Chicago Fire Review: Looking for a Lifeline / A Chance to Forgive (Season 6 Episodes 14 and 15)

We were promised that everything would change, and it certainly looks like that’s the case on Chicago Fire Season 6 Episode 14, “Looking for a Lifeline,” and Chicago Fire Season 6 Episode 5, “A Chance to Forgive.”

At first glance, these two episodes are typical of what we see from Chicago Fire on a weekly basis, but they go together well and seem to be somehow more focused and powerful.

Casey gets involved in the personal lives of a couple the firefighters help save when he worries the wife is being abused by her husband — as he does. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Casey get involved in this way, and it won’t be the last — and quite frankly, we’d expect nothing less of him.

This is a storyline that could have been fleshed out further, but it still manages to be emotional as well as shocking, since the woman takes matters into her own hands in a way that brings the firefighters straight to her doorstep.

But the firefighters are on her side and sympathetic, even when they realize what she’s done — injured her husband and set her house on fire. They cover for her so she’ll have a chance to get help and move on with her life.

Meanwhile, Brett has a pregnancy scare that begins to solidify her feelings for Antonio.

If you’re a Brettonio fan, well, this is all a bit frustrating. Every time we see the two of them get even an inch closer together, something separates them.

Because of course, Brett’s disappointment in the negative results of the test make her realize she wants a commitment to him after all, but he’s been set up on a blind date and appears to be moving on.

What’s weird in all of this is Gabby’s reaction. She’s the one who suggests Brett’s symptoms could be a pregnancy in the first place, and she stays by Brett’s side in buying the test, taking it — she’s very supportive.

But something in her attitude about it feels… off. It seems she’d have a stronger reaction one way or another since we are, in fact, talking about her brother. If Brett were pregnant with Antonio’s child, that would be Dawson’s niece or nephew.

I can’t place my finger on it, but her reaction doesn’t feel natural at all.

Speaking of couples, at least there’s some good news if you’ve been dying to see Stella and Severide end up together.

Before I get to that, though — perhaps my favorite thing about these episodes is how we so clearly see the effect of Anna’s death on Severide. That’s something that has felt sorely lacking in this season, so to address it and the way it could make him fearful of another relationship is a smart move.

He’s afraid to go to a dedication in Anna’s name, but when Stella pushes and insists she go with him for support, he does — and it feels like closure. That closure seems significant in his ability to move forward, but when Stella’s life is put in danger, the lines become blurred.

The firefighters are called to what seems like a typical house fire when suddenly, shots are fired. And those shots don’t seem to be stopping.

Chief Boden instructs Kelly to stay back, but Kelly disobeys orders and goes running inside after Stella — how could he not? As Casey later puts it, standing by while someone you love is in danger is a difficult thing to do…

The twist? There’s no shooter in the fire. It’s just that the son living in the house has a secret stash of loaded guns that, as the fire intensifies, start going off. Stella and Otis are the ones in danger and are both shot, while the others stand outside.

Faced with the fact that he could have lost Stella, Severide puts up an emotional barrier. He doesn’t want to go through that again. Thankfully, that barrier doesn’t stay up for long. Casey’s words of wisdom sink in, and the episode ends with Severide and Stella in a full-on make-out session.

*Applause*

Now the most emotional portion of this two-parter. Stella’s okay after being shot in that fire, because her radio catches the bullet. But Otis takes a bullet in the neck, and for a while, it’s unclear whether he’ll make it through at all.

Cruz takes this the hardest, just as you’d expect he would. He wears his heart on his sleeve anyway, something we’ve seen recently with his reaction to Brett being in danger, but Otis — Brian — is his best friend.

Rightfully, Cruz is angry at the way things happened, knowing this could have been prevented. He’s angry that the son had those guns, and he’s angry that his parents were so oblivious.

But what really shows his character is that he becomes the one to save the son’s life when he tries to commit suicide (the fatality in all of this ended up being the boy’s mother), Cruz is the one who saves him, and who subsequently helps him realize there’s a reason he should live — he needs to give his father the chance to forgive.

It’s a powerful moment, and it’s one that shows real strength for Cruz.

Otis pulls through his surgery, and he wakes up with Cruz by his side and sees Lily shortly after. Everything seems fine, and Otis even comments how he’ll be back on truck in no time.

But that may not be the case…

He may be alive, but Dr. Choi notices something when he tests Otis’s feet. He’s not responsive to the touch.

It wouldn’t be surprising for this to be a fakeout — temporary paralysis that heals quickly. But with all of the focus on Otis’s identity — wanting everyone to call him by his actual name, Brian, — it feels like it could go either way.

Add to that, Boden has been told he’ll need to fill Otis’s spot on truck sooner rather than later.

What did you think of these episodes of Chicago Fire? Are you worried about Brett and Antonio? How do you feel about Stella and Severide? And what do you think will happen with Otis? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Chicago Fire airs Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC.

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