Throughout the summer, we’ve been hit with teases of a new member at Firehouse 51, budget cut drama, and more. The Chicago Fire season 14 premiere is here, and it’s time to get in

It doesn’t take long to get into the drama and the heartbreak. Remember in the Chicago Fire season 13 finale when Kidd shared the exiting news that she and Kelly are expecting a baby? Sadly, that is not the case.

 

 

We open the episode with Kidd being told that she’s suffered a miscarriage. It is early days in the pregnancy, and not uncommon, but that does not mean it isn’t disappointing. And as someone who has been right where Kidd is now, I can completely empathize with the feelings, and I hope to see this storyline go somewhere rather than it being brushed under the carpet like it usually is.

 

 

Severide is there for Kidd, making it clear that she has nothing to apologize for, because, well, she doesn’t. He wants her to lean on him. Men, Severide is showing you how to be in a moment like this!

While that is going on, we cut to some higher-ranking officials discussing a problem firefighter, and this problem is going to Firehouse 51. It’s clear that Pascal isn’t happy about it, but he doesn’t have a choice in the matter. Firehouse 51 is the CFD’s choice, and it sounds like it’s his last hope.

 

 

At the firehouse, we learn that it’s been a month since the Chicago Fire season 13 finale, and Herrmann is still in his office. Cruz sticks his nose in it, calling Herrmann out for the slow decision. It doesn’t help that Mouch is using the table in the break room to do his paperwork.

 

 

Then we get to meet the problem firefighter, Sal Vasquez. Pascal shows him around, and then Vasquez gets to meet Kidd in the locker room. The arrogance is clear from the start, and Kidd is not impressed. A call stops them from chatting, giving everyone a chance to see what Vasquez is like as a driver, with Herrmann and Ritter both agreeing that he’s a little heavy on the peddle. If only that was the only issue he’ll have!

The call is at a gas station, where there’s a car on fire barrelling down the road. Before getting the order, Vasquez pulls a U-turn and heads after the burning truck, while Squad 3 deals with the situation at the gas station.

There is an injured woman there, with the attendant sharing that two men tried to rob her and got away. One of the men got in the truck, and he certainly hasn’t made it judging by those burn marks on him! The second guy got away on foot, but it doesn’t take long for Severide to take him down.

What Firehouse 51 wants to know is where PD is. They turn up late to the call, and it’s just the first sign of an issue that Chicago is about to have.

Back at the firehouse, we get the Carver update that we need in the Chicago Fire season 14 premiere. Violet shares with Novak that she hasn’t heard from Carver since he moved. The two agreed that they wouldn’t contact each other so that Carver could get the fresh start that he needs. That is not the update that we wanted!

Meanwhile, Ritter shares that Dwayne has moved to New York, and the two have been texting and calling each other a lot. However, Dwayne was supposed to show Ritter around his apartment in a video call, and that never happened. Have things slowed down already?

Then comes the update about Damon, as Michael Bradway has left the series due to another project he’s landed. Mouch shares that he’s not getting to know Vasquez because everyone he gets to know has left. Carver left, and Damon has transferred to another firehouse. This certainly keeps the door open to see Damon again in the future if Bradway’s schedule allows.

As a news report of the gas station attack is shown on TV, 51 continues to question why it took so long for CPD to show up. They’re not impressed with the new mayor, or her “talking head.”

Kidd also isn’t impressed with Vasquez. When she pulls him up for making the U-turn without an order, he points out that it wasn’t like that order wasn’t going to come. In a way, I’m with him. He took the initiative needed at the time. However, his insubordination and lack of respect for Kidd is going to cause a problem.

Kidd is so unimpressed at Vasquez, that she asks to see his resume. Pascal is cagey about the entire situation, and we know why based on the start of the episode. I just wish he would be honest with Kidd right now. Pascal tries to turn it on Kidd about the loss of firefighters from the house recently, but Kidd can tell that something is off.

As for Mouch, he decides it’s time to talk to Herrmann about the office to get an end date on moving out. Naturally, Herrmann decides to play the sorrow card, sharing how he’s lost income because of the demotion and how he is struggling with the retaining on Truck. This gets Mouch to back off again, but how long can this last?

There’s a little bit of flirting between Vasquez and Novak, which isn’t all that surprising. I get a sense that something is going to happen between them, as it tends to do with Novak when there’s a cute boy.

Speaking of cute boys, Ritter decides to see Mouch for a favor. Is it possible that Trudy can find out what’s going on with Dwayne? It’s not that Ritter is freaking out, but, well, he is!

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