After taking a brief break, Chicago Fire season 14 resumed with episode 16, which welcomed Firehouse 51’s newest chief into the picture.
The episode opened with Severide catching up with Van Meter over breakfast in a scene that gave us the chance to finally learn how Van Meter has been doing since his recovery. It seems his consulting job with OFI has been going incredibly well, and they’ve been great in working with him to accommodate his physical therapy, which has also been going well.
As they catch up, Van Meter asks Severide if he’s heard anything about the captain’s exam results, and Severide informs him that he hadn’t heard back. He also reveals that Stella is out of town for a wildfire training, as is the rest of Truck.
As they chat, Van Meter asks how Severide feels about being acting lead of 51, but he brushes it off as Van Meter questions how Chief Hopkins came to be in charge of 51 as it’s out of his district. Severide replies that it must have been budget cuts, but Van Meter’s suspicions certainly have us wondering if Chief Hopkins being assigned as 51’s new chief was not a coincidence.
As Severide arrives at the firehouse to begin his shift, we learn that Ambo is also off shift with 51 working on a skeleton crew this year. Cruz arrives and notices Severide in Pascal’s old office as he asks if he’s going to finally move in. Severide isn’t sure about moving into the office, but he’s going to ease into things and use the office for some meetings. While chatting, Cruz reveals that he and Chloe are expecting another child in August, and Severide is thrilled for his friend, though it’s clear Cruz has some guilt, which is understandable given the struggles Severide and Kidd have had in starting a family.
After a call helping a woman who became trapped in an unexpected position after a car accident, Squad 3 returns to 51, where Tony and Capp overhear Cruz talking about the pregnancy. Cruz admits he doesn’t know how to juggle having three kids.
Severide heads up to Pascal’s old office and is surprised to find Chief Hopkins, and it seems he’s come for a check-in. He asks about the box on the desk, and Seveide tells him Pascal had left him the office to use, to which Hopkins quips that this is a chief’s office as he makes it clear to pack things up. He then orders Lucy to give him a tour of the firehouse. As she shows him the offices of the lieutenants, he walks into Severide’s office and notices his wedding photo as he instructs Lucy to tell Severide to come see him.
When Severide drops in to speak with Hopkins, he makes it clear that he’s sticking around at 51 to get a better sense of the firehouse’s operations. He makes it clear that he has issues with Severide, noting that it seems he feels as though he doesn’t have to follow the rules. Hopkins points out how Kidd is often on the same shifts as Severide, which is against the CFD rules given the pair are married. Severide points out that several chiefs have reviewed and approved the pair working together in the same firehouse, but Hopkins makes it clear he’s not a fan of the arrangement.
Cruz wonders why Hopkins is being such a hardass, but his conversation with Severide is cut short as Chloe arrives. She pulls Cruz aside, and she tells him about reading Havi’s emails and seeing a message from Eddie at social services, the guy who placed Havi with them. It turns out Havi reached out to Eddie to ask if he could help him track down some of his relatives in Honduras. Cruz wonders if he should call Eddie to look into things, and Chloe worries that Havi is feeling disconnected with them about to expect another biological child. Chloe worries he wants to track down family because he wants to reconnect with them permanently as Cruz assures her it’s just an email and he’ll talk to him.
After running drills with Capp and Tony, Severide gets a call from Van Meter, who has called to congratulate him on his captain’s exam results. Turns out Severide landed No. 1 on the captain test, and he suggests Hopkins will give him the official word soon.
Just then Lucy comes and says Hopkins is looking for him. Rather than telling him about the result, Hopkins mentions how Cruz’s wife dropped by and questions Severide letting his team take personal visits on shift. Severide asks if he heard about his captain’s exam and asks why he didn’t tell him. Hopkins says it makes no difference, as he’s still his chief and superior. Seveide asks if there is a personal problem, and Hopkins comments that he’s been in this position before and he won’t make this same mistake twice.
Shortly after, Havi comes by the firehouse, and Cruz mentions hearing about his efforts to try to track down his family in Honduras. Cruz assures Havi they don’t want him to hide this and reminds him he’s part of their family which is when Havi notes that this has nothing to do with the pregnancy. It turns out he emailed Eddie months ago, and they couldn’t find anything. Havi ends the conversation abruptly as he note it’s like he doesn’t exist.
Following his conversation, Seviede begins to look into Hopkins to try to find out what he might have against him. Cruz drops into Severide’s office, and he admits he doesn’t know what the best approach is with Havi and Severide tells him he might know someone who could. A call comes through, and Squad 3 heads out with Hopkins joining them.
A man fell into a grave when he was digging. Hopkins allows Severide to run command on the call, and Severide successfully pulls off the save using his knowledge to save the victim. The rescue impresses Hopkins, or so it seemed.
What does Hopkins have against Severide?
Back at the firehouse, Cruz sits down with Terry, the adoption worker who Severide and Kidd had been working with when considering adoption. Terry notes that adopted kids wanting to know more about their family is about wanting to figure out who they are. For a kid like Havi, figuring out who they are starts with understanding where they came from.
While Cruz is speaking with Havi, Severide continues looking into Hopkins, which is when he finds a notice of disciplinary action in Hopkins’ file from Firehouse 66. It turns out that Hopkins worked with Severide’s dad, Benny, back in the day, and Benny suspended him for an unclear reason. This is when Hopkins’ issue with Severide becomes clear.
Hopkins tells him he knows his type, suggesting that Severide has only made it as far as he has in the CFD because he’s a nepo baby who had everything handed to him. Hopkins makes it clear that he couldn’t do anything back then, but he’s going to use his position to wipe the slate clean and push out legacy firefighters such as Severide. He’s decided to stay at 51, where he’s needed most – a clear power move to push Severide out.
Following the exchange, Severide loops Cruz in, and he suggests they take things up the chain and raise his bias to the brass. Severide notes it would be pointless as the CFD can’t afford to lose another chief, but it’s clear there isn’t room for him and Hopkins at the 51.
As the episode comes to an end, we learn that Hopkins has a shared history with Lucy. She was injured in a car accident five years ago, which Hopkins responded to. Her arm was severely injured in the accident, and we learn she was responsible and had been drinking. Hopkins had the police ride with her in the ambulance, and he questions if she served time. She replies that her license was suspended, but she didn’t do jail time, though she knows she should have. Rather than firing her, Hopkins makes it clear there is a place for her at 51 since he’ll be working there, but makes it clear she’s working for him now at the firehouse.
Closing up the Havi storyline for the episode, Cruz takes Terry’s advice and books a trip for him and Havi to head to Honduras to explore the town where Havi was born so that he can learn about his roots, news that thrills Havi.
As for Severide? He ends the episode showing up at Van Meter’s house, and it becomes clear that Hopkins has gotten under Severide’s skin. He makes it clear to Van Meter that he’s not going to sit back and watch Hopkins burn everything down. If Hopkins wants a fight, he’s got one. Van Meter admits he has concerns about Hopkins, but Pascal handed Severide the keys to the castle, and this anger and conviction is what 51 needs. He makes it clear to Severide that it won’t be easy, but Severide is exactly where he’s meant to be and it’s time to fight.
