30 Days of Thanks 2020: ‘Chicago Fire’
Happy One Chicago Wednesday premiere day! How thankful are we that Wolf Entertainment and NBC Universal found a way to have the casts and crews return to work safely and we now have new episodes to enjoy? But for this article, we step back in time to season one episode seven of Chicago Fire, “Two Families”. The only episode of the series where a holiday, in this case, Thanksgiving, is the main focus. So let’s talk about why it should definitely be on your Thanksgiving watchlist!
Image via NBC
Firehouse 51
A lot happens in this episode while candidate Peter Mills and his sister prepare the feast. Shay discovers Severide is still using drugs to manage his pain and is later surprised by her pregnant ex-girlfriend showing up. We meet Cruz’s brother, Leon, for the first time when he is a victim of a gang shooting. And the firefighters find themselves pinned down by gunfire. Boden brings a troubled young boy into the firehouse, despite Herrmann and Mouch’s misgivings. And the house responds to a deep-fried turkey disaster.
Image via NBC
The big rescue of the hour is what turns Thanksgiving dinner into warmed-over breakfast. A multi-car pileup where Shay and Dawson save a man from an arterial bleed. And in one of my all-time favorite moments, Casey delivers a baby on the side of the road. But this ultimately leads to heartbreak for Casey when his fiancé Hallie confesses she doesn’t know if she wants children.
Two Families
One of the many reasons Chicago Fire is my comfort series is its recurring themes of family and how we are all connected. Be it by blood or circumstance. The men and women of firehouse 51 are hard-working people with good hearts who try every day to make a difference in someone’s life. And this episode beautifully illustrates that. It is Otis, in his first-ever podcast, that sums up this episode perfectly. “I’m thankful because I have two families and not many people can say that.”.
Image via NBC
On a final note, watching this episode with each passing season makes me nostalgic for the earlier seasons. So many characters who have come and gone over the years that I miss dearly (not Hadley of course). But then I’m reminded of who would be sitting at the Thanksgiving table today. Sylvie Brett and Stella Kidd. Blake Gallo and Darren Ritter. Gianna Mackey (yes, I know I’m going to love her, too). And I’m reminded of all the love that has happened. That Boden, Mouch, and Cruz are now all happily married. That Herrmann and Boden have both welcomed new additions to their family. And that is what the holidays have always meant to me. The traditions that honor the past while celebrating the family and friends we have in the present.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! What did you think of this Chicago Fire episode? Was it one of your all-time favorites? Or do you have another holiday-themed episode that takes the cake for you? Find and follow us on Twitter @capeandcastle to discuss all things Chicago Fire, Thanksgiving, and everything else! Be sure to also check out our site for more articles on all things Disney and beyond!
