TV

Chicago Fire Fans Speak Out to Writers: 'Repeating a Storyline for the Fourth Time?'

Chicago Fire Fans Speak Out to Writers: 'Repeating a Storyline for the Fourth Time?'
Image credit: NBC

Are we seriously doing the same thing we’ve already done three times? Again?..

Summary:

  • Chicago Fire recently introduced its new antagonist, the new Paramedic Chief who’s out to assert dominance in Firehouse 51.
  • This is the fourth time someone tries to take down the 51 crew, and the three previous attempts ended miserably for antagonists.
  • Chicago Fire fans aren’t happy with such blatant repetition of storylines and directly ask the writers to come up with new, original arcs.

Look, we all get it: after twelve seasons, it’s hard to come up with 100% fresh ideas. In the years of Chicago Fire’s television run, so many storylines and character arcs have already been explored that it’s nigh-impossible, and that’s okay.

But repeating the exact same story not twice, not thrice, but four times? That is undoubtedly lazy writing no matter how you look at it.

Chicago Fire Fans Frustrated with the New PC

Sylvie Brett’s exit from the show elevated Violet Mikami to the position of the Paramedic-in-Charge, but that wasn’t an entirely good thing: she got to interact with the new Paramedic Chief and, alongside fans, quickly learned that woman was eager to create difficulties for Firehouse 51 in her attempt to assert dominance.

This obvious antagonism would have been fun if it wasn’t the fourth such storyline in Chicago Fire, and fans are having none of that: they are calling out the lazy writing.

“How many people have tried to take down 51? Gorsch tried and failed, Emma tried and failed, Gail tried and failed. Hell, even Commissioner Grissom left 51 alone. Since all Chicago shows have been renewed for a new season, obviously Robinson and Lennox are going to fail. Dear One Chicago writers creeping on this sub, we aren't asking for much, just new storylines,” Reddit user not_your_hoodie wrote.

Other fans agree with them, saying they thought the exact same thing when they realized the new Paramedic Chief would antagonize the entire Firehouse 51. We’ve all seen that many times already!

Firehouse 51 Is Unsinkable Thanks to Plot Armor

Chicago Fire Fans Speak Out to Writers: 'Repeating a Storyline for the Fourth Time?' - image 1

Every previous major attempt to close or take over Firehouse 51 ended badly for those who decided to fight Chief Boden and his crew. Gail McLeod was borderline blackmailed into leaving the scene. Jerry Gorsch was likely imprisoned for embezzlement. Emma Jacobs was fired twice over her malicious actions.

Carl Grissom? Well, he at least got one thing right when after beating Boden to the Commissioner’s seat, he decided to leave Firehouse 51 alone and stay content.

The new Big Bag is going down the same way, and not only because Chicago Fire just got renewed for another season: Firehouse 51 simply has plot armor. For that reason alone, using the “they’re trying to bury us” story several times over was not the best idea — and we’re with the fans on this one.