The episode title says it all: Chicago Fire returned with a bang on tonight’s 2022 premiere.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Stella Kidd’s return. The winter finale left us with a cliffhanger as Stella returned after being absent for most of the season, so she could grow the Girls on Fire program. The power couple seemed to bury the hatchet, while Stella saying that she wanted to grow the program as much as she could, and she knew she would lose the lead lieutenant job for that case. She assured Severide that she did not cheat on him, but now she’s back and wants to be back at 51 to see where this could lead her.

This sentiment is repeated by Boden, who encouraged her to stay focused, regardless of his promoting Pelham to the lead lieutenant on truck.

The big case of the week revolved around a potassium fire in a highway tunnel. A truck containing dozens of propane canisters exploded. causing massive pileup and a fire inside the tunnel. While most of Truck 81 took care of the victims, Ritter had his eyes set on a young police officer, Dillion, who watched a truck driver burn to death. The guy was incredibly shaken up, considering he could have put out the fire, but failed to do so.

Ritter asked Mouch’s wife Trudy to look up  the young cop, and he had put in his notice without a reason. Dillion left Ritter a note that sounded suicidal, and Ritter rushed to his rescue. The note was in reference to Ritter saving his life, and how he couldn’t save the drivers.

After the call, Pelham approached Stella about the lieutenant job, which Stella assured him that he got because he earned it, and previous relationships with her and the rest of the firehouse will affect their job. Boden was told by another chief, Kilborn, that Pelham should not have the job, let alone a permanent residency. This chief has some sort of vendetta against Pelham. and this will escalate as the weeks go by.

It’s worth noting that Chief Hawkins became the floater for Violet while Sylvie was off visiting Casey, which is his excuse to try and get closer to her. This was tested when the two were sent to help a mother who had a water birth, and the baby was under the water for too long. The two worked exceptionally well, and saved the baby.

The comedic C plot of the episode surrounded Cruz and a hermit crab. He found the hermit crab in a car inside the highway tunnel that belonged to a kindergarten teacher. When the teacher came by to get it, it was squad member Capp who took the reigns and started dating the teacher. Cruz wanted to help so he could get his baby into this preschool.

It’s great to see all of our favorite firefighters and paramedics back on our screens tonight. I think there’s a lot to unpack that’s going to present itself in the coming weeks: Pelham defending his job, Stella and Severide working out their relationship, and I’m seeing a spark between Ritter and his new police friend Dillion budding. The second half of this season is sure to be a wild one, and a big one for the books.

What did you think of Chicago Fire’s first episode of 2022? Leave a comment below.