Chicago Fire season 8, episode 19 recap: Light Things Up

Cruz’s wedding

Casey returns and says Rivas has agreed to speak with the protesters after he makes a couple of phone calls. He then walks in on an angsty Brett who’s hiding in the officers’ quarters. She explains what Scott said about the baby. “I can’t take care of a baby right now, and there’s no way that’s what he actually wants,” she insists before finally crying over how much she misses Julie. Casey is there to offer a hug and remind her that he’s there for her whatever she decides.

But if Chicago Fire was going to tee up a moment between them, it ruins the scene by having Stella walk in and tell Casey that Rivas has finally strolled in. Like most TV politicians, he says nothing important whatsoever. The man Herrmann spoke to earlier collapses, leaving Herrmann holding him up as the paramedics rush in to treat him. Everyone looks on as our whole 51 team works together to get the man freed from his impromptu restraints and provide him medical help right in the middle of the crowd.

Foster worries that the man will lose his arm if they don’t take drastic action, but she’s the only one trained for the procedure. She tells Brett that she’ll take full responsibility if it goes wrong, and Chicago Fire makes us all cringe when the guy wakes up just as she’s cutting into his arm. But the move works, and they’re able to load him up into an ambulance for further treatment.

Chicago Fire viewers can guess where the story goes next. Rivas is happy to duck out the back door while he has the chance, and that one hotheaded guy is the only one who wants to keep the protest going. When he shoves Herrmann, Severide jumps in to defend his friend, and a full-blown melee breaks out. It’s short-lived and ends that storyline, but lasts just long enough to leave Cruz on the ground with a head wound. Yep, there’s your pre-wedding plot twist.

“A fire truck got hit by your face,” Mouch (Christian Stolte) quips when Cruz comes to. While he does not want to go to the hospital at all, Brett goes there to find Scott. She tries to appeal to him with her own experiences as a foster child, and convince him that he can take care of the baby. “You can’t let her go, Scott,” she insists.

The rest of Firehouse 51 visit their injured protester and show him the video that Gallo posted on social media of everything that happened that day, which has prompted the higher-ups to work on reopening Firehouse 87. We also get a cameo from Chicago Med‘s Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss), who’s impressed by Foster’s work in the field. “You missed your calling,” he tells her.

After that, all Chicago Fire has left is Cruz’s wedding. Even with the stitches. Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie) is a bit stunned when she starts down the aisle to see Joe’s face, and it’s cute because he mouths an apology, to which she mouths back “I love you.” The two are pronounced husband and wife in front of many familiar faces, and there is much rejoicing.

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