S13.E11: In the Trenches: Part I

[FnkyChkn34]

Quote

Chicago's first responders unite in the wake of a catastrophic gas explosion and fire that threaten a city government building.

Herrmann reluctantly shadows Pascal while Violet, Novak and Dr. Frost take charge of triage efforts on site.

Chicago Fire is first at 8:00 (eastern) instead of Med, which will be second, followed by PD in its normal time slot.  

[DanaK]

On 1/25/2025 at 11:21 PM, FnkyChkn34 said:

Chicago Fire is first at 8:00 (eastern) instead of Med, which will be second, followed by PD in its normal time slot.  

FYI, the title is In the Trenches, not Into

[FnkyChkn34]

1 hour ago, DanaK said:

FYI, the title is In the Trenches, not Into

Thanks, fixed.  

[MediaZone4K]

Thrilling episode tonight, it made sense to start with fire as the disaster happens first then the medical response then the police investigation. 

Sucks that Cruz got suspended before all this.

 

 

[anna0852]

I’m impressed! It’s been five years, a strike and a pandemic since the last time they did crossover of this size. For all three there’s been a lot of cast turnover as well. And I think they did a hell of a job. If they hadn’t been showing opening credits, I wouldn’t have even noticed when we were transitioning from one show to another. They did an excellent job for the most part of blending the three together. I do think we should’ve seen more of the firehouse 51 personnel in the third hour. The paramedics seemed to vanish after the first and most of the firefighters after the second. But overall, I really liked this and I think they did a pretty good job with a storyline too.

[FnkyChkn34]

I liked this crossover. It worked so well, and I like that the characters that stayed for all 3 hours were mostly the main people who are the "stars."  It would have been cheaper to get the newer actors with lower salaries, but credit to them for keeping Ruzek, Severide, Mouch, etc.  I did expect Carver to be a volunteer at the end, but I guess he was only in the Fire episode. 

I thought they had decent twists, too. I definitely suspected Knife Guy just like Ruzek did. I didn't suspect Morse Code Guy... I also did not guess who shot Trudy!  

Did anyone else think that Severide, or at least someone, was shot in the fight at the end? I got real nervous that this was Taylor Kinney's exit. 

[Raja]

I tend to come to this franchise only for the major event shows. The Fire episode was a good start. Since I don't know the soap part of the story I think that I got enough information to follow along if it was a TV movie

[Ohiopirate02]

9 hours ago, FnkyChkn34 said:

I liked this crossover. It worked so well, and I like that the characters that stayed for all 3 hours were mostly the main people who are the "stars."  It would have been cheaper to get the newer actors with lower salaries, but credit to them for keeping Ruzek, Severide, Mouch, etc.  I did expect Carver to be a volunteer at the end, but I guess he was only in the Fire episode. 

I thought they had decent twists, too. I definitely suspected Knife Guy just like Ruzek did. I didn't suspect Morse Code Guy... I also did not guess who shot Trudy!  

Did anyone else think that Severide, or at least someone, was shot in the fight at the end? I got real nervous that this was Taylor Kinney's exit. 

With the way the shows kept highlighting different couples like Mouch and Trudy, Severide and Stella, and Ruzek and Burgess, I really thought one of those couples was not going to make it.

I really was not that surprised when who shot Trudy was revealed because the character came in with way too much attitude.

[anna0852]

1 minute ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I really was not that surprised when who shot Trudy was revealed because the character came in with way too much attitude.

I knew right off the bat she was gonna be a bad guy because they spent way too much time with her. That’s always the giveaway, letting the guest star have too much screen time on the crime procedural.

[FnkyChkn34]

1 hour ago, anna0852 said:

I knew right off the bat she was gonna be a bad guy because they spent way too much time with her. That’s always the giveaway, letting the guest star have too much screen time on the crime procedural.

I thought maybe she was going to end up doing something heroic, even though they laid out the unfriendly background. Fire focuses on the guest star who turns out to be good people fairly often.

[iMonrey]

13 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Sucks that Cruz got suspended before all this.

I forgot all about that. But it was only a 2-week suspension. For all we know, that much time has passed. Also MIA: Tony and Capp. Basically the entire rescue squad. 

I generally detest these crossover events because I do not watch Med or PD. But I did record both and watched the whole thing, it wasn't half bad. I knew there was no way they would kill off Stella because we can't have nice things. I wasn't so sure about Trudy though. I don't know how big a role she plays on PD. I only ever see her on Fire.

[FnkyChkn34]

1 hour ago, iMonrey said:

I forgot all about that. But it was only a 2-week suspension. For all we know, that much time has passed. Also MIA: Tony and Capp. Basically the entire rescue squad. 

Capp and Tony were in the first hour.  They were on Severide's hip for the initial rescue in the basement.  I'll agree that I did expect to see them at the end for the final rescue of Stella and the people on the train, or Ritter and Carver to want to save their lieutenant.  But the choice to send all of the older officers made sense for the budget and that they were all officers.

[DanaK]

Definitely impressed with this 3 part cross over. I watch both Med and Fire but stopped watching PD after a few seasons, but I was able to basically understand what was going on among the cops in Part 3.

[Dowel Jones]

Trudy, if you had followed procedure, this wouldn't have happened.  Put that guy on his knees, call for backup, and cover him from a safe position until they arrive.  Has Chicago Fire taken a page from Fire Country, and have the first responders take time out from a multi-casualty incident to have a heart-to-heart talk?

I realize it was necessary for exposition, but it doesn't make sense to me to put two company officers and a firefighter on investigation when there is still an active disaster scene going on.  Victims first, cause second.

I don't watch the other two shows either, so I'll check the forums to find out what happened.

[FnkyChkn34]

3 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Trudy, if you had followed procedure, this wouldn't have happened.  Put that guy on his knees, call for backup, and cover him from a safe position until they arrive.  Has Chicago Fire taken a page from Fire Country, and have the first responders take time out from a multi-casualty incident to have a heart-to-heart talk?

I realize it was necessary for exposition, but it doesn't make sense to me to put two company officers and a firefighter on investigation when there is still an active disaster scene going on.  Victims first, cause second.

Wasn't she shot in the back, by someone other than the offender that she was trying to arrest?  Seems like it would have happened no matter what.

Which firefighters were on the investigation?  I thought that they were still focused on the victims - the firefighter, cop, and 30-40 people stuck on a train in a collapsing tunnel.  Also, since so many were not seen in the third hour, I assume in my mind that the rest were outside, still helping.

[preeya]

A threesome. . . . . They actually pulled it off, and I enjoyed it, even if it was far-fetched.

BTW: I called female perp within the first hour.

[FnkyChkn34]

3 hours ago, preeya said:

BTW: I called female perp within the first hour.

The burned mom was obvious. I called her right away too.

I didn't call the security guard though. 

[Raja]

22 minutes ago, FnkyChkn34 said:

I didn't call the security guard though. 

She wasn't a big enough recognizable of a star for the size of the role as a first responder and after suggesting a slight personal relationship with Sergeant Platt giving the victim deserved it vibes

[cfinboston]

5 hours ago, preeya said:

A threesome. . . . . They actually pulled it off, and I enjoyed it, even if it was far-fetched.

BTW: I called female perp within the first hour.

I definitely called it when she complained about how bad the pensions were and sneered about how Trudy's might be better because she's a sergeant.

I found the whole thing just flat. It was too formulaic for my tastes. Main character in peril is never nerve-wracking because you know they'll be saved. It had the requisite outtakes for romantic relationships. It had the often used "new and experimental medical procedure that works."  It had Fire leadership lead the troops into battle.

It also had some ridiculous necessary suspension of disbelief. The 11 year old kid just happens to have her robot with her and she knows a bit of Morse code. I challenge everyone to find one kid under 21 who even knows what Morse code is, and is proficient enough to know Duffy lied.

[iMonrey]

13 hours ago, cfinboston said:

Main character in peril is never nerve-wracking because you know they'll be saved.

Especially when it's Stella.

[FnkyChkn34]

8 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

Especially when it's Stella.

It also doesn't help when TPTB do interviews and give spoilers for the rest of the season.  

[Sake614]

When Trudy got shot, I literally screamed NO! NOT TRUDY! I would’ve been fine with Stella dying but of course I can’t have nice things, so that wasn’t going to happen. Adam has been through so much and come out the other side, so I absolutely did not want him to die. I honestly wasn’t 100% sure Trudy would make it until the end. And I loved how the cop in her overrode the victim and she immediately gave Hank more info about the perps! 

my overall score for the crossover: A. It definitely kept my interest throughout and blended seamlessly into each episode.

[MediaZone4K]

Why do we hate Stella lol?

Is it too much screentime like Hailey on PD?

[iMonrey]

13 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Why do we hate Stella lol?

Is it too much screentime like Hailey on PD?

Yes, and the show canonizes her like they did with Dawson. She's always right, she's been promoted over more senior firefighters, she's always the one to save the day, etc. I think the show is trying to balance out the male dominated cast by giving so much attention to her but they are going way overboard.

[Raja]

2 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

Yes, and the show canonizes her like they did with Dawson. She's always right, she's been promoted over more senior firefighters, she's always the one to save the day, etc. I think the show is trying to balance out the male dominated cast by giving so much attention to her but they are going way overboard.

So a replay of his other franchise the Law & Order squad LT has to be a woman to balance out the power dynamics? I guess, as in New York's Third Watch the Chicago FD firefighters are seen as elite over the paramedics. Los Angeles based firefighter shows back to Emergency! have placed the paramedic-firefighters in the superior role. And today I see folks complaining about them on The Rookie and 9-1-1.

[FnkyChkn34]

15 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Why do we hate Stella lol?

Is it too much screentime like Hailey on PD?

I don't.  She was a bit... weird? when they first introduced her, the way she said she liked being single but would still sleep with her ex.  But I think TPTB realized that and rewrote her.  I didn't love that she never pressed charges against Grant, but at least that story went away.  

She's not NEARLY as bad as Saint Gabby was with always butting in to everyone else's business and needing to be the only one who is right.  I didn't like Gabby

I think they tried to make her the balanced replacement for Gabby and Shay - the one who can control Severide (Shay) but also the strong female leader (Gabby).  Sometimes it doesn't always work, but I don't understand the outright hatred for her.  

(Hailey had other issues, too.  I stopped watching PD for awhile, but wasn't Hailey a hypocritical Voight Jr.?  No morals but then would try to preach them?  And zero chemistry with Halstead... I can't believe that they are together in real life.)

1 hour ago, iMonrey said:

Yes, and the show canonizes her like they did with Dawson. She's always right, she's been promoted over more senior firefighters, she's always the one to save the day, etc. I think the show is trying to balance out the male dominated cast by giving so much attention to her but they are going way overboard.

Who was she promoted over?  No one else wanted to take the lieutenants' test.  Herrmann made Lieutenant long before she did.  Cruz was secretly promoted to Squad without the audience even seeing him do any of the work; at least they spent a good portion of a season showing Stella study and prepare for the exam.  Then, she wasn't even given a command right away because there wasn't one available.  

Casey had the savior complex.  Severide does, too.  I don't see that with Stella.  She does have a bit of needing to be right, like Gabby, but not as much.  (And to the extent that she does have a savior complex, she took over Casey's position, so what else is she supposed to do?)  

Sorry if I rambled, just my opinion.  

[NJRadioGuy]

1 hour ago, Raja said:

 I guess, as in New York's Third Watch the Chicago FD firefighters are seen as elite over the paramedics. Los Angeles based firefighter shows back to Emergency! have placed the paramedic-firefighters in the superior role. And today I see folks complaining about them on The Rookie and 9-1-1.

ALS and BLS (paramedic and basic life support) crews do, unfortunately, get the short shrift both on TV and in real life.

In Chicago, a CFD paramedic's median pay is a tad over $53,000/yr whereas a firefighter's is about $91,000, and can be more than double that with experience and a lot of O/T. In NYC, where EMS is a branch of FDNY, paramedics make significantly less money than firemen, even though both are part of and trained by FDNY.

Superior is definitely the wrong term, but FF's are probably considered more elite because of their training and duties than EMS, although both jobs are extremely difficult. And even within the fire service, enginemen are sometimes perceived as lower on the totem pole than truckees (for the love of ghods, don't tell them that, though <g>), and Hazmat crews (a.k.a. Glow Worms), Heavy Rescue, ARFF and the likes above them. That's why the crew of this show's E51 is mostly in the background, T81 is the star, but R3 are the elites.

On Emergency!, the focus was on Johnny and Roy as paramedics first and foremost since LACoFD pioneered the paramedicine program in real life, and it was Jack Webb and Robert Cinader's vision to display this as a model of pre-hospital medical care that the nation should emulate—and boy howdy, it worked out better than anybody could have expected! The firefighting duties were second fiddle. And although their E51 was a star of the show along with Captain Stanley, Kelly, Lopez, and Stoker, it was Squad 51's show from beginning to end.

As for St. Stella, she can get a bit eye-rolly at times, but I really like her character a lot. She put in the work, she's competent at everything she does, kicks ass and takes names. AND has a loving relationship with the show's other big star. What's not to like?

[FnkyChkn34]

1 hour ago, NJRadioGuy said:

As for St. Stella, she can get a bit eye-rolly at times, but I really like her character a lot. She put in the work, she's competent at everything she does, kicks ass and takes names. AND has a loving relationship with the show's other big star. What's not to like?

Said it better than me.  Thank you.  😉

Edited Saturday at 09:00 PM by FnkyChkn34

[anna0852]

2 hours ago, NJRadioGuy said:

As for St. Stella, she can get a bit eye-rolly at times, but I really like her character a lot. She put in the work, she's competent at everything she does, kicks ass and takes names. AND has a loving relationship with the show's other big star. What's not to like?

I think she’s great! And flawed, *just like all the other characters.*

[NJRadioGuy]

The other thing about Stella's ascension is that she had a hook (or as they say in the NYC region, "a rabii"). Boden. She didn't fully claw her way up through the ranks solely on her own merits. This is a very real thing in the PD and FD worlds. A rank-and-file fireman or patrolman impresses a boss who takes that young buck under his wing and fast-tracks his career.

That was absolutely what happened with Kidd. Boden liked her, believed in her, gave her a lot more leeway than he probably should have at times and she never disappointed him. Her skills as a boss are now being tested by Pascal.

Dramatically-speaking, things have been a bit too smooth for Stella. I wouldn't be surprised if Kidd gets the short straw in the writers' room roulette.

[FnkyChkn34]

48 minutes ago, NJRadioGuy said:

The other thing about Stella's ascension is that she had a hook (or as they say in the NYC region, "a rabii"). Boden. She didn't fully claw her way up through the ranks solely on her own merits. This is a very real thing in the PD and FD worlds. A rank-and-file fireman or patrolman impresses a boss who takes that young buck under his wing and fast-tracks his career.

That was absolutely what happened with Kidd. Boden liked her, believed in her, gave her a lot more leeway than he probably should have at times and she never disappointed him. Her skills as a boss are now being tested by Pascal.

Dramatically-speaking, things have been a bit too smooth for Stella. I wouldn't be surprised if Kidd gets the short straw in the writers' room roulette.

This is true in the real world in a lot of different scenarios.  For example, in a white-collar job - an attorney.  If you're a baby lawyer who works hard, has intelligence, and actually wants to do well, a partner could easily become your mentor and advocate and you'll be promoted faster than others.  It's... life. 

[anna0852]

1 hour ago, NJRadioGuy said:

That was absolutely what happened with Kidd. Boden liked her, believed in her, gave her a lot more leeway than he probably should have at times and she never disappointed him. Her skills as a boss are now being tested by Pascal.

Dramatically-speaking, things have been a bit too smooth for Stella. I wouldn't be surprised if Kidd gets the short straw in the writers' room roulette.

I think the bold are the key words. Nothing was handed to Stella other than opportunities to work hard and succeed. Boden recognized talent and leadership potential in Kidd. He provided advice and guidance. He did not promote her above anyone else or hand her anything she didn't earn.

As for things going too smoothly for her lately, next week's promo showed her and Sevaride discussing the kid thing again so I'm sure fertility issues are on the horizon.

[FnkyChkn34]

1 hour ago, anna0852 said:

As for things going too smoothly for her lately, next week's promo showed her and Sevaride discussing the kid thing again so I'm sure fertility issues are on the horizon.

And if not that, then her going on desk duty or joining OFI, because they won't let her run Truck while pregnant.