The character had lots of bumps and bruises in season 12.

Poor guy. Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) really got hit from every angle in Chicago Fire‘s 12th season. The character was nearly blackmailed into giving away his adopted son, he nearly died on the job after passing out in a burning building, and he bumped heads with one of his best friends, Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), in the firehouse.

Cruz could use a break, and season 13 will hopefully give him one (or a few). For starters, the character voiced a desire to take the lieutenant exam early on in season 12. He was frustrated with the way Severide was treating him, and decided that he wanted to take charge of his career as a result. It didn’t really lead anywhere during the season, as both men eventually buried the hatchet.

CHICAGO FIRE — “Inside Man” Episode 12011 — Pictured: (l-r) Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz, Hanako Greensmith as Violet Mikami — (Photo by: Adrian Burrows/NBC) /

It did, however, come back around in the finale. Several characters were promoted, including Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) and Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), and Mouch (Christian Stolte) decided to train for the lieutenant’s exam. Cruz was one of the few characters who didn’t have a big professional development in the episode, but we’re inclined to think that his is around the corner.

The next logical step for Cruz in season 13 is to take the lieutenant’s exam. He has what it takes to lead, and he’s had more than enough experience working alongside lieutenants like Severide and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) to know what he’s getting into.

CHICAGO FIRE — “A White Knuckle Panic” Episode 915 — Pictured: Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz — (Photo by: Adrian S. Burrows Sr./NBC) /

Then there’s the personal side of things. Cruz had the aforementioned familial issues with his adopted son, but the one that came about afterwards is even more dire. Cruz’s marriage to Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie) is on the rocks, and the latter has asked that they attend marriage counseling.

Cruz is very reluctant to do so, as he told Herrmann, but it’s safe to assume that season 13 will deal with the rebuilding of their relationship. Nobody wants to see Cruz and Chloe split, especially since they have two sons to take care of. Optically speaking, divorce did not go over particularly well when Chicago PD did it with Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) and Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer).

We want all One Chicago couples to be happy, but especially this one. Cruz’s season 13 will be about bouncing back and moving forward, and frankly, we’re excited to see him get a few wins.