Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) has probably had the toughest season 12 of any Chicago Fire character. While other people are getting married and starting new lives, or reconnecting and getting back to normal, Cruz has been contending with one personal and professional struggle after another.
The character almost had his adopted son taken away from him, and he admitted at the end of “Inside Man” that his wife Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie) has asked to attend marriage counseling. THEN the promo for “Under Pressure” shows that Cruz passes out during a rescue mission and nearly dies. We say nearly because we know for a fact he’ll return for the season 12 finale.
Joe Cruz almost dies on the job
Cruz having a close call would be enough to power its own story, but it’s merely a part of what’s been a very difficult stretch for the character. Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman talked the latest Fire episode, “Under Pressure,” and confirmed that there’s even more to Cruz’s struggles than we initially thought.
According to the showrunner, there will be a major revelation regarding Cruz and Chloe’s marriage. She told TV Insider:
“Cruz and Chloe will come to a big realization in episode 1212 about what’s been eating away at their relationship, and once they put this fine point on it, they’ll have to see if and how they can manage it.”
“Stakes are high” for Cruz’s marriage
Newman ramped thing up further by noting that the “stakes are high” between the couple, in terms of whether they will be able to stay married. Chloe had already expressed unhappiness with Cruz’s work, so the fact that he collapses in the line of duty will not help to quell her concerns.
Cruz is in an interesting place because the character has not been announced to leave the show anytime soon, but the writers have given him multiple ways to do so if necessary. He considered moving to another firehouse for a promotion early in season 12, and now he’s been faced with a situation in which his work is starting to affect his home life.
The best case scenario is that Cruz and Chloe work things and the former remains on at 51. We’re already going to lose Chief Boden (Eamonn Walker) in the season 12 finale, and we really don’t want to part ways with another OG character.
