Chicago Fire Round Table: Three Strikes and She's Out
Stacy Glanzman
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Chili is playing with fire on Chicago Fire Season 4 Episode 12 ,but will she manage to get her act together before she loses her job?
Below, TV Fanatics Elizabeth Harlow and Stacy Glanzman are joined by fan Erin to discuss closure for Herrmann and Cruz, Severide's secret relationship, and Casey's plan to expose the Alderman.
Join us!
Are you satisfied with the way the Freddie story line ended?
Elizabeth: Well, I still find Freddie's sudden extreme contrition a little hard to swallow, but this is the kind of feel good ending that Chicago does all the time. But Herrmann staying bitter was just as wrong as Cruz losing faith in helping people.
Erin: Yeah, I'm satisfied with it. I think it's the closure that both Herrmann and Cruz needed. Freddie seems deeply conflicted. You can tell he wants to be a better person, but he has never been surrounded by positive influences.
I like that the story line shows that it is not as easy to turn around. I think it would be interesting if Freddie appeared later, still struggling with his confidence and doing the right thing, but obviously with an incredible loyalty to Firehouse 51.
Stacy: Yes, I thought they wrapped it up nicely. Forgiveness is good for the soul, and we don't want to see Herrmann eaten up by this. We also don't want Cruz to be discouraged from trying to help people in the future, and in a way, he did end up helping Freddie in the end.
Will Casey expose the Alderman as a crook?
Elizabeth: Of course! I would hope he'd handle this smartly, by calling a local news station or a reporter, but you know that isn't going to happen. He'll investigate on his own, get into a feud with the Alderman that will escalate to dangerous levels, but eventually Casey and the truth will win the battle.
Erin: Well, first of all, while I'm sure the Alderman is a crook, I don't quite understand how Casey jumped to the fact that he was shady. I can see wanting an explanation, but I feel like he went in there just assuming he was dirty without having the data to back it up. That being said, Firehouse 51 loves a good comeuppance, so yeah, he's going to take him down.
Stacy: Yeah, Casey is going to investigate this and find the "missing" money. Assuming the Alderman is a crook, I think he will expose him when he finds the evidence. casey feels like he has been used right now, so he is not going to let that go.
Will Chili get her third strike, or will she get her act together?
Elizabeth: The house will help her get her shit together. It may take a group intervention though.
Erin: I think she'll get a third strike. She doesn't show any real sign of changing, but then the house will come help her recover and she will get her job back...
Stacy: I could see a suspension coming, but I also would not be suprised if a third strike happens and someone covers for her again like Brett did in this episode. But covering for her will come with the assurance that she will get her act together. She can only get so many chances.
What do you think of Agent Ward asking Severide to keep their relationship a secret? Is she hiding something from him?
Elizabeth: Ugh, probably. And I'm sure it'll end up with him facing some real trouble. Severide has the worst taste in women. He needs to take a temporary vow of chastity or something.
Erin: I think she's hiding something from him. She hasn't been forthright about anything so far. Severide is such a good guy, but he needs to start thinking more with his brain. Whatever her secrets are, they are going to get him in trouble...again.
Stacy: I agree with everything already said. When she claimed she told him everything she knew, I wanted to yell BS. Severide didn't read that whole afferdavit, and I am worried that is going to come back to haunt him.
Will Otis continue to pursue Brett?
Elizabeth: Probably. Chicago is apparently full of relentless men.
Erin: Yeah, I think he will, but I don't want him to. He tried and she basically blew him off for some other guy and then talked to him about it. He has been completely friend-zoned. I want him to find someone who doesn't need to be relentlessly pursued to look at him twice.
Stacy: I agree again. I think he's hung up on Brett, but I also want him to move on and pursue other girls. Brett isn't interested.
Stacy Glanzman was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in March, 2019.
