Chicago Fire season 13 episode 9 ending explained: Who is George Thomspon?

Chicago Fire season 13 is back with a new episode after its holiday break, delivering another powerful and emotional story. The latest episode, titled A Favor, premiered on January 8, 2025, at 9 PM ET on NBC.

The episode focused on the personal and work struggles of the firefighters at Firehouse 51. Cruz got into a risky situation when someone from his past showed up, while Mouch took on the task of finding a victim’s family. Amid all this, a heartbreaking death made Mouch think deeply about the importance of human relationships.

One key plotline of the episode revolved around George Thompson, whose apartment was caught on fire followed by a rescue mission. The firefighters from Firehouse 51 were called to handle the situation, but George was discovered dead, alone, and neglected days after his death. Mouch took on the task of finding George’s family, discovering the truth about his life and death.

Chicago Fire (Image via Instagram/@nbconechicago)

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Deaths in Chicago Fire season 13 episode 9

In Chicago Fire season 13, episode 9, the deaths of George Thompson and Junior play crucial roles in the unfolding story. George Thompson was a victim of a tragic fire at his apartment. Mouch was the first to see that George had been dead for a few days. No one had noticed his death, and no one was there to mourn him.

Mouch felt sad for George, thinking about how someone could die alone with no one caring. This made Mouch want to find George’s family.

As Mouch looked deeper into the case, he found out that George had no family or close friends. Mouch’s emotional struggle with George’s death became a key element of the episode, as he grappled with the sadness of finding a victim without a connection to the world.

Still from Chicago Fire (Image via Instagram/@nbconechicago)

In a parallel storyline, Cruz was dealing with a troubling situation. Junior, a man from Cruz’s past, blackmailed him into helping him rob another drug dealer. Junior’s plan to involve Cruz in his crimes ended in a gunfight, which led to Junior’s death. This tragic incident added yet another layer of complexity to Cruz’s story, as he found himself emotionally and physically scarred by the situation.

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Chicago Fire season 13 episode 9: What happened with Cruz?

Cruz found himself in a tough spot when Junior, showed up again. Junior’s cousin, Flaco, had died in a fire years ago for which he held Cruz responsible as he could have saved him. Hence, Junior wanted Cruz to help him with a robbery, dressed as a firefighter. At first, Cruz refused, but Junior kept pushing and even threatened Cruz’s family if he didn’t agree.

Cruz felt increasingly scared and stressed as Junior kept bothering him. In the end, Cruz gave in and met with Junior again. That’s when he found out Junior wanted to rob a drug dealer who had taken his money while he was in jail.

Still from Chicago Fire (Image via Instagram/@nbconechicago)

Cruz was stuck between helping Junior and risking his past being exposed or going to the police and dealing with the consequences. Even though he knew it was a bad idea, Cruz got pulled into the plan and even tried to steal firefighter equipment for the robbery.

Things escalated quickly, and Junior eventually pulled out a gun, forcing Cruz to follow through with the robbery. However, when the plan fell apart, a violent confrontation ensued, and Junior was killed. Cruz managed to get away, but the whole thing left him deeply shaken, with his prints and blood found at the scene, making him a prime suspect in the crime.

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Chicago Fire season 13 episode 9: The celebration at Firehouse

Even though the episode carried a lot of emotional weight, there was still a reason to celebrate at Firehouse 51. Mouch and Herrmann had both reached major milestones in their careers. Mouch passed his lieutenant’s exam, and Herrmann passed his captain’s exam.

Still from Chicago Fire (Image via Instagram/@nbconechicago)

The firehouse team came together to honor their achievements with a party at Molly’s bar. The atmosphere was a mix of joy and camaraderie, as the team rallied around their friends and colleagues.

But the celebration wasn’t entirely joyful. Mouch was still dealing with the emotional weight of George Thompson’s death. While the rest of the team enjoyed the party, Mouch couldn’t stop thinking about how the victim had no family and the tough realities of life and death.

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Fans of the franchise can watch Chicago Fire season 13 episode 9 on NBC and Peacock.