Chicago Fire season 8 character review: Joe Cruz

Our Chicago Fire season 9 prognosis for Joe Cruz

Since Cruz’s reaction to Otis’s death was so thoroughly covered this season, it doesn’t seem likely that it will be a significant story point in Chicago Fire season 9. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t come up on occasion, just like people can be reminded of their lost loved ones at any time.

For one example, Cruz is about to have another different living situation. The day after the season finale aired, it was announced that Annie Ilonzeh will not be returning as Emily Foster, which means that Emily almost certainly will have moved out by the new season. That’s if Cruz himself is even still living in the apartment considering his new marital status.

Will he have moved in with Chloe, or will Chloe have moved in with him? If it’s the latter, then what happens to Brett? There’s a few ways the show can slice this, some more awkward than others, but something will have to change again.

Also, how much of a role will Cruz’s marriage play in the new season? There were a few comments about it in the season finale, but if Donna, Cindy and Trudy are examples, then we probably won’t see a lot of Chloe going forward. She’ll pop up for an episode when she’s needed for a subplot and that’ll be it. So that, in turn, makes the audience have to ask how much character development we will see for Joe as a result of the marriage. It might wind up being a footnote now that it’s over.

And who will Joe Minoso play off of now that his primary scene partner is gone? Will Chicago Fire try to set up a different double act with Cruz and someone else? Nothing could compare to Cruz and Otis, but Minoso is going to need someone else to have regular scenes with. So even though he’s not the show’s most prominent character, there could be some big things afoot (or not) for Joe Cruz next time out.

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