Fans of Chicago Fire were left in suspense following the intense winter premiere, only to notice something unusual: NBC did not release a TV promo for the upcoming January 15 episode, titled Chaos Theory.
Some suggest NBC withheld the promo out of respect for the California wildfires, while others believe it’s a deliberate choice to heighten anticipation after the shocking cliffhanger involving Joe Cruz.
What Happened to Cruz?
The winter premiere left viewers reeling as Joe Cruz, played by Joe Miñoso, found himself shot and bleeding in his car. The harrowing sequence unfolded after Cruz was drawn into dangerous events involving Junior, the cousin of someone Cruz couldn’t save in a previous fire.
While Junior is now dead, Cruz faces not only physical trauma but also emotional fallout—how will he explain this to his wife, Chloe, or his boss, Kelly Severide?
First Look at Chaos Theory
While a promo is absent, NBC has released several intriguing stills from the episode, giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come.
- Stella Kidd Returns: Miranda Rae Mayo’s Stella Kidd is back, leading Truck 81 after missing the winter premiere. One image shows Kidd walking through what appears to be a school hallway, accompanied by guest star Tania Gaul as Ms. Rubin. Another features Kidd taking charge on a call with Truck 81.
- Cruz and Severide in Action: A significant image shows Cruz alongside Severide (Taylor Kinney), both in their fire gear. Could this indicate a time jump, or is Cruz back at work despite his injuries?
- Cruz’s Guilt: One still shows Cruz sitting alone in Firehouse 51’s gear storage, looking contemplative and troubled.
- Chief Pascal Steps In: Dermot Mulroney’s Chief Dom Pascal is pictured approaching Cruz, seemingly aware that something is amiss. Is Pascal putting the pieces together about what happened to Cruz?
