Now, this isn’t the first time in Season 9 that I’ve begun to suspect that Chicago Fire is preparing to send Casey off to a new chapter of his life and career, and I honestly thought it was no longer a possibility after the reveal that his head is fine and there are no obstacles in his way as captain in the CFD.
The first instance of “What Comes Next” making me think that Chicago Fire is proving that Truck 81 can keep on rolling without Casey was when Gallo pulled off a daring and downright heroic move that, quite frankly, reminded me of Casey in his earlier days of Chicago Fire before he had as many responsibilities as he does now.
But Casey is of course far more than just a firefighter, and Gallo is in no way ready to step up and do what Casey does on a regular basis, especially due to Casey’s status as the officer on Truck.
I’m having a hard time imagining Chicago Fire writing Stella out after following her work up the ladder in Season 9, and with Severide looking toward their future.
And the dots I started connecting back when it looked like Casey’s head injury might take him out of actively fighting fires are starting to line up again for me.
A lot probably depends on what Casey sees for what showrunner Derek Haas described as his “personal future,” and his personal future may depend on whether he wants that future to include a life in Chicago with Brett or a life elsewhere with Dawson, who got another name-drop in “What Comes Next” with another instance of Casey not saying that he doesn’t still love her or see her as a potential obstacle to moving on with Brett.
Unlike Chicago Med, which is saying goodbye to two series regulars ahead of next season, Chicago Fire has no confirmed major cast departures ever since Brett lost another paramedic partner earlier in Season 9.
Basically, the last couple episodes of Chicago Fire Season 9 shouldn’t be missed when it comes to Casey’s future, as well as all the rest.