I started rewatching TW recently after many years. I loved the first couple of seasons, but it went downhill IMO during or after S3. Watching in hindsight now (skipping around), they did seem to favor the police side a little more (esp B/Y) even in the beginning. However, by S4 it became an all out cop show and eliminated what I liked about it. It wasn’t even about working the beat anymore, it became cartoonish. I’ve never seen a show abandon it’s entire premise midway like that and wondered why the drastic change? Ratings, they couldn’t write FDNY/EMT? I even googled but couldn’t find anything.
For me the heart of the show was more the EMT/firemen side. I was sad when Bobby C. left, he was charismatic and could’ve been developed more, but the way things played out it was the right choice to leave. The dramatic and depressing way they phased out some of the FDNY side was low and clearly ratings bait. What they did to Doc was particularly horrible and MB was the only actor I knew when I started watching. The way the show changed was kind of a slap in the face to the actors who were hired to have equal roles and then just discarded. I’m glad the actors in the FDNY roles went onto bigger and better things. Interestingly enough, most of the NYPD actors on the NYPD side disappeared. Thought Wile would have had a bigger career though.

Loved all the original characters. Hated Cruz and the outlandish plots that were the last few seasons. Wish they would’ve stayed true to the original premise of the show. Not surprised it was canceled during S6.