Well. I could tell from about halfway through that the episode wasn’t going to end up the way I expected and that Casey had no intention of bringing the boys to Chicago. I still wasn’t expecting him to be written out though. I’ve been in the mad on behalf of Sylvie and Kara stage since the episode finished and I’m still there but the sadness has set in now. I feel like I’ve been strung along and I’m not convinced Derek didn’t know Jesse wanted to leave last season. But I’m not writing this in my immediate post-episode rage like I have for the past two weeks. This post is for me to get all my thoughts out in one place. It’s not to try to convince you that I’m right and I don’t think you’re wrong if you disagree with me. It got a bit long so I’ve put it under the cut.
I absolutely hate this exit storyline for him and don’t think it does Casey justice at all. I don’t see it as the show coming full circle or him getting a family. Casey walked away from his entire life, including his last chance to have a family of his own (no chance Brett’s waiting 3 years for him especially at her age), his biggest dream and something we’ve known since the pilot. I don’t see it as honourable. He had options. It wasn’t an impossible situation no matter how much Derek wants to convince people it was. He listened to one single social worker and didn’t try to fight. At all. He didn’t try to speak to Heather, another social worker or a lawyer. He just accepted what one person said. This does not show Casey in a good light imo. He’s too passive and self-sacrificing and his hopes and dreams are going to be left unfulfilled because of it.
They’re pushing the narrative of this being a positive thing because Casey gets the family he’s always wanted. I couldn’t have a more different view. I remember the look on Casey’s face when he delivered a baby at a crash site. I remember the look of awe on his face when he told Hallie about it. I remember the look on his face when Louie called him daddy. I remember when he didn’t want Dawson to risk her life to have a baby. All that to say, Casey wants to raise children with a wife. He will not get that Oregon. Not even close. And in that sense he leaves the series with no growth or change from the pilot. That’s one of the worst aspects of this.
I completely understand his need to take a break and hope he gets everything he needs from it. Thinking back over Casey’s storylines I’ve honestly hated more of them than I’ve liked (Louie, alderman, Stiletto’s, Dardens 2.0). It really is a testament to Jesse’s acting - which imo is the best on the show along with Eamonn’s - that I’ve enjoyed Casey as much as I have done. The show is definitely going to be poorer without him.
Yet again one of her partners has something in his life more important than her. There was no discussion about Oregon whatsoever - it was presented as a done deal. I’m glad Brett said no to moving. I’m fed up of Sylvie being left. If Casey in Oregon is a permanent thing, and I’m going to assume it is, I truly wish they’d put her with Grainger instead last season. He could have easily been on screen more than the wives are because he’s a firefighter so we would have seen a decent amount of their relationship and him not being a main character would probably have meant fewer relationship dramas.
I feel terrible for her. She loves Sylvie with all her heart and just wants her to be in love and be loved and she gets this. The abuse she’s had over the last two years is disgusting and all for a ship she didn’t even want, Derek did. And this is how it ends. Yet another woman getting shafted. I obviously don’t blame Derek for Jesse leaving - although like I said I have my doubts about when he found out - but I do blame Derek for the way he constantly pits fandoms against each other and baits them. He has contributed on some level to the abuse Kara has received .
This is all Kara wants for Sylvie and it’s so far away now.
I said in my DMs before the episode I was worried they had too much to get through and it would feel rushed and it did. No storyline got the attention it deserved and everyone felt stuck in pairs or trios with little overlap or a common thread between their plots. It’s as though they tried for both an ensemble episode and Casey-focused episode but missed the mark on both.
Also no final cigar chat? Not showing the moment Casey told everyone he was leaving? There were some nice touches like the goodbye hug with the OGs - Eamonn was outstanding and made me cry - but some of the writing seemed thoughtless. As another example I thought it would have been a nice touch for Casey to have spoken to the alderman and arranged to have Boden’s office moved back to 51 - making sure Boden returns as he leaves. Kylie’s fine but in the 200th episode and the one in which your lead leaves that kind of plot was unnecessary. Casey’s exit and the episode as a whole were lacklustre.
My opinion: if Jesse’s not going to come back permanently by the end of the season and/ or Kara doesn’t leave before season 11 then split Brettsey up sooner rather than later and give Brett a good partner. She has needs and dreams that Casey can’t fulfil on the other side of the country. I want to see her be loved, get married and have kids. If Casey can’t do that, someone else needs to. No way should they leave Sylvie in limbo because Jesse might possibly come back at some point. My ultimate ship is Brett + happiness, whoever that’s with. I don’t want her left in no man’s land. A LDR for half a year or so I could get on board with but not 3 years.
Having said all that all I really know is this sucks and I don’t see how it can get better.
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