10 Best Season 1 Episodes of ‘Chicago Fire,’ Ranked
Chicago Fire is a high-stakes drama that follows the women and men of the Chicago Fire Department’s Firehouse 51, who put their lives on the road to guard the folks of Chicago. Starring Eamonn Walker as Battalion Chief Wallace Boden, Jesse Spencer as Truck Lieutenant Matt Casey and Taylor Kinney as Rescue Squad Lieutenant Kelly Severide, followers get to look at Truck 81, Squad and Ambulance 61 serve town and handle their interpersonal relationships each in and out of the firehouse. With various personalities, ambitions to modify between firms and life-or-death stakes, Chicago Fire all the time provides wonderful drama.
The first season of the collection units up the stakes and realities of the job, together with the robust selections which can be made, and the way they’ll typically land the crew in sizzling water, in addition to the intricacies of the relationships among the many women and men of the firehouse. Fans of One Chicago are additionally launched to different characters from the universe, akin to Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) and Detective Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda), Paramedic-in-Charge Gabby Dawson’s (Monica Raymund) brother, on this season, laying the groundwork for Chicago P.D. and the crossovers to come back.
10 “Pilot”
Episode 1
The first episode of Chicago Fire sees Firehouse 51 recovering from the loss of one of their very own, Andy Darden (Corey Sorenson), who died throughout a name one month in the past. Lieutenants Matt Casey and Kelly Severide, who had been shut associates of Andy’s, are caught in a cycle of blame over who’s accountable for their pal’s demise, and rigidity is excessive. Newcomer to 51, Peter Mills (Charlie Barnett) is a firefighter candidate hoping to sooner or later be on Rescue Squad, similar to his father was, whereas veteran firefighter Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) suffers a critical damage after falling by way of the ground on a name.
Despite the trials and tribulations of the interpersonal relationships inside Firehouse 51, it’s apparent to viewers that this crew of firefighters and paramedics would do something for one another, even when they do not all the time get alongside. The pilot episode does an amazing job of establishing the stakes for the crew of 51, exhibiting, by way of the premature demise of Andy Darden, what can occur when orders aren’t adopted or errors are made. This is a life-or-death job, however they get by way of it collectively.
9 “Ambition”
Episode 20
With Peter Mills making his transfer to Squad, and consequently spending so much of time with Severide and the remainder of Squad, his Truck friends are beginning to get annoyed that he is trying elsewhere. Ambulance 61 has a ride-along this shift, Tara Little (Brooke Nevin), however she would not appear to have what it takes to deal with herself at such a busy home, and her sights are set on capturing Severide. While Severide is busy spending the night time with Tara, he misses his insemination appointment together with his good pal, paramedic Leslie Shay (Lauren German), who tells him she not needs his assist together with her being pregnant journey consequently.
Tension between Truck and Squad is an undercurrent all through the collection, as Squad can get just a little mighty on their excessive horse, leaving Truck feeling ignored, and Mills’s toggling between the 2 doesn’t assist. By the top of the episode, Severide manages to patch issues up with Shay, however sadly, Chief Boden tells him that Tara is urgent sexual assault fees in opposition to him, claiming that he lured her to his house and assaulted her. Audience members get to see a pair of totally different sides to fan-favorite Severide on this episode, giving a person who is often unwilling to confess he did one thing flawed, the possibility to apologize to a pal, which he does, in addition to the prideful aspect to him, which is proven when he refutes the claims that he assaulted Tara.
8 “A Coffin That Small”
Episode 19
The demise of Andy Darden comes up once more on this episode, when Severide sees Andy’s widow, Heather (Chaon Cross), at Casey’s place. This results in a screaming match between the 2 within the center of the firehouse throughout a shift, which is barely interrupted when the firehouse is shot at from the surface. The rigidity will not be dispelled when Severide tells Casey that he’ll switch Mills from Truck 81 to Rescue Squad. In the aftermath of the capturing, the gang presence across the firehouse will increase, and Casey takes it upon himself to determine what the difficulty is.
The argument between Casey and Severide, which is the product of a miscommunication, continues the strain between the 2 over the demise of their good pal, and is an entertaining scene for followers. With the addition of the gang harassment of the firehouse, and the potential switch of Mills, rigidity is excessive throughout on this episode. Fortunately for 51, Casey goes to the gang chief to uncover the reasoning behind their assault, and after the gang members see the present of assist 51 provides to a fallen sufferer, they determine to face down.
7 “Retaliation Hit”
Episode 21
Severide is present process a Chicago Fire Department Ethics Board listening to as a result of sexual assault allegations filed in opposition to him, with Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte) representing him, however Severide needs to confront Tara himself. Due to Severide’s allegations, the entire firehouse is present process sexual harassment coaching. Meanwhile, the person who helped Casey take down Detective Voight (Jason Beghe), who has been harassing Casey ever for the reason that firehouse responded to a drunk driving accident the place Voight’s son was at fault, has been murdered and Voight is now out of jail.
Voight’s launch provides each Casey and Dawson anxiousness, as Gabby cares for Matt and has been attempting to assist him by way of the harassment he is been receiving. Additionally, Hadley, a Squad (William Smillie) member, makes an attempt to prank Mills by switching out his chili with pet food, resulting from Mills’s stepping in to assist a sufferer throughout a name when Squad wasn’t capable of. Hadley’s shenanigans rapidly get him transferred to a different home, whereas Severide’s chat with Tara solely makes the scenario worse. The story traces which have been in play all season lengthy are beginning to attain a fever pitch, retaining viewers members on their toes.
6 “Rearview Mirror”
Episode 6
The Detective Voight arc will get extra difficult in “Rearview Mirror” when Voight’s intimidation techniques start to escalate. Despite the truth that Casey’s fiancée, Hallie (Teri Reeves), asks Dawson to persuade Casey to not testify in opposition to Voight’s son, Casey would not again down, and Voight exhibits up throughout a name to taunt him. Casey’s stress begins to affect his work and Chief Boden sends him dwelling. While at dwelling, two cops knock on Casey’s door with a search warrant, having been instructed that he has cocaine stashed someplace. All of this intimidation culminates in Casey looking for out the assistance of Gabby Dawson’s brother, Detective Antonio Dawson, who efficiently captures Voight paying somebody to get rid of Casey, leading to Voight’s arrest.
Throughout this episode, Voight exhibits how antagonizing he will be when somebody doesn’t instantly bend to his will, however Casey is unrelenting in his need to talk the reality, regardless of intimidation. This episode additionally supplies some romantic rigidity for followers, as Gabby Dawson’s emotions for Casey develop into increasingly more clear by way of her fear for him and her need to guard him from Voight. Additionally, regardless of Gabby incurring a suspension for her conduct on a name, her solely unhappiness on the finish of the episode appears to stem from Casey’s glad relationship with Hallie.
5 “Merry Christmas, Etc.”
Episode 10
Joe Cruz’s (Joe Minoso) youthful brother Leon (Jeff Lima) has been getting in hassle with a gang just lately, and Cruz has been having a tough time managing his stress about it. It’s fairly a coincidence that, at an house hearth that the crew known as to, Cruz stumbles upon the gang chief who has been inflicting Leon a lot hassle, and Cruz leaves him there to die. In different information, Chief Boden is on to the lacking treatment from Ambulance 61’s rig, which Shay gave to Severide to assist him handle his ache from an damage. When Severide would not appear too bothered by this warmth from Boden, Shay decides to maneuver out of their house, unable to maintain up residing with somebody who lies so persistently.
Viewers are confronted with so much of intense and thought-provoking decision-making from the firefighters and paramedics on this episode, from grappling with Cruz’s selection to go away the person who was hurting his brother to die when his job is to avoid wasting him, to questioning Severide’s determination to place his pal and coworker at risk of doubtlessly shedding her job to service his rising downside. Despite the truth that these characters assist folks day by day, they aren’t strangers to creating some questionable selections.
4 “One Minute”
Episode 4
Chief Boden is dealing with some warmth for a choice he made throughout an deserted warehouse hearth, as he determined to tug his firefighters out of the constructing when he noticed black smoke, leaving a person inside. The brother of the person who died is urgent fees in opposition to the Chief for his determination, and the Fire Department is placing collectively a committee to research. Meanwhile, Voight’s threats have gotten bodily, and he even tries to bribe Casey to recant his assertion in opposition to his son.
The allegations in opposition to Chief Boden, and the questioning from some of his personal males about his determination, present the fact of being able the place robust calls should be made, and the way a chief should issue within the security of his cost earlier than sending them right into a spotty scenario, regardless that which will imply some civilian lives misplaced. Fans additionally get to be taught extra about Shay on this episode, as she runs into an outdated girlfriend of hers throughout a name, and this shakes her up fairly a bit.
3 “A Hell of a Ride”
Episode 24
In the season one finale, Firehouse 51 responds to a hearth in a jail when the facility goes out. Due to the safety of the jail, the facility outage means the firefighters are locked in with the prisoners, and whereas the technician tries to elucidate to Mouch how you can break into the facility grid, Boden duties Squad with breeching the jail block. Though Herrmann is held up by a knife by one of the prisoners, and the prisoners are roaming freely among the many principal block of cells, the firefighters handle to lock themselves in an workplace till Mouch will get the facility again on and Severide floods the room with smoke, rendering the prisoners innocent.
A jail hearth is an attention-grabbing case for followers to look at, particularly as outdoors the jail, Herrmann’s spouse Cindy (Robyn Coffin) is giving beginning to their fifth youngster! The layering of stakes each inside and outdoors the jail makes for an much more gripping episode for followers. On the non-public aspect, Dawson hypes herself as much as inform Casey how she feels about him, till she realizes that he’s nonetheless reeling from the latest loss of Hallie, and decides to place a pause on her confession. And Herrmann is not the one one who’s anticipating on this episode, as Renée (Sarah Shahi), an outdated flame of Severide’s, is available in from out of city to inform Severide that she is pregnant together with his child.
2 “Leaders Lead”
Episode 22
Kelly Severide launches an offensive assault on Tara, asking Detective Dawson for assist gathering details about Tara’s previous, the place he finds proof of related accusations she has made in opposition to former coworkers. Luckily for Severide, as Chief Boden tells him that he’ll take his Squad management place away if he contacts Tara once more, his digging works and Tara reluctantly agrees to drop the costs. Things take a flip for the more serious for Casey and Hallie, as Casey finds Hallie unconscious and badly burned when the group responds to a hearth at her clinic. Despite their greatest efforts, she would not survive and Casey is crushed.
The most intense half of this episode is the loss of somebody near Casey, and consequently, a member of the 51 household. Keeping issues private for the firefighters makes it really feel private to the viewers as nicely, particularly as Casey and Hallie begin off the episode again collectively and glad. Fans additionally get to see Severide vindicate himself by proving that Tara was mendacity about him sexually assaulting her, in addition to some development for Mills and Gabby’s relationship, even whether it is short-lived.
1 “Professional Courtesy”
Episode 3
The root of the Voight and Casey battle will be present in “Professional Courtesy,” when 51 known as to a automobile accident scene, the place a van with a father and son inside has been flipped over, and Casey notices that the opposite driver has alcohol on his breath and open containers of alcohol in his automobile. The different driver was Voight’s son, and Detective Hank Voight will do no matter it takes to ensure this accident flies beneath the radar, together with bribing the firehouse with a much-needed new TV. While Casey weighs whether or not to inform the reality in his accident report or not, Severide learns that he has sustained a small fracture in his backbone, and should determine if he needs to get surgical procedure to repair it, or to danger the loss of his motor expertise.
The rigidity of the season amps up immensely on this episode, as that is the start of two overarching story traces for the season: Casey’s feud with Voight and Severide’s ache administration issues. Fans can see the place each Voight and Casey are coming from of their disagreement. Casey needs to get justice for the daddy and son from the accident, as the daddy has been slated because the trigger of the accident in a defective police report, due to Voight, and the son has been paralyzed from the waist down. While Voight needs to guard his son from the DUI cost, which can seemingly land him in jail. Creating battle the place each side of the argument will be justified is a good way of constructing an enduring and convincing supply of drama.
