Chicago Fire season 8 character preview: Matthew Casey

What should happen

Ideally, Chicago Fire season 8 gives Jesse Spencer an episode off just so that the writers can say Casey went on a vacation. Because what Casey needs most of all is a vacation!

But since that’s not likely to happen, let’s just hope things calm down for our favorite Captain, in all aspects of his life. He’s chosen to stay roommates with Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) but so much happened to him last season that finding a place to live is almost the least of his problems. He has to figure out what his life looks like, post-Dawson.

Yes, he’s been without her for some time now, but so many terrible things kept happening to him that it doesn’t feel like Casey has had the opportunity to catch his breath and decide what should come next for him. If he truly has feelings for Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), which it seems like that’s happening, then he ought to say so—and do it early on before things get too messy. Waiting isn’t good for anybody in that scenario.

He also should do something that’s just for him. It doesn’t matter what it is, or if it’s just one quick scene or a mention, but Casey does so much for everybody else and his life has been about others for so long. Derek Haas ought to throw in a line where Casey buys himself a new TV, or he’s found a new hobby, or goes out to dinner. Just anything that’s Casey doing something for himself. He’s earned it.