Chicago Fire Boss Talks Explosive Cliffhanger, Severide’s Wake-Up Call
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Thursday’s Chicago Fire.
If Chicago Fire is going on a month-long hiatus to make way for the Olympics, you better believe it’s going to (temporarily) sign off with an explosive cliffhanger. And that’s just what the NBC drama did during Thursday’s episode, which ended with Casey and Severide leaping off a building roof against a backdrop of flames.
Elsewhere, Stella finally realized that maybe living with the guy she likes while dating someone else isn’t such a good idea, and Brett inadvertently invited her ex Cruz to a spa… but Mouch ending up taking his place! For more on what’s ahead for both romantic storylines, plus the inspiration for that crazy cliffhanger, read on as showrunner Derek Haas tackles our burning questions.
TVLINE | You’ve done life-and-death cliffhangers before, but I don’t think you’ve ever done one quite like this, where it just cut to black mid-action.
I was thinking about how to do a different one than anything we’ve done before, and I was thinking about that Butch and Sundance scene where Robert Redford and Paul Newman run and jump off a cliff as the super posse is closing in on them. I said, “[Casey and Severide are] kind of our Butch and Sundance. I wonder if we could do something like that?” We just got into the writers’ room and talked about a bunch of different scenarios. We wrote it… and we kept going back to that Butch and Sundance idea. When the director of that episode was directing them, he was like, “Oh yeah, we gotta do this similar to the Butch and Sundance thing!”
TVLINE | You had to have been pretty pleased when you got those dailies.
It was so fun. Well, actually, the very first I even saw [of it] was when Elizabeth Morris, who’s our awesome set photographer, sent me an email… and it was this picture that I’m sure you’ve seen by now that I thought was photoshopped, with Taylor [Kinney] and Jesse [Spencer] just leaping with these grins on their faces as the fireball is erupting behind them. That was when I first saw it, and I thought, “Oh, my God, this is going to be great!”
TVLINE | How unscathed or not will Severide and Casey come out of this?
There’s going to be some medical ramifications that play into the next episode. So it’s not just a throwaway cliffhanger. They both end up needing some quick rescues themselves.
TVLINE | That was such a nice moment when Casey told Severide that he suggested him for the commendation. Is the tension that’s been festering between them since Casey’s promotion over?
Like any friends, there are always going to be rifts and obstacles to overcome. But they really are great friends. That is pretty much the end for a little while. … I did think that was a really nice sort of twist that you didn’t see coming, that Casey had stepped up for Severide.
TVLINE | Stella announced to Severide that she’s planning to look for her own apartment. Is that a wake-up call for Severide?
I think that and seeing hazmat Zach in their apartment was a wake-up call for Severide. I do love the chemistry between Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide. But I also love the chemistry, just personally, between Miranda [Rae Mayo] and Taylor. They’re just fun and funny together. So we’re playing off a lot of their own friendship, and then fictionally, we take it into a more romantic direction coming up.
TVLINE | On a different romantic front, Cruz has reignited feelings for Brett, who doesn’t reciprocate. How messy is that going to get?
It’s less messy in terms of a big triangle with clear lines in it. I’d say they’re more dotted lines in this triangle. [Laughs] I think it’s one-way, Cruz towards Brett, and he realizes it. And it definitely rears its head over the next few episodes. But Cruz realizes that more important than the romantic feelings he has is the friendship that he has with her.
TVLINE | So when he didn’t show up for the spa appointment, was that him realizing it was a mistake? Or did he really have a family emergency?
No, that was Otis getting into his head. That was hilarious when Mouch showed up at the spa appointment.
TVLINE | I loved the spa lady’s reaction, like, “Really?”
Hilarious. I knew it was coming, but I wasn’t there on the day that they shot it, and I just waited for the cut to watch it, and I fell off my couch, I was laughing so hard. Because Christian [Stolte] is just hilarious.
TVLINE | There’s so many firefighter shows right now: 9-1-1, the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff Station 19 is coming up. Do you take some pride in helping to reignite that genre?
I don’t know about pride as much as like my competitive spirit goes ratcheting up to 11. I’m like, “We’re going to stomp them! I want ours to be the best. What are they going to do that we haven’t done?” [Laughs] That’s where my mind goes. But I wish them all the best because it’s an incredible profession of brave people, so there should be more of these stories told. I just want ours to be the best one.
Ugh still dislike Severide and Stella. I hope that dies soon.
I 😍😍😍😍😍😍 Severide he is tooooo handsome. He’s one of the kindest and thoughtful people on the show. Why do you dislike him?
I don’t mind Kidd and Severide, but I get such a brother/sister or BFF vibe from them when they’re together. Not romantic at all. Shrugs. Maybe its the real life friendship they talk about in this article.
I get the bro/sis vibes too but if they end up as a couple, c’est la vie. It’s tv drama, but still unrealistic for couples to exist in same firehouse. Already have one (Dawsey) and now going for more? Not a huge fan of Otis but at least his new love interest is employed elsewhere . . . lol
Aren’t you all getting tired with the couples names together? Whom ever start that is so lame.🙄
*started
Sorry, but it’s been around for years and years. Old enough to remember all the tabloids using Bennifer in the late 90’s I believe when JLO and Ben Affleck were an item.
…and then there’s Mod (Jesus’ parents). ;-)
It amazes me how great this show can be when they aren’t concentrating on boring relationship drama.
I second that. It was great to see an episode that focused on Severide and Casey for a change and not just the “Casey family.” I hope they get back to the action and the challenges of the job and stop focussing on “ships.”
And they also need to get back to more of the action of the early series.
There should be a fairly even mix of both relationship drama and action sequences. Most people want some of both and that would be the best way to satisfy viewers, imho.
And I think last night’s episode had that. It’s when they spend almost an entire episode (or more) concentrating on one couples angst that it goes south. Last night’s ep had humor with Hermann and his daughter and Brett/Otis/Munch. Then there was Stella trying to figure out her living arrangements with Severide and Dawson supporting Casey over the officer’s death. A great mixture.
I agree. I’ve always agreed with all your comments on other CF sites. Imo the heart of the show is the houses bond with each other and in particular the two lieutenants. Give me their friendships and rescue drama over boring shippery junk. The Casey and Dawson stuff bores me to the point where I was see to watch this the day it aired, but now I’ve chosen to fall behind. Just caught up and although the storyline with Dawson going off and doing her own thing with the runaway frustrated me to no end, the last two episodes have been great and I love the ending!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t care for Kidd and Severide. I’m not a huge fan of Stella’s anyway. Always felt she was a little too pushy/aggressive. Although in her line of work, I can’t really blame her.
That being said, I find bed-hopping Severide even more annoying, so if putting him with Stella puts an end to that, I could deal with it.
Why is a strong, mature woman considered pushy and aggressive but yet a man is a sexy bada$s? Maybe just maybe someday, the double standard will be completely gone . . . (sigh) But I do agree put them together if it ends Severide’s long list of one-night stands. Time for him to grow up.
I must confess, am a HUGE fan of Sylvie and Antonio as a couple. Just so damn cute together, I can’t help it! Waiting for more, please . . . !!! So please no hookup with Cruz, but what about the woman who was flirting with him earlier? She was so in to him instead of Severide and I loved that!
I love Brett and Antonio too :-)
Booooooo Noooooooo!!!!!
Different strokes for different folks . . . I love them!!
I want Kelly and Stella to say I love u want cassy and gabby to really have a baby I don’t trust bri
I know right. Kacey and Gabby need a baby already. I have a feeling there is a story behind why Gabby is putting a lot of time and effort in helping Bri out so much.
Love Chicago Fire! My favorite show by far! Severide is the star on that show. My families favorite character. If he is happy, we are! Can’t wait for it to be back on.
It’s my favorite show too,love all the rescues every week and am a big dawsey fan,would like to see Cruz and Capp more also am hoping this baby sl is dawsey otherwise am not that interested in it.
Also dislike Stella and SeverideShe overacts and is so pushy.
He can do better – give us a break other than this cliche boring story line.