SnarkySheep

A certificate of completion is generally for students with serious cognitive issues. JJ's disabilities are just physical. If he were failing classes or not handing in assignments, Kenneth would know. Of course, it wouldn't be Kenneth's place to inform Jimmy and Maya of that; but I would imagine he would have strongly urged JJ to tell them himself. On a random note, was this dance fundraiser right after school? Wouldn't that be a little odd for parents? Does no one in the district have a job, or did Dr Miller just think they'd take time off for it? Huh.

1) Call me silly, but how could Chief Boden buy $5k worth of ANYTHING for the city from his brother-in-law?? And he was supposed to make the check out to Julian Whoever Consulting, not even like it was hidden in a neutral company name! Even if they were the best firefighting gloves in the history of the world, an outside observer would see it as favoritism. The entire storyline could have been avoided had Boden simply told the guy, "Sorry, I can't make city purchases from family members." Done, end of story. But it was like the concept never even crossed his mind. 2) I'm still trying to figure out why exactly Sylvie and Antonio aren't supposed to be together. When they ended things the first time, he was like, "I'm way older than you, I have kids, blah blah blah..." Yes, that can sometimes be difficult; but people IRL have all kinds of issues and this among them is hardly uncommon or insurmountable. (Notice how his daughter, who now lives with him, was conveniently never around anytime Antonio brought Sylvie to his place for sexytimes?) IMO it just feels like the writers are trying to manufacture some drama, some reason for a couple to have difficulty, and they are totally out of ideas about how to bring that about in a realistic fashion. 3) As a person living with a chronic pain condition, I am thoroughly sick of TV shows depicting everyone who uses painkillers as an addict. In reality, something like THREE PERCENT of people with legit prescriptions develop an addiction. TV and movies are only adding to the misconceptions, which add to the stigma and shaming of people who only want enough relief to go about their normal lives again. Bria said her dad had a legit workplace injury, and it hadn't even been all that long ago; yet the whole story had to do with his "addiction" to pills and detoxing, so he could be able to care for her again and Dawson could feel good about them living happily ever after. At NO point did anyone address the underlying issue, which is he has an injury that causes him enough pain that he cannot work. How is taking away his painkillers going to help him here?

I was wondering precisely the same thing. Even if the woman had somehow tripped and fallen, it would still be literally impossible for her foot to get caught the way that it was. As her supervisor, I would imagine that Casey - who knew from the start how inappropriately attached Dawson was getting - should have reported her to the appropriate persons. But of course, with THAT conflict of interest, we know that would never happen. I also noticed that Gabby justified her involvement by saying that Bria reached out to her. Well, that may have technically been true; but it was only true after Gabby essentially forced it to be so. She followed Bria into her building, essentially forced her way into the apartment, gave Bria her cell phone number, and told her that she would be calling every day to check on her. As a side thing, would Gabby have been legally allowed to assist the paramedics who came to help Bria's father? Although she IS trained and able to do so, she wasn't on the job. I wasn't entirely sure if that was ethical or not. I could see if it was a matter of life or death, and there was nobody else around, as when they first showed up; but after that, shouldn't she have stepped aside?

I never thought that line about her being gay was anything but a quick way to sever the drug dealer's interest in her; and as for asking Burgess to hang out, it was a peace offering, after an episode full of them butting heads. I know people have speculated about Upton and Halstead hooking up since practically the minute she arrived. I really hope it doesn't come to that, simply because it would totally cheapen the strong relationship he and Lindsay had...it would essentially make their bond nothing but convenience, like Halstead would have felt the same about any woman he was partnered with.

Well, to be fair, there are a good number of people who are rich and famous for no real reason whatsoever. I can totally see Haley as looking at the Kardashians or someone, and thinking she wants to be just like them (and that she totally deserves to be, because she's way prettier and more fashionable...)

The main thing I was glad about with those Valentine-grams is that Katie isn't one of those moms who would march into the school and demand they stop the whole thing because her kid is being left out. Yeah, I know that sort of thing stinks - I was never exactly popular myself growing up - but Greg was right when he said Anna-Kat has to learn how the real world works (which he then negated by letting her come home, but alas).

This. I could understand if it was a five-year-old, but Owen is too little to understand why Will's there. Also, Will made mention of hating to scrape ice off his windshield; yet just last spring, he needed Connor to drive him to his dad's house because he had to sell his car for cash. Has Will's financial situation magically improved, or do I just remember more details than the people who wrote them in the first place?

Yes, they definitely were. It's been going on a while, at least since last spring when Connor went with Will to his dad's house to treat the heart problems...not only did Will not hesitate to ask Connor for the favor (which he wouldn't have done in S1) but Connor did not hesitate to extend one, as when he offered Will his car keys (which he wouldn't have done in S1). Their relationship has definitely evolved.

In case anyone wants to rewatch some favorite episodes, they are currently airing the series on Hallmark...

Yes, but don't forget this was a different time - the entire concept of "teenager" basically didn't even exist until the 1930s/40s. A girl Colleen's age back then would have been expected to act more adult, as she would have also been expected to shoulder more adult responsibilities than the average similar age girl today. Colleen acting "teenagery" would be more of a projection for the expectation of modern audiences than based in reality. So the Colleen played by Jessica would likely be more on target.

Did anyone know that Lisa Whelchel released an album of Christian music in the '80s?? https://www.metv.com/lists/8-tv-stars-from-the-1980s-who-recorded-one-hit-wonder-pop-songs

I had no idea! (Well, but I'm 37 and have lived in New England all my life...) Thanks for that info! This, I had just recently learned...I think that's sweet! Hey, why not pull the family into your show if you can, right?

I've just gotten started watching this show on Netflix - I was an adolescent when it originally aired, but I really don't know why I didn't watch back then. At any rate, I'm enjoying myself greatly, especially with Eddie! I too am amazed at the things they get this little guy to do here.

Same...in this episode, she was downright b*tchy, from having to go to Kevin in the first place, to getting told that the therapy session was for immediate family only. Seriously, lady? It's nothing personal. As was quickly apparent, a lot of the siblings' issues go back to childhood - a time when Beth wasn't there - so it only makes sense that the session was limited to them and their mother. Also, there were already a good number of people in the room. How productive would it have been if that number were DOUBLED, and everyone started talking over each other, yelling, or just clamming up? Sheesh, Beth. I also didn't like the way that Beth (and Randall too) kept putting the sole blame on Tess being in the car upon Kevin. Yes, he was in the wrong, driving drunk; but he had NO idea that Tess was in the car with him. He didn't invite her along; Tess is a big girl who made a conscious decision to sneak away from the house and stow away in her uncle's car. Yes, I understand she's a kid, but she is old enough to know that what she did was wrong. Even Annie would know that. Well, as others have pointed out, it was a last-minute thing, and essentially if they didn't go then, they wouldn't have been able to go at all. IMO it wouldn't have been right to deprive the other kids of a chance at a vacation just because Kevin would miss a few days. As it was, Kevin was the only child in the family who was lucky enough to go to camp...there was no mention of Randall or Kate having gone anywhere. So he should already have felt special, though of course, as a kid and already having various issues in that department, it's unlikely that he saw it that way.

IMO the episode would have been much better had we not JUST had Phil in the hospital!! My family saw the episode description on the DVR and was all, "Wait, is this a repeat?" They should either have not had the previous hospital ep (in order to make this one, the freakin' 200TH EPISODE, have a bit more oomph) or simply had someone else, such as Claire, be the one who fell ill.

Hey, don't forget, Dr Charles has his own psychiatrist...so I guess it only follows that Reese should too... Only poor Maggie has never had anyone, except the very recently shown Barry...and even that has barely scratched the surface of their history thus far. YMMV, of course, but I never had the impression that Halstead and Manning were trying to hide their relationship, just keep it low key and not in anyone's face as it's their personal business. They are relatively equal status in the hospital, so it's a whole different thing than Choi and April.

No, I don't think they ever said. The charges on her sheet had included simple battery, theft and prostitution, in addition to drug charges of some kind, so perhaps she had tried to steal from a guy she was soliciting. Maybe he was an undercover cop. In any case, you could see how Voight would have felt compassion for her.

You can easily teach a service dog nonverbal commands, such as hand gestures. Same! I did wonder, however, how on earth they got Pepper to keep moving away from Dylan? I mean, I'm sure the dog has nothing against the actress in reality, LOL. Did they maybe spray her with something unpleasant, or have the others lure him away with treats, or what?

CIs are officially "registered" with the police department, largely because they get paid. Remember the paperwork we saw in the beginning of Season 1, for when Erin was Voight's CI? (I always found that ridiculous, as someone as meticulous and private as Voight would NEVER have let his team dig around somewhere that they'd come across Erin's history; but apparently that was the best way the writers could think of to let viewers have a glimpse of Erin's past. Alas, I digress.) This said, the whole issue definitely made me think of Voight's having used 14- or 15-year-old Erin as a CI...not just as he later ended up having a personal relationship with her, taking her to live with him and Camille, but also the ethics of paying an underage person for giving information that could potentially put herself into danger (if Charlie or others had found out). Likely Erin did it out of sheer desperation, often being hungry and homeless; Voight knew that. You'd think that the PD wouldn't sign off on something like that, as it smacks of exploitation of a child.

I like to think that's one of those "conception place names," like her parents hooked up on a ski lift or something... Personally I didn't think her hair looked too bad. The way Katie was carrying on, you'd have thought that Taylor wanted to dye her hair pink or green, like a lot of teens today do. As basically every female on the planet has wanted hair some other color at some point in her life, that was pretty mild, in my book.

There's a distinct difference between someone who likes women and the occasional casual hookup, and someone who has an addiction; to me, Severide falls into the latter category. He seems unable to say no at any time (the other side of the coin, that no woman seems able to say no to HIM, is a whole other thing...) and he has shown absolutely no discrimination toward the women he sleeps with, simply that she be a living body. Despite being an overall intelligent man, he has shown absolutely no regard for getting involved with women that are very clearly a bad idea, like Hope most recently. (Even prior to her getting a job at the firehouse, Severide knew that she was Hope's friend, had a questionable backstory, etc...and if he can easily get other women for a casual hookup, why bother with her?) Severide never even seems to get any joy out of who he's with or what he's doing; he's totally matter of fact, like it's just standard procedure. To me this all indicates an addiction, just as detrimental as drugs, alcohol, gambling, whatever. (Speaking of which, Severide also had a pretty serious problem with alcohol...remember how he was literally drinking to the point of blacking out for a while there? I highly doubt such a thing would have just magically gone away except in TV Land.) YMMV, of course. But IMO this all stems pretty heavily from having his fiancee leave him just before the wedding years ago; perhaps he's been scared of getting too close to a woman ever since. If you throw in the fact that his parents both left him as well, in varying ways, this could really be the thing that makes Severide who is is. That's why I was quite intrigued when I heard that Mrs. Severide would be making an appearance. I think we'll definitely learn something more about our guy when she does.

I am now really confused about Will's and Natalie's living arrangements. By the way they are going at each other at work, I'd imagine we are to assume Will is still living with his dad. But doesn't Natalie have her own apartment? Even if she is expected at home by a certain time to let Grandma go, can't Will come to her place afterward? Owen is barely two; he's likely long been asleep by then and would have no clue what's going on anyways. Re: the whole car thing - Considering the frozen tundra that's been Chicago recently, I find it REALLY hard to fathom that they'd be willingly going to make out in a car that wasn't even in a parking garage, just out in the open. And THAT said, with the way the camera panned to the front of the building, it made it seem like Natalie was parked pretty close to the hospital. Did they have no qualms about being seen by someone? Re: Will's paralysis - Nobody even MENTIONED calling Jay?? For all they knew, Will was about to die. (Yes, yes, I know...I'm more worried about the details than the actual people in charge...)

Of course you can't...that's why Voight kept asking him. That's getting personally involved and letting your feelings get into the midst of the job you're trying to do. Then again, they have shown repeatedly that Halstead drank heavily with her, and like Voight, I also don't believe there were no drugs involved, at least pills of some kind. Voight isn't a stupid guy; he has been watching Halstead all along and likely knows exactly what is affecting him and how. I'm honestly surprised that he allows him to continue working, to not force him on some kind of mental health sabbatical, or at the very least, send him to Dr. Charles like he did Lindsay.

Personally, I didn't think that, but it DID cross my mind that maybe we'd find out later that it hadn't been exactly the way everyone thought...that maybe Ramon hadn't chosen to do it but somehow got pushed in the way, whatever, and just let everyone think he was this big hero. IMO from what we've seen of him so far, he just seemed like the kind of guy who would do that. But alas, apparently not. I really liked Brett with Cruz! Not only did they seem happy together, but for once, poor Cruz actually got the girl. IRL a handsome guy with a good career, who's really sweet, etc. wouldn't be the big shmuck of the group, the way they seem to like portraying him (and Otis). Give these guys a break for once! Remember poor Otis, finally getting together with Severide's sister Katie? Just when they were coming together, they had the girl gang raped and permanently traumatized?? Other characters also have faced tragedies, like even Severide losing his girlfriend to cancer, but they are still allowed happiness afterward. Cruz and Otis, though? Not so much.

Personally, this interests me a bit more than surprise baby...I've long been intrigued by Severide, as IMO a lot of his behaviors simply aren't normal. We've heard some things about his past, but mostly regarding Benny. (On a side note, if Mama and Kelly have such a "great relationship", why haven't we ever seen her in all these years?? LOL)