Midseason Report Card: Was ‘Chicago Fire’ season 3 strong, or too sad?
This past week, we saw the end of “Chicago Fire” as we knew it for the fall, which means one thing for us in the context of our Midseason Report Card series: A chance to discuss it further as our latest featured entry!
Today, we’re going to discuss a little of what the Jesse Spencer – Taylor Kinney series rocked out during the first half of season 3, and also what it needs to work on in order to burn a little bit brighter come the second part of the season.
What worked – First and foremost, major applause has to be given for the show when it comes to risk-taking. Even though we would want to see a whole lot more of Leslie Shay on the show, we admire them being willing to make that big move. It did also set up great stuff for Severide this season, as he dealt with many different stages of grief. By far, his story to us was the strongest this season.
Also, we strangely liked the whole Molly’s story more than we thought we would. While the food truck business did not go anywhere near according to plan, it gave us a chance to have a little more fun than we projected having with this show.
What didn’t – In between Casey and Dawson, a very sick child, other fears of death, and constant near-death situations, this was probably the most depressing half-season that the show has done, as well. There are times when the show got a little tough to watch; not necessarily on “The Leftovers” level, but it was still pretty darn dark.
Also, it felt like the show took about three or four episodes after the premiere for the balance to be back in order for the cast. We hoped that it would hit the ground running a little faster.
Overall – We wish that there was even more crossover with “Chicago PD” and for a few more happy, lighthearted moments; however, the latter may be a matter of personal taste. We feel like “Chicago Fire” did a heck of a lot right, and based on reactions to the midseason finale alone, we know that anticipation is high for the rest of the season.
What did you think about the first part of “Chicago Fire” season 3? Share your thoughts now with a comment, and head over here to get some other updates related to the show! Also, sign up today to get some other blazin’ TV updates on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: NBC.)