Chicago Fire season 7 midseason report: Joe Cruz

How has Chicago Fire season 7 gone for Joe Cruz? Before Chicago Fire returns, we’re reviewing the season for Joe Minoso’s character.

Before Chicago Fire comes back in the new year, we’re taking a moment to pause and look at the current season for each character. What are the important events that fans need to remember?

What plot developments have been good for them, and which ones need to be improved? And of course, where could they go next when new episodes start on Jan. 9?

Read through the below as we look at Chicago Fire season 7 as it relates to Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso), starting with:

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What’s happened so far

The big plus for Joe Cruz this season came in his personal life. He met a woman named Chloe (played by Kristen Gutoskie) during the One Chicago crossover, and after she got out of the fire, the two started dating.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Chicago Fire without some romantic drama, so Chloe was injured in a multi-car accident during the midseason finale. She’s okay, though, and that’s how Cruz met her parents, who told him how good he was for their daughter.

Professionally, he was also good for some comic relief, as he got fed up with how he’s the only one in the firehouse who speaks Spanish. Cruz’s attempt to teach the others some basic phrases didn’t go well until he got some advice—and introduced them to telenovelas.

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What it means

It was nice to see Cruz get a new girlfriend, after last season awkwardly had him develop a crush on ex Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) again—something that felt unnecessary and that fans knew was not going to end well.

How he met Chloe was an interesting way to introduce the character (reminiscent of Severide first rescuing Renee Royce and then ending up dating her), and Joe Minoso and Kristen Gutoskie have built a good chemistry together. The only quibble is that having her involved in the car accident felt like a plot twist we’ve seen before; the loved ones of One Chicago characters are always getting hurt, killed, abducted, etc.

Professionally, there’s never been a huge role for Cruz; like Mouch (Christian Stolte) and Otis (Yuri Sardarov) he’s more of a supporting player. But the story about him teaching Spanish, while it was funny, also had a good point—and it showed what Cruz brings to Firehouse 51. He may not have the busiest season, but this season has been generally good to him.

What’s next

Hopefully Cruz and Chloe will follow the path of Otis and Lily—a cute romance that gets to move forward and develop, without anything getting in its way. In fact, a double date between them is definitely in order; that would be adorable.

But seeing Cruz come up with more ideas that actually help the firehouse would be good, too. He and Otis have come up with all kinds of hilarious ideas (like going to space and Japanese robots), but their creativity can be used for more than comic relief. Joe doesn’t have to have a huge story, but he can still be a very effective character, and a meaningful helping hand to his colleagues.

For the latest Chicago Fire season 7 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.