S13.E10: Chaos Theory

[DanaK]

Quote

01/22/2025 (09:00PM - 10:00PM) (Wednesday) : The team responds to a crisis at a community center. Severide is forced to investigate one of his own Squad members. Kidd helps a teacher going through a post-incident spin-out.
 

 

[iMonrey]

This was a stretch. I can see Cruz being cleared of any responsibility in Flaco's death, but what about the attempted robbery? Aiding any abetting, at least? Geez, he should at least get fired.

[Dowel Jones]

I'll give Hermann a pass, because most people probably don't know that Steely Dan is not just a band, but a dildo in a William Burroughs novel.  Thus, the comment "I want to introduce you to Steely Dan on the way home" might just be misconstrued a bit.

Yeah, Cruz follows in the long line of Station 51 personnel who flout the rules, break the law, and generally behave badly only to receive a slap on the wrist.  He did get a two-week suspension at least.

[anna0852]

57 minutes ago, Dowel Jones said:

Yeah, Cruz follows in the long line of Station 51 personnel who flout the rules, break the law, and generally behave badly only to receive a slap on the wrist.  He did get a two-week suspension at least.

Well, I think it’s amazing he escaped all criminal charges. Definite fantasy.

However it’s a pretty stiff penalty from CFD. He’s already got one suspension on his record from several years ago when he was working as a bouncer and now this second one as well. Two weeks with no pay? That’s a huge hit to financials at home so Chloe is probably pretty pissed. And any chance Joe may have had of ever getting promoted is probably out the window. He’s now got two suspensions on his record, both of them for conduct unbecoming so I don’t think he’s ever getting approved for the lieutenants test. The suspensions will also come up if he ever wants to switch houses. Or if during budget cuts positions have to be eliminated. Yeah, he didn’t lose his job, but it’s a pretty significant black mark on his record and that can really work against him down the line.

[FnkyChkn34]

Cruz got 60 days for his first suspension. I guess because he was accused of assault, but is 2 weeks really enough here?  I don't mean to be dismissive, but it is "only" one paycheck when he still has his wife's income and the Slamigan to supplement. Doesn't seem like it'll hurt him much. Thirty days seemed more reasonable to me. 

At the very beginning, they actually let Severide smile!  That didn't last long...  he was a lot happier and more fun in earlier seasons. These new writers are doing him no favors. 

How does Ritter not know that continuously canceling rides is a bad thing?? Duh. He needed to apologize to Herrmann, not tell Novak to stay quiet. How rude. 

[FnkyChkn34]

18 hours ago, iMonrey said:

This was a stretch. I can see Cruz being cleared of any responsibility in Flaco's death, but what about the attempted robbery? Aiding any abetting, at least? Geez, he should at least get fired.

I have no idea if this would stand up in court, but they didn't break in - they asked to enter, although under false pretenses, and were granted admission.  And then, they didn't actually steal anything because what they wanted wasn't there?  Plus, he confessed to the cops; he showed remorse and was ready to take a punishment.  I guess he was granted leniency for coming forward?  

As I said above, I agree that 2 weeks wasn't enough, but maybe being fired would have been a little too far.  I think if he screws up again, then that would be three strikes and he's out.  (It's fictional TV, afterall... lol.)  

[NJRadioGuy]

This was such horseshit. There's been some decent writing in the One Chicago universe this season, but holy cow was this week bad (for all three shows, not just this one). This should have been the end of Cruz' career, and perhaps the storyline held until Joe Miñoso was set to leave the show, with this as his exit.

And I'll go one further, Saint Severide of the blessed OFI shouldn't be allowed within 100 yards of a fire investigation after this. His "science" said the room was ready to flash over, but yet there it was cool enough, and with sufficient breathable air, for Flaco to get into a verbal discussion with Cruz?

Sorry mate, but when a room is getting "close to 1,000°" even with full turnouts and SCBA Air you wouldn't survive in there for more than a few seconds, especially without water--let alone be able to have a Plot Changing Conversation with the hero for 30 seconds. He'd have breathed in superheated air and smoke and likely been dead before he hit the floor if it was as Severide described. Bad plot logic, plain and simple. Sorry, but Cruz committed a homicide that day in my book and I will never think otherwise.

Liked the teacher. Easy on the eyes and of good character. I hope we see more of her. Maybe Stella will pull some strings and get her into the academy? Which reminds me, we've only seen Kylie twice this season. Another character I liked.

And off-topic a bit, but wasn't there supposed to have been a new episode last week (which was pre-empted for Pres. Biden's speech)? Or was last week already scheduled in advance to be a week off. If pre-empted, I have to wonder whether the serialized stories for all three shows will take a continuity hit with the crossover next week.

[FnkyChkn34]

6 hours ago, NJRadioGuy said:

And off-topic a bit, but wasn't there supposed to have been a new episode last week (which was pre-empted for Pres. Biden's speech)? Or was last week already scheduled in advance to be a week off. If pre-empted, I have to wonder whether the serialized stories for all three shows will take a continuity hit with the crossover next week.

They moved all three shows back a week.  None of them aired new shows last week.  They were supposed to, and the crossover event was supposed to have been this week.  There was some speculation that they also moved Fire because of the LA wildfires, but considering they dealt with a gas leak and no fire, I doubt that was the reason.  

[Dowel Jones]

I thought Stella's program Girls on Fire was for high school students looking to prepare for an Academy. The teacher is well past 21 and, while I applaud her decision to try and get in the program, shouldn't it then become Women on Fire?

[FnkyChkn34]

12 minutes ago, Dowel Jones said:

I thought Stella's program Girls on Fire was for high school students looking to prepare for an Academy. The teacher is well past 21 and, while I applaud her decision to try and get in the program, shouldn't it then become Women on Fire?

I think that's what Stella told her.  She wasn't allowed into the program.  She asked to stay and watch, and Stella said sure, but it sounded like she was going back to teaching.  

[iMonrey]

21 hours ago, anna0852 said:

Yeah, he didn’t lose his job, but it’s a pretty significant black mark on his record and that can really work against him down the line.

Nah, not on this show. He'll be chief before you know it!

10 hours ago, NJRadioGuy said:

Saint Severide of the blessed OFI

🤣