Chicago Fire

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 10, 2012
Season #: 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 103
  3. Negative: 15 out of 103
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User Reviews

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  1. Lymer4life
    Apr 27, 2013
    8
    The cast has a lot of personality an they flow together to make it a compelling show to watch.
    A show that zoom in and shows the team acting like a team..Fighting fires..Its not about one person being the hero all the time. There is so much room to grow with this show.
  2. RAMSDEN
    Oct 21, 2013
    10
    VERY action packed, likeable characters... love it love it!! Chicago Fire has unexpected twists, and shows diversity from other Emergency TV shows. Showing all aspects of a fire house, from captain to candidate.
  3. hatters89
    Nov 21, 2013
    10
    Love it! Likeable characters, lots of action, beautiful people and great acting! Seriously underrated, it's got some familiar faces and has some great new ones too. I like it because it's actually a bit different, I've not watched a series like this before. Very good, highly recommend.
  4. Spangle
    Feb 20, 2013
    8
    Very underrated series right here. Been watching since the beginning of the season and though it took a little bit to speed up, it has now hit its groove. The acting is pretty good and the character development is fantastic.
  5. teflontactics
    Nov 27, 2012
    8
    I find Chicago fire to be quite a good watch so far. The main cast, as well as the love hate relationship between the 'heads' of the respective units makes for good drama. Glad Dick Wolf is taking on something other than Law and Order and doing a good job at it. Could use a bit more action, but other than that no complains to be honest.

    Giving it an 8/10.
  6. n3ntj
    Nov 26, 2014
    10
    Very good show that reminds me of Emergency! from the 1970s but with a little more drama. Also, this show crosses over with Chicago Fire which makes both shows a little more interesting.
  7. ManiacPhantom
    Oct 29, 2012
    8
    Finally a show that actually has some reality to the firefighting part of the show. Its a very interesting and emotionally compelling show, and hope it gets renewed.
  8. svtraptor
    Oct 20, 2012
    9
    I love Chicago fire because it's an emotionally compelling show that has some sad moments and great characters. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes shows with a sad touch to them.
  9. Torosenladisco
    Nov 27, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Chicago Fire is one of the best series I saw in my life, I saw work in House MD Jesse Spencer, and I realized he's a good actor, the series is recommended, I would like to have more reputation!… Expand
  10. firefighterr
    Feb 1, 2013
    2
    Tries to be too much like THIRD WATCH (and that was an awesome show!) This one is boring and not true to life at all............ I was disappointed after the first two episodes and never watched it again since!
  11. Tss5078
    Oct 25, 2016
    8
    After twenty-five years and six Law & Order series, creator Dick Wolf, decided that it was time for a change. His latest idea centers around the heroes of Chicago, and what he did was basically take the show Third Watch, and split it up into three different TV series that interact with each other, on a semi-regular basis, with a fourth one coming later this year. Chicago Fire, ChicagoAfter twenty-five years and six Law & Order series, creator Dick Wolf, decided that it was time for a change. His latest idea centers around the heroes of Chicago, and what he did was basically take the show Third Watch, and split it up into three different TV series that interact with each other, on a semi-regular basis, with a fourth one coming later this year. Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, and Chicago Justice, make up the new look of drama on NBC, and the ratings have been hotter than the show that started it all, Chicago Fire.

    As I said the show, the story lines, and the realistic way that it's filmed are very reminiscent of Third Watch, which was one of my all-time favorite shows, however, by splitting, the Firemen, Police, and Medical personal into three shows, the story lines run deeper, and the characters and character development is much stronger. This is why Chicago Fire works and is the only real stand alone show about Firemen to actually last more than just a couple of seasons.

    Every character, even the part-timers have story lines and there is a deep connection to everyone involved in the show, but the main focus of the show is on Jesse Spencer who plays Ben Casey, one of the two guys in charge out in the field. Casey is very by the book and believes in the system, although that faith is tested on a regular basis. The other main focus is Taylor Kinney who plays Kelly Severide, who is the complete opposite of Casey. He will do anything to save lives and get to the bottom of a situation and the rule book be damned! The dynamic often causes conflict and causes people to choose sides, which further lends to the drama of the show.

    The one negative I have is with how believable the stories are. Obviously it's a TV show and Hollywood is going to take it's liberties. The firemen are going to do things that are impossible and take risks that no one would ever take or survive if they did, but my issue is with things like the time. Someone will be injured and we'll be told they need months of rehab and could be out a year. The captain will talk about not having the money for a replacement and having to work short handed, putting the other men at risk. Then the very next episode, the injured man is back at work and cleared for duty. The actor doesn't even miss a couple of episodes, he's back the very next week. I don't know about you, but things like that bother me. Another timeline issue is involved with the crossover cameos, which don't always line-up. For example, Severide was involved in a Chicago P.D. matter, that was serious, and involved his whole family, but at the same time, there was no mention of it on Chicago Fire and it was business as usual?

    Obvious timeline issues aside, the action is fantastic, the story lines are gripping, the actors and actresses are as hot and exciting as the fires they are fighting, and there is a reason this is a top ten show. If you haven't started your journey into the heroes of Chicago, start at the very beginning with Chicago Fire Season 1, you won't be sorry.    … Expand
  12. erom1943
    Mar 24, 2014
    7
    Chicago Fire is basically a watchable show, although it lacks a lot of substance. Trying to be the ER of the CFD.....it just doesn't make it. The characters and the plots are interesting enough, but the execution is lacking. Trying to build dramatic incidents is becoming tedious. For some reason, the Chicago Police department is lacking and extremely slow to respond. There have beenChicago Fire is basically a watchable show, although it lacks a lot of substance. Trying to be the ER of the CFD.....it just doesn't make it. The characters and the plots are interesting enough, but the execution is lacking. Trying to build dramatic incidents is becoming tedious. For some reason, the Chicago Police department is lacking and extremely slow to respond. There have been major fires, accidents, train wrecks and shootings in Chicago, and for some reason, the first responders on this show are always the firemen.......go figure.… Expand
  13. mamaca3
    Jan 20, 2015
    10
    Chicago Fire is the best show on TV now. Chicago PD is second best. the dam critics will praise junk trash shows like 2 and a half men but put great shows like Chicago Fire and Chicago PD down. a bunch of idiiot's . they finally get a good show on and they have these kind of people that want to get it off the air. this is really the best!!!!
  14. chlopak
    Mar 4, 2015
    1
    I keep trying to like it and watch it but it's boring. By now it's season 3 and nothing has really happened or changed. It's a continuous soap opera. Does not live up to the hype. The best episode was the combo with SVU/Chicago PD.
  15. tobysunny
    May 5, 2016
    10
    I absolutely love Chicago Fire! There is so much action and just enough romance.My favorite actors are Spencer, Eigenburg,Walker and Taylor Kinney! Keep it coming NBC!!
  16. writerjude
    Oct 24, 2018
    2
    I've really wanted to stick with this show but the new scenario with Bowen acting the whipped dog and the entire stupid scenario around that creep hanging around and Grissom, it's all too disgusting. I'm hoping that if I give it a few weeks hiatus they may resolve that crap and get the worm out of the station and then maybe it will go back to being a fairly enjoyable part of the trilogy.

Awards & Rankings

52
#52 Most Discussed TV Season of 2012
17
#17 Most Shared TV Season of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
49

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 23
  3. Negative: 5 out of 23
  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Oct 22, 2012
    50
    There are rivalries and feuds and dangerous situations, as well as a complete lack of personality. [29 Oct 2012, p.38]
  2. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    Oct 12, 2012
    40
    There didn't seem to be anything like [a plot] for the first two episodes, though there has been no lack of good looks, with Taylor Kinney and Jesse Spencer around and filling out their firemen togs nicely. Still there's hope. In episode three, to be exact, where we find a hint that the writers have caught on to the uses of a story line, this about a corrupt police detective.
    Read full review
  3. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Oct 10, 2012
    50
    There's no character you haven't seen before. More importantly, there's no character that hasn't been done much, much better elsewhere.
    Read full review
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