Chicago Fire Season 11 Episode 17 Review: The First Symptom

Chicago Fire Season 11 Episode 17, “The First Symptom,” delves into sweet character development and gives fans news everyone’s been waiting for.

There is still an obvious power vacuum left in the wake of Severide’s departure. Everyone is still adjusting. 

Chicago Fire is handling Severide’s absence as well as could be expected. It’s not as if there’s a shortage of good leadership to help the team weather his absence. 

The best thing for the team to do in light of temporarily losing their leader is to come together and rally around one another. Rather than focusing on what they’ve lost, they need to take this moment and appreciate what they still have. This way, the team will be that much stronger when Severide returns.

Now, there’s an opportunity to spotlight the talents of others on the team, and “The First Symptom” finds Cruz stepping up.

It’s a good start for Cruz. He manages his first crisis of leadership like a champ. While he may just be starting out in a formal leadership role, he has always been the backbone of his team. 

Chicago Fire is better for elevating Cruz and giving him a chance to shine. 

The real heart of the episode is Herrmann. His and Cindy’s storyline has been emotional to watch. Chicago Fire continues to treat these characters and their story with incredible sensitivity. The story never feels like it bogs down the rest of the episode.

Instead, this continuity only makes it easier to feel for Cindy particularly as she continues on this cancer journey. That being said, Herrmann’s anxiety is palpable throughout the entire episode. There’s a sense that he’s ready to explode at any minute.

“The First Symptom” also captures the sheer exhaustion that is the hallmark of any cancer caregiver. Everything about the way David Eigenberg carries himself adds to the full weight of this story. 

The good news that everyone so desperately wished for will hopefully be a new start for everyone. Herrmann now has an opportunity to re-evaluate what his work-life balance should look like now that Cindy is out of the worst danger.

While Herrmann remains the unofficial father of the team, it’s probably best that he steps back from formal leadership so that he can focus on himself for now. He and his family have just been through a major crisis.

Hopefully, Chicago Fire will give Cindy and her family a chance to process their entire ordeal so that they can all return to a new kind of normal.

With the final episodes of the season on the horizon, it’s hard not to feel optimistic about how Chicago Fire will wrap up this chapter. This is a group filled with impeccable leaders, that put the well-being of the team above their personal egos. 

In Severide’s absence, it’s important to make sure that someone holds down the fort. This episode is proof that as a team, there’s nothing these firefighters can’t do. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Seeing Brett and Violet prove themselves when faced with patients with mysterious symptoms is a tribute to both of their characters.
• It’s been far too long since this TV universe has had a proper crossover.
• Mouch’s save at the blood bank is surprisingly emotional. He’s a true hero in every sense.
• Watching Mouch finagle the fire truck replica is the comedy this episode sorely needs. The ultimate resolution is even better.
• Relatedly, Mouch messing around on the internet to find the final piece for his model is definitely on-brand. 
• Lt. Casey’s return is that much closer!

What did you think of this episode of Chicago Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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