The character is back in the spotlight for bad reasons.
Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) has been more a background player throughout Chicago Fire‘s 12th season. The character had a few plot lines early on in the season, especially with regards to his relationship with Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), but he’s had little to do since. All that’s going to change with the show’s next couple episodes.
Not only will Cruz be front-and-center in terms of action, but the character’s personal life will be part of the central storyline in a way we haven’t seen since he adopted Javi. Fittingly, the first storyline we will see with Cruz back in the spotlight pertains to his adopted son.
Cruz will have to fight for his adopted son Javi
The synopsis for the May 1 episode, titled “The Wrong Guy,” will see the firefighter be confronted by someone from his son’s past:
“Severide steps in as ranking officer at 51; Kidd fights to save her Girls on Fire programme; Cruz’s family is threatened when someone from Javi’s past resurfaces.”
Javi was rescued from a house fire during season 11, and Cruz initially intended to watch after him until the boy could be properly adopted. The more time he spent with Javi, however, the more they developed a connection. His decision to adopt the boy was easily one of the sweetest moments in the entire show.
Cruz’s marriage also hits a rough patch
The notion that Javi could be taken away is, consequently, one of the most heartbreaking possibilities that Cruz could be faced with. Unfortunately, the drama won’t stop there. NBC has dropped the synopsis for the episode after “The Wrong Guy,” and it reveals that Cruz and his wife Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie):
“Severide and Violet risk clashing with Paramedic Chief Robinson after Lennox makes a dangerous decision on a call. Capp and Tony attempt to break a world record. Cruz and Chloe’s marriage problems come to a head.”
The episode is titled “Under Pressure,” and it appears as though the Cruz couple are the ones exemplifying this titular pressure. It’s safe to assume the situation involving Javi contributes to the strife between Cruz and Chloe, but we hope the two are able to work things out. We don’t want to see another One Chicago divorce so soon after PD‘s Halstead and Upton.
Do you think Cruz and his wife will pull through?
