Chicago Fire Is Undermining Lizzie and Violet with a Tired, One-Dimensional Love Triangle — and It’s Time the Show Gave These Complex Characters (and Its Audience) the Smarter, More Meaningful Story They Deserve kn01

Chicago Fire 0

Is there anything else Chicago Fire can be doing for Violet and Lizzie?

The series, hell, the franchise has a history of dabbling with romances and even some love triangle action, so there’s nothing new about them putting two of its only female characters in an arc like this.

But isn’t that exactly why it’s so ridiculous that this is the only thing they can come up with in the first place?

We finally got an hour of Chicago Fire that directed some attention to both Violet and Lizzie doing what we love most … their job.

The tension from their DNR conflict in Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 15 was at least interesting, and it further confirmed that some of their strongest arcs come when the two of them face workplace conflict.

But Chicago Fire doesn’t just lean into that more.

Instead, it opts for storyline where Violet is secretly dating Great Value Carver, (I mean, Vasquez) and Lizzie, for whatever reason, is fixated on him as a love interest, even though they previously made the frustrating choice to have her be cavalier about her love life.

It’s such a reductive and, dare I say, sexist storyline to stick two brilliant, beautiful women in this series.

We barely get enough action with the pair in the field in the first place, presumably because of budget cuts and restrictions.

So I understand why that may result in more personal arcs, firehouse shenanigans, and conflicts, still providing us with character insight and plot points to balance the show.

But why this one?

Isn’t it more interesting if they devote their full time to exploring how Lizzie connects with her family as she learns to let them in and for them to care for her?

Didn’t the One Chicago Crossover tease the idea of Lizzie learning to let her younger siblings care for her equally, rather than her being in this maternal role?

Wouldn’t that be worthwhile to explore more, and shouldn’t Lizzie have more to discuss with her sister than the latest chiseled jawline she’s lusting over?

It just feels so reductive and juvenile for a character with the potential for real depth who always gets sidelined or has all the interesting bits about her derailed when they’re eager to pair her up with someone.

While I wasn’t exactly a Lizzie and Frost fan, it would’ve been far more interesting if they had used that dynamic to show her how to have a serious relationship and figure out how to be a real partner for someone, emotionally and romantically, at the same time.

It would’ve been nice to see Lizzie, who otherwise comes across as a love ’em and leave ’em sort because she’s too afraid to get her heart broken or give someone her full heart, actually process why she’s like that through a safe, healthy relationship with a good guy.

But instead, things with Frost fell through, and without even thinking about why, she’s directed her full attention back to Vasquez, even though it’s been clear he and Violet have had chemistry brewing for a long time.

It’s just silly.

Plus, regardless of how likable all the characters are, there is no way you slice this where it isn’t two women potentially clashing or falling out over a man.

A man at both of their jobs, mind you. Is this a high school?

Lizzie and Violet are so much better than this, and that’s what makes this arc so annoying.

I’ve already expressed frustration with the fact that Chicago Fire never knows what else to do with Violet other than toss her into doomed relationships over and over again.

After Carver, they should’ve just left Violet’s love life alone for a beat.

There are so many aspects of Violet we still don’t know that are worth exploring, other than pointing her due north whenever a hot guy is nearby.

We’ve seen Violet build more romantic relationships than friendships or other connections, and it’s exhausting.

Now, we have to wait with bated breath for the awkward moment when Lizzie finds Violet and Vasquez kissing or whatever the plan will be, and for the two women to have to work through and even repair their friendship and working relationship when that happens.

Why? Because Violet won’t just say that she’s dating Vasquez, and instead is allowing Lizzie to embarrass herself by expressing her interest?

Maybe the intention is to set up a storyline in which they dig into how people have learned not to take Lizzie seriously when it comes to love because they don’t think she ever does.

And that it’s not fair to do that when she’s still capable of being hurt.

But there were so many other ways to give us that arc without a love triangle with Vasquez.

They haven’t given us nearly enough depth for Lizzie’s character to make the series’ sudden decision to delve into her facing the perspective that she’s never romantically serious, or that she should give up on her romantic needs, feel like a properly earned story arc.And they haven’t focused on it consistently enough to feel like a well-rounded story.

Meanwhile, the show refuses to allow Violet to thrive on her own without dangling another complicated romance in her immediate path.

The most interesting and unexpected direction to take would be an exploration of whether or not there are possible romantic feelings that could grow between Violet and Lizzie.

It’s something many shippers of their dynamic would much prefer to see.

But at this point, even if there’s something there, and it’s an arc they would seriously take on or build to, they’ve already torpedoed both women’s character development.

Because they keep saddling them with romantic arcs more than anything else.

Rate this post
Post Views: 85