It was just another day in the life on Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 6.
“Broken Things” was a good title, as the episode showcased how bureaucracy can stifle every level of care.
But it also reminds us that if you want help, it’s not necessarily the government you want to provide it.
A Department in Crisis
Pascal is now in charge of six firehouses, but Kelly is stepping up at 51. So, Kelly doesn’t have the benefit of a title or the salary, but he’s got the responsibility of chief in his absense?
That seems like a pretty raw deal. And if we’re to believe the current state of the CFD, the same thing would be happening at the remaining five houses, too.
And then there’s Violet, piecing together scraps to keep the medics running well enough to save lives.
How is it that services we count on to save lives are the first thing cut in a city budget?
I couldn’t figure out why Pascal would want to introduce Kelly to Annette Davis, either, but it worked out well for one of the medic’s cases to cross that meeting.
Is that what it takes to change things? A crisis unfolding in a government office? We’ve seen statewide fires ravaging towns and fire departments still lose funding. There has to be a better way for us to keep people safe.
So it was fortuitous that Pasal and Kelly were with Annette during that call. Sitting in an office doesn’t give you the full picture of what it’s like on the job. Will it make a difference to the CFD in the long run?
We’ve still got 15 episodes left in Chicago Fire Season 14, so we’ve barely scratched the surface of this storyline.
More Stress Than a Kid Should Bear
How do you keep a kid from going off the deep end if their family is in trouble?
Isaiah is researching his mother’s issue and worried to death that if he’s not on top of it, his mom’s care will suffer.
Stella and Kelly are getting their feet wet with the intricacies of long-term illnesses. I have several family members who have been to the hospital, in need of rehab, etc., and it’s not an easy road to navigate.
The most surprising part of it is that almost nobody can help you. The runaround Stella felt like she got trying to find out about Shauna is the norm.
Someone may need to change facilities, but nobody is in charge of it. Patients will sit there, racking up charges, and nothing will be done. It’s a lesson in futility.
I can only imagine what it must be like for a kid to feel so powerless because it feels like hell as an adult. I’d love to see Chicago Fire tackle more stories like this. It was a decent crossover with Chicago Med, too.
They didn’t need to fully cross over because it was right in Sharon Goodwin’s wheelhouse. It was a little akward given her storyline the previous hour, but it worked if you could overlook that.
I did love how much Isaiah appreciated what Stella and Kelly were willing to do for him and his mom. We need more people like that in the world and more stories like that on TV.
Then Again…
There are times when you just need to shut up and let the professionals work.
I mean, sure, the medics are running ragged, but if my mom was covered glass wounds, I’d rather she be in an ambulance.
It might not be easy to be stuck in traffic while a loved one suffers, but that’s society for you. And if you live in a major metropolitan area, I suppose it’s a tradeoff.
Trying to get to work on time is one thing, but trying to get to a hospital is also impossible, no matter how many sirens and flashing lights you have.
