After Chicago Fire Revealed What Still Terrifies One Veteran Firefighter, I’m Wondering If It Would Be Better If Casey Came Back

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Warning: The following contains spoilers for the Season 13 winter premiere of Chicago Fire, titled “A Favor”, which is currently streaming on Peacock with a subscription.

In the finale of 2024, Chicago Fire series, Joe Cruz found himself facing the consequences of a choice he made in 2012 that has since caused him trouble: allowing Flaco to perish while attempting to shield his brother Leon. Entering the picture was Junior, Flaco’s cousin, who sought to exploit Cruz by forcing him to collaborate on a plot to recover stolen money from other criminals. Unfortunately for all involved, the plan unraveled, and Cruz ended the episode with a gunshot wound in his arm.

In summary, the 2025 TV schedule for Cruz didn’t exactly have a promising beginning. Watching the winter premiere brought to mind what Joe Mińoso shared with TopMob about his character’s fears after all these years. This made me ponder if things would improve or deteriorate further for Cruz if Jesse Spencer returned as Matt Casey.

First things first!

What Trouble Cruz Is In After “A Favor”

Regardless of Cruz’s attempts to keep Junior at bay without putting himself in danger, Flaco’s cousin was persistent in exploiting Cruz’s connections with the CFD for a chance to break into a hideout and steal money for Junior’s family following his release from prison. This scheme bore a resemblance to a storyline you might find on Chicago P.D., but unlike the Intelligence Unit agents, Cruz didn’t have access to one of their bulletproof vests.

In simpler terms, Junior demonstrated his seriousness to Cruz by involving OFI in re-examining Flaco’s death (with Severide temporarily joining forces with OFI) and later escalated things by brandishing a gun at the firefighter. It was another firefighter who shot Cruz, but Junior himself sustained a bullet wound during the exchange of fire. The flesh wound could be just the beginning of his troubles.

In a bold move, Cruz entered the scenario by openly announcing himself as a firefighter from Chicago Fire Department, choosing not to conceal his face or wear gloves. This act alone was questionable, and then, unfortunately, he was shot. Such an injury could potentially leave behind traces of crime scene DNA via blood trails. To add to the predicament, the gunshot wound on his arm isn’t something that can be treated with a simple bandage. Seeking help from the paramedics at Firehouse 51 or the doctors at Chicago Med would likely prompt inquiries he’d prefer not to answer.

In summary, considering all the turmoil Cruz experienced, it wasn’t unexpected that he didn’t answer Chloe’s call at the close of the hour. This was because he was completely unprepared to engage in that crucial conversation with his wife. To add to his emotional distress, the ringing phone exposed that Chloe, Javi, and their baby Otis were the images on Cruz’s cell phone screen.

Joe Minoso gave a remarkable act, particularly during the final scene in the car, and Junior’s demise in the winter premiere theoretically ensures that Cruz is no longer threatened by blackmail. However, according to what the actor shared with TopMob, the narrative doesn’t conclude after Episode 9.

What Joe Mińoso Says Terrifies Cruz And Could Be Different With Casey

During NBC’s One Chicago winter premiere interview, I had the good fortune of chatting with Joe Minoso about the “over-the-top absurdity” of the current Cruz arc in Chicago Fire, which seems to echo elements from its first season. Given that Cruz stands to lose much more now in Season 13 compared to twelve years ago, I questioned whether this additional risk factored into Cruz’s actions within this narrative. Minoso responded by revealing:

What constantly occupies Cruz’s thoughts is what’s at the forefront. Firefighters possess a unique type of courage in their bodies, which makes them unafraid to risk themselves in dangerous situations. They seem to thrive on adrenaline. However, it’s not just the danger itself that scares Cruz; it’s the thought of something happening to his family – both his firefighter comrades (his ‘firehouse family’) and his immediate loved ones (his nuclear family). Given the increased stakes in this current storyline compared to 12 years ago, when the narrative revolved around him and his brother, the fear for his family’s safety is significantly more intense.

Over time, the Cruz family has encountered numerous hardships. These include Chloe’s doubts about managing life as the spouse of someone who regularly risks his life, the process of adopting Javi, welcoming baby Otis following the death of a close friend, and the reemergence of the Flaco situation which poses real danger to them. However, it appears that the storyline involving Junior’s death does not necessarily mean the end of this particular plot point as Mińoso suggested.

It seems to me that he’d stop at nothing. In the upcoming episodes 9 and 10, you’ll witness just how much Cruz is prepared to do in order to protect his family.

As a die-hard film buff, I can’t contain my excitement as Episode 10 is set to air on January 15. The anticipation is high, and I wonder just how far the storyline will take us before it concludes. Will it conclude before the three-part crossover event with Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med? That’s a question that remains unanswered. However, NBC’s description for the upcoming episode, titled “Chaos Theory,” hints that Severide will be investigating one of his fellow Squad members. And here’s a sneaky feeling – it won’t be Capp or Tony this time around.

It seems you might be wondering how Casey is connected to the current plotline, given that Jesse Spencer hasn’t been on “Chicago Fire” since the Brettsey wedding last season. However, Casey’s second wedding was referenced during the winter premiere, as they ended up running up a tab at Molly’s when their more extravagant plans fell through. More significantly, when I inquired if Cruz had anyone to confide in regarding the Flaco/Junior issue, Joe Mińoso brought up Casey, the former Truck Captain.

[Chuckles] As a movie buff, I must admit, the plot twist in this latest episode took me by surprise. It seems none at the firehouse, save perhaps Mouch, fathom such an event transpiring. Casey, played brilliantly by Jesse Spencer, was the one who held this secret close, his former comrade being the only one aware of it.

The newcomers to the firehouse are blissfully unaware, and I suspect our troubled hero wants to keep it that way. The upcoming episodes promise a challenging journey for both Casey and Severide, as the latter’s knack for noseying around and intuitive nature will likely lead him to suspect something amiss.

This secretive predicament could prove particularly taxing for Cruz, as he navigates the delicate dance of concealing his troubles while steering clear of further complications. Stay tuned, folks, it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride!

Considering the scenario in the show “Chicago Fire,” it seems beneficial for Cruz if Casey had remained as a potential confidant. This is because, as Cruz keeps so many secrets, his odd behavior might go unnoticed by the others on the team. However, with Casey around, Cruz could have confided in him, potentially making it easier to spot that something was amiss. It’s an interesting thought, especially given the occasional appearances of Jesse Spencer (Casey) throughout the series. I can’t help but ponder what might have been!

It’s rather unusual that Chicago Fire didn’t show a preview for the next episode following the winter premiere, leaving us in suspense about Cruz’s condition after getting shot. At this point, all we can do is keep watching NBC every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET for fresh episodes of Fire. Prior to that, you’ve got Chicago Med (kicking off the new year with a bang) airing at 8 p.m. ET and Chicago P.D. following at 10 p.m. ET. If you can’t catch them on TV, don’t worry – you can stream all three shows now on Peacock.

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2025-01-09 14:37