'Chicago Fire' Season 9: Here's everything we can expect from Firehouse 51 when the show returns
NBC has announced that all three 'Chicago' franchise shows will be returning in November 2020. All three shows had shortened seasons with impromptu finales due to production being shut down owing to lockdown restrictions imposed in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
Of the three shows, 'Chicago Fire' is the oldest, having premiered in 2012. Its success went on to create three more shows for the franchise. Unfortunately, while 'Chicago PD' and 'Chicago Med' are doing quite well, 'Chicago Justice' was canceled after one season. These shows mostly operate independently, but they do have crossovers. The biggest crossover event of a season involves all three shows and is celebrated by fans as "One Chicago" night.
Thankfully, when 'Chicago Fire' went away last season, the writers did not get the chance to incorporate a big action-packed cliffhanger like they normally do — which is good because we are still recovering from the Season 7 finale —the Season 8 premiere tragedy, which saw an original and a fan-favorite character, Brian "Otis" Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov) succumb to his injuries.
In his place, Firehouse 51 got a new addition, one that was approved by both Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney). Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende) let viewers know right off the bat that he was going to honor Otis' memory by joining 51. Over the eighth season, we saw Gallo blend in well with the family and even become close with a fellow young firefighter, Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri).
Rosende was upped to series regular in December 2019, and now, ahead of Season 9, Kyri has also been made a series regular. This could mean that we could see a lot more of the young ones on Firehouse 51. In the last season, we saw how well these two worked together — like the time they repaired Otis' drone for Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) and found some old recording Otis had made, warming all our hearts.
Unfortunately, another cast member will not be returning as a series regular. Annie Ilonzeh, who plays Emily Foster, Sylvie Brett's (Kara Kilmer) paramedic partner, announced in the Season 8 finale that she had reapplied to medical school after pulling off an impressive feat while on the job. Brett could be upset at her partner leaving, but she is supportive.
We will still see Foster now and then, but Firehouse 51 could get a new paramedic — let's just hope they're not as bad as the last new paramedic who came to replace Brett when she was away.
This, of course, presents opportunities. With Foster leaving, there's a position open and we can only think of one replacement — Violet Lin (Hanako Greensmith), Gallo's girlfriend from another firehouse. We have seen Violet only sparingly so far, but we like what we have seen of her. It would also be great to see how she interacts with the rest of Firehouse 51, especially Brett.
The rest of the cast of 'Chicago Fire' may go on as normal — well, as normal as they do. The only person we see a significant change for is Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), who had begun a program to train young girls from Chicago's public schools and inspire them to become firefighters. As the only female firefighter in Firehouse 51, it was exciting to see Kidd branch out into something new and we hope to continue to see it in Season 9.
The biggest question on every fans' mind would potentially be — Will Casey and Brett finally get together this year? For two seasons now, we have seen both characters get closer and learn that they have feelings for each other. It's just that timing has never been right. Casey supported Brett through her meeting her birth mother and the latter's death when Brett's little sister was born.
Perhaps in this season, they can finally get over all their inhibitions and do the deed — confess to each other how they really feel, instead of dragging it on for another season. There is some time to go before we get details for the new season. As we get closer to the premiere date — Wednesday, November 11 — more details will emerge as will promos and photos.
We cannot wait to see what 'Chicago Fire' has in store for us this season and we hope it is as strong as the last. 'Chicago Fire' Season 9 will premiere on Wednesday, November 11, on NBC at 8/7c.