The character is in serious trouble moving forward.
Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) has established a pleasant life for himself in recent years. Sure, there’s the occasional blackmail scheme he has to contend with, or some marital problems, but for the most part, he’s a happily married man with two children.
All that hit the fan on the season 13 winter premiere of Chicago Fire. The character was blackmailed into committing several crimes, including a robbery, with an ex gang member. “A Favor” ended with a shootout in which Cruz barely managed to get out of in one piece. At least, for now.
Cruz was seriously injured in episode 1309
Cruz may have made it to his car after shoots rang out, but the firefighter was hit, and was bleeding out by the time the credits rolled. The firefighter was so pressed as to what he should do next that he actually started crying. It was an all time low point for Cruz, and one that actor Joe Minoso was keen to discuss with TV Insider.
Minoso told the outlet that his character does indeed survive. Cruz may be badly injured, but he is going to live to fight another day. It’s a good thing, too, because his career is on the line. If he does not play his cards right, his days as a firefighter and a free man will be over.
The actor revealed that season 13 episode 10 will see Cruz attempt to put a band aid on the shooting. “He’s so just in a state of shock at the events that have just occurred,” Minoso explained. “His priority quickly becomes, how do I just kind of shove all of this stuff that was in the closet back in the closet as quickly as possible and pretend nothing happened to get back to work?”
Cruz will attempt to cover up his mistakes
As Minoso points out, though, this haphazard approach is going to backfire. One of Cruz’s closest friends, Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) is an arson investigator, and he’s well acquainted with several members of Chicago PD through years of collaboration. He doesn’t have the skillset or the amorality to pull something like this off.
Cruz and Severide’s friendship is going to take center stage in episode 10, which is going to be a treat since we haven’t gotten a two-hander involving them in quite a while. It’s not the most ideal situation, of course, but we can only hope that Cruz comes to his senses, and is able to find some solution for this very messy situation.
