in their impending romance.
Some stray thoughts:
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It was so great that everyone at 51 showed up to support Cruz at the expo, even though they were dealing with their own stuff. Scenes like these continue to hit home just how much of a family 51 really is.
Also, it was extremely satisfying watching the Slamigan knockoff fail on its first try. That'll show those Halli Hammer idiots not to steal Cruz's ideas.
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What were other viewers' read on Seager? I can definitely see her butting heads with Severide, but I really hope she doesn't make trouble for Stellaride. The pair has been through so much already and deserve to be happy. However, knowing this show, that can't ever be the case.
- Was anyone else confused about the subplot involving Kidd's poor luck with scratch tickets? This episode was already pretty jampacked, and I feel like it didn't need anything extra. If anything, it was just more mind-boggling than entertaining.
So what did you think Chicago Fire Fanatics?
How many episodes will Severide be at OFI for, and who will lead Squad 3 in his stead?
How will Dawson's return affect Casey and Brett's burgeoning romance?
Hit the comments below to let me know your thoughts on this episode. If you happened to miss the latest episode, have no fear, as you can watch Chicago Fire online right here at TV Fanatic.
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Jessica Lerner was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in October 2021.
