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Warning: The following contains spoilers from Wednesday’s Chicago Fire. Proceed at your own risk!
Here comes trouble!
On Wednesday’s Chicago Fire fall finale, an incident between Carver and a city employee during a rescue call sparked an IAD investigation. But even more shocking than the grenade that detonated at the end of the episode, leaving Carver and Stella’s lives in jeopardy, was who strode into Firehouse 51 earlier in the hour to question Carver: It was Violet’s disgraced former paramedic partner Emma (played by Caitlin Carver), who is now somehow working for IAD! (With an episode title like “Nemesis,” maybe we should have seen her return coming?)
Below, showrunners Derek Haas and Andrea Newman talk about what the surprise reappearance of 51’s dastardly foe means for the crew. Plus, the EPs tease the “profound” fallout of that explosive cliffhanger.
TVLINE | Talk to me about how the idea of bringing back Emma in this really unexpected way came together. Why her? Why now?
DEREK HAAS | I can just say that in this show, there’s nothing that Andrea and I love more than remembering an old villain and bringing them back to wreck some lives. [Laughs] She was so good last year at playing that that bringing Caitlin back just was top of mind. We didn’t know where or when we would fit her in, but winter finales are always fun for these kinds of [obstacles], and we wanted it to be a big surprise, but not be the end of the episode, because sometimes you want people just going, “Oh, God, what else is coming?”
ANDREA NEWMAN | We love this character. We love our villains, but the character is so fun because she just does not see herself as a villain at all. So it’s like the way our guys feel about her versus the way she sees her place at 51. She feels completely connected to 51, and that’s a fun thing to explore, too.
TVLINE | Well we be seeing more of her when the show returns in January?
HAAS | Yes, we will.
TVLINE | What kind of trouble is she going to be causing for 51?
HAAS | Let’s just say that of all the characters who probably shouldn’t mess with her, Violet raises her hand. [Laughs]
TVLINE | She said some interesting things to Violet in this episode about it not being the worst thing to have a friend in IAD. What should we take away from that little exchange?
HAAS | It seemed a little threatening to me. It’s always glossed up in a smile from Emma Jacobs. She does things with a smile, but sometimes her eyes kind of are saying otherwise. [Laughs]
TVLINE | How did she go from disgraced paramedic to this important position?
HAAS | That’s something we explore in the upcoming episodes. That’s a question that people at the firehouse want answered.
TVLINE | And we also have to talk about the cliffhanger. I know you can’t give away what happens, but can you tease a bit of the fallout?
NEWMAN | The fallout is profound, and it’s profound for Severide, as well as for Kidd and Carver. We explore it for a while, the aftershocks of the incident and all the relationships between Carver and Kidd, and Severide and Kidd. Everything gets a little shake up coming out of that.
Fire fans, what did you think of Emma’s unexpected return and the episode? Grade it below, then hit the comments!
I miss Hawkins
Me too :(
I knew she had to be coming back this season. There’s still the lingering thread of what happened at her old department and what got redacted/whited-out on her file, so I’m sure that will come back into play.
Fire does have a way of creating intensely aggravating villains to antagonize the team. It’s ultimately satisfying to see them defeated, but I’m never really excited to see them return.
I didn’t like Violet before when she was an EMT so I’m not happy she is back. And I hope Carver and Kidd survived the blast.
My question is why Kidd and Carver went into the building in the 1st place. The cop clearly stated that they needed to stop the cop from bleeding out, so why would 2 firefighters go in instead of the paramedics??? Makes NO SENSE whatsoever.
Completely disagree that it is fun or entertaining to bring Emma back. I did not like watching her the first time around and will just skip episodes until she’s gone again. The villians last way too long on Fire — like all the ones that were after Boden in earlier seasons — It’s making me not want to watch anymore.
I so wanted Violet to smash Emma’s face. I cannot wait to see Emma’s final takedown and I hope Violet is the one who delivers it!
Do not like that they had another cliffhanger in the same season involving Kidd. Yes end of last season start of this season then a few episodes later she is in a bomb explosion! I am sure she will be fine but it is a little annoying! I also cannot stand Emma
Not much of a cliffhanger when both Kidd and Carver were fine in the preview of next week’s episode.
If Emma is being brought back it needs to be a higher stake reason and not just to be continue her torment on Violet. We have already watched it last season, we don’t need a repeat of it this season.
The bomb cliff hanger was lackluster because we know Stella and Carver are going to be okay. This type of cliffhanger only works if there true danger to be had for a character in that situation. Chicago Fire is known to tie up cliffhangers within the first five minutes so to me they should have done something different and with different characters for it to me a more engaging and exiting cliffhanger.
Not to happy about Emma. She seems like a sick person. Mentally unstable. I hope Stella returns unharmed. I really enjoy her and Kelly as a couple. Think they could do more problem solving as a couple.
Didn’t like it!
I’m so sick of this bringing back of villains story…this one in particular sucks, she’s a clearly unstable person in a job of authority now?? That would never happen in this day and age, she’d never be hired in any capacity within the “Fire” world. Don’t mind cliffhangers, hate these stupid villains though. Getting old and just blah.
I know that Chicago fire wants a lot of hype about Emma coming back, but I think it just feels like someone taking their finger nails against the chalkboard with her. Better to write her out of the show again.
I’m sick of the STELLA SHOW I like the actress but enough already maybe that’s why she left for a while she wanted more air time well she got it she’s involved in everything
I can’t stand Stella. She has tunnel vision “Severide”. With her is all about him. And she’s so clingy.
I liked her at first when she was carefree with the ex-husband the good for nothing guy. Her personality was more carefree, fun and not clingy at all. Now she makes me sick. I’m tired of her character. I wish they would kill her off. And then Severide and Violet can bond with their common mourning state. I would love to see those two together.
And I am sick of the hate that Stella gets. She does a job that is male oriented and she does it well and is a role model for young women. If you hate her that much then find another show to watch.
Severide and Violet? OH MY GOD NO .HE IS TOO OLD FOR HER. Nobody will ever replace Hawkins with Violet
Definitely not happy about Emma being back. She is a psyco and 51 needs to be careful. Carver seems to be loosening up a little and perhaps there will be less antagonism between Stella and Carver going forward. Kelly should not have gotten involved with Pryma again but I get that he likes to solve problems and puzzles but this time it is messing with his head. He has enough guilt from their honeymoon night and does not need any more guilt. Kelly and Stella need to go to the cabin and not only talk but communicate their feelings, hopes and fears to each other so they can get past this mess and move on.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Enough about Stella the show is too focused on her, getting boring.Would love to see Casey back
Way too much Stella in the show. She acts like she is always in charge of everything. Not happy about the marriage either.
I totally agree
Will never understand why the writers thought it was a good idea for Casey and Brett to declare there love for each other knowing Casey was leaving. Brett deserved better. The storyline was going no where. I also getting annoyed with the Stella character she’s involved in everything and always gets her way.
I see your point. But in my opinion, Gabby was a strong woman. She was never needy or clingy.
Stella isn’t strong like Gabby. She loses focus every time Severide is in danger. She can’t concentrate on her job to do it properly. She is a lieutenant now, and she knows that Squad 3 has a dangerous job to do.
As I said her character was fun to watch when she was carefree and fun to be around. When she first came to be in the show. The writers have turned her into something so different now.
You killed Hawkins. Destroyed that storyline and brought back Emma?? I hope one of your epic surprises is Hawkins coming back!!! Or do you just love to present people suffering or tragedy for your characters. Who needs to watch that stuff happening every week. No thanks
I totally agree, Lois
Why is Emma back after all the things she did.Hawkins should never have been killed .It upset me for days.I don’t want Casey to come back.Give Taylor & Stella a chance at Happiness. HAPPY NEW YEAR.