4 Chicago Fire episodes you need to watch before season 12

Chicago Fire has some explaining to do. Season 11 gave us some classic storylines involving characters like Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), but the finale gave us some major questions with regards to their future. Things are less certain than ever for these two, as well as Mouch (Christian Stolte), who was last seen in the hospital.

As the production for season 12 gets closer and closer to resuming, we thought it’d be useful to compress season 11 into four essential episodes, so that you can brush up on the crucial plot points that the season premiere will address (and hopefully resolve). Here goes nothing:

Violet processes Hawkins’ death in ‘Angry Is Easier’ (season 11, episode 7)

The death of Evan Hawkins (Jimmy Nicholas) was a devastating season 11 moment, but it was the way Violet (Hanako Greensmith) dealt with his death that proved more important to the show. She struggled to regain a sense of normalcy after losing her boyfriend, but she finally opened up about her feelings during a pivotal moment in the episode “Angry Is Easier.”

During an exchange with Gallo (Alberto Rosende), Violet frustrations reach a boiling point. “It feels like you’re drowning because every day since he died, you haven’t been able to breathe”, she said. “It doesn’t make any sense, but every day you wake up, and you realize that he’s still not there.” It was an important moment for Violet, and one that allowed her to begin the process of moving on. Especially if the fan theories prove right about Violet having a thing for Sam Carver (Jake Lockett).

Severide leaves Chicago in ‘Damage Control’ (season 11, episode 15)

“Damage Control” may not seem an essential episode on the surface, but the final act sees a huge decision being made on the part of Severide. He tells Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) that he was offered a chance to join an arson investigation program out of state, and while he initially balks at the idea of going, it winds up being the last time we see him.

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There are important bits of information that we get about Severide in the season finale, but this episode really sets up the uncertainty of the Severide and Kidd dynamic heading into season 12. We don’t really know where they stand, and neither do they. “Damage Control” is a reminder that there’s still a lot of decisions (and deceptions) that have to be addressed when Severide decides to return to the 51.

Kidd and Carver bond in ‘Never, Ever Make a Mistake’ (season 11, episode 20)

The relationship between Kidd and Carver was, in many ways, the most important of season 11. They started off as enemies, then came to admire one another when they survived a mid-season explosion together, and by the time “Never, Ever Make a Mistake” came around, the two were very emotionally involved with one another. Like, very.

When a stalker shows up at Kidd’s apartment and threatens her safety, she doesn’t think to call the traveling Severide but Carver, who shows up and proves so effective at handling the stalker that he gets arrested. The Kidd and Carver dynamic is largely unspoken, but the connection between them is undeniable, and will continue to inform their dynamic in season 12.

“Never, Ever Make a Mistake” is the perfect encapsulation of this connection.

Casey proposes to Brett in ‘Red Waterfall’ (season 11, episode 22)

Casey and Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) broke up in the season 11 premiere, but things came all the way back around when the former proposed to the latter in the finale. It was a wonderful moment that called back to their first kiss, and it set up a possible future in which both characters moved away from the 51 and lived happily ever after in Oregon.

Brett’s decision is the biggest cliffhanger going into season 12. Regardless of what she says, it will change the trajectories of multiple characters’ lives. Plus, the finale gives us updates on Severide and sets up the possibility that Mouch will die as a result of a gunshot wound. Season finales are always the most important episodes to watch, so including “Red Waterfall” was a no-brainer.

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