Chicago Fire spoilers: What happened in season 10 episode 3?

Chicago Fire teased lots of subplots during last week’s episode, “Head Count” and most of them came to fruition in the latest offering, “Counting Your Breaths”. There was more information given about Griffin Darden (Cameron Scott Roberts) and his situation at home, as well as Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) and his struggle to overcome the trauma of his near death experience.

“Counting Your Breaths” also hints at some interesting developments in the careers of other characters like Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) and Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende). The latter has become more eager to move up the ladder at Firehouse 51, and it looks like he may just get his wish before the end of the season.

Be warned that the rest of the post contains detailed spoilers!

What happened on Chicago Fire last night? (October 6th)

The episode opens shortly after the end of “Head Count”, and Casey’s reunion with Griffin Darden. Casey (Jesse Spencer) is chatting with Severide (Taylor Kinney) and the rest of the team about Griffin’s problems while the teen is sleeping on a couch in the office. Griffin has been teased as a major plot force in season 10, but he largely remains on the outskirts of this episode, popping up to chat with Casey or to hear the rest of the Firehouse reminiscence about his dad, Andy (Corey Sorenson).

The team get a call to rescue a teenager from a manhole, and while Cruz is chosen to go down the hole, the close quarters get the best of him and he panics mid-mission. The team is forced to pull him out and Severide takes his place. Cruz tries to make an excuse for what happened, but Severide isn’t hearing it and temporarily relieves him of duty.

In a supreme case of bad timing, Gallo asks Cruz about his approach and how he first became a part of the Firehouse 51 squad. Cruz thinks that the new kid is trying to take his spot and dryly tells Gallo to wait until his “body is cold” before he replaces him. Gallo eventually realizes what happens and invites Cruz out for a beer.

Griffin Darden reveals that his mother is going to jail

Elsewhere, Brett is trying (and failing) to solve the ambulance shortage issue. All of her ideas keep getting shot down, and her frustration culminates when she answers a call for a shooting victim and discovers that the initial ambulance called never made it to the scene. The victim dies, and a devastated Brett vents aloud about going into private practice. It’s likely that Brett’s dilemma will carry on throughout season 10.

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At the urging of Stella (Miranda Rae Mayo), Severide reconsiders his treatment of Cruz and invites him out to run firefighter drills during off hours. As the episode winds down, a newly focused Cruz is able to prove he still has it, and both he and Severide are happy. Stella was right; all Cruz needed was support.

The episode ends with a conversation between Griffin and Casey. Griffin reveals that his mother Heather (Chaon Cross) got another DUI and will be serving jail time (like she did in season 2). He explains that his life has gone downhill since he lived with Casey, and the firefighter promises to take time off to help him out. The teaser for next week all but guarantees that Casey’s trip will be a major turning point for the character.

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