Overview

• The hour reframes the couple’s approach to parenthood, with Newman describing the direction as built into the season’s plan from the start.
• A new firefighter, Sal Vasquez, arrives with friction at Firehouse 51, and Chief Pascal keeps him on what is described as a last-chance opportunity.
• A city budget crunch brings brownouts and resource reductions that will translate to longer runs and busier shifts for the Chicago Fire Department.
• The premiere accounts for Ritter’s exit from the house, linking his absence to developments in New York.
• Herrmann and Mouch navigate an uneasy transition over the Officer’s Quarters that underscores shifting roles within the team.