Chicago Fire 10×10 “Back With a Bang” brings back Stella Kidd, puts a band aid on the Stellaride drama, gives us some good friendship moments, not to mention a lot of adult conversations and just in general takes us back to the measured way of writing that has made this show the most consistent of the One Chicago shows. In fact, after watching this episode, our only question is …why?
Why did we need the drama for the sake of drama from the last few episodes? This — cliffhanger excluded — was more than fine. Chicago Fire has found its sweet spot the last few seasons, and I promise, it’s not making us worry about the most solid couple on the show. We’re not going to stop watching if people are happy – plus, there’s already the fact that Brettsey is now long distance, and we don’t know if/when Matt will return. That’s enough drama for us.
So, let’s discuss Stella Kidd’s decisions and the Stellaride drama that wasn’t as we review Chicago Fire 10×10 “Back With A Bang”:
STELLA KIDD IS BACK
My history with Chicago Fire has been a little up and down. I started watching when the show first started airing, quit after Shay died, and only came back because of Stella Kidd. I’ve made no secret of the fact she’s my favorite character, and I feel very connected to her, in all respects. Perhaps this is the reason why I wasn’t that worried about her. You can call it faith, or hope.
And yes, I still would have liked this whole storyline to be handled different, but Stella panicking, wanting a moment, handling things badly and then apologizing isn’t a horrible storyline. The problem would be, of course, if this is the end of the storyline. Because it doesn’t feel like Stella has processed the reasons for those feelings in the first place.
Why is she like she doesn’t want to settle down? How is she dealing with it? Sure, she had a couple of conversations with Kelly and a brief one with Sylvie, but these aren’t the kind of feelings you just get over and pushing them away never helps. If the idea of settling down is scary for Stella, that might be tied to previous experiences she hasn’t really dealt with on screen, and this would be a really good time to have them examine them.
My biggest issue with the way this storyline has been written so far is that it’s been about Stella, but not from Stella’s point of view. This episode is better in that respect, but the show can’t, shouldn’t stop here. We’ve spent episodes seeing this from Severide’s point of view, and Boden’s point of view, we should get a lot more than one episode about Stella’s feelings. If not, what is even the point?
STELLARIDE PROBLEMS AHEAD?
Chicago Fire 10×10 “Back With A Bang” does a pretty good job of “fixing” the Stellaride issues that weren’t really as big a deal as the framing of the promo and the last episode made it look. It just also does that while making Severide act weird enough at times that we’re supposed to continue to worry. Probably to add more drama and give Stella a reason to worry before Wendy Seager shows up again.
Which, have I mentioned that’s not what we want? Like, Wendy Seager in general, but particularly this suggestion of a possible love triangle. We don’t want that. And we especially don’t want that if it’s not going to be used to advance Stellaride. Because yes, the easy conclusion is that part of the reason Stella feels a little unsettled is because her experience with marriage hasn’t exactly been favorable. The brain is mean like that, it plays tricks on you. Even when you are sure of something.
Stella and Kelly love each other, that isn’t in doubt, has never been doubt. And they a couple of adult conversation this episode, a good start. But being together, being truly partners, means sometimes picking at old wounds that aren’t really letting you move forward the way you want. The way you deserve. And this particular wound of Stella’s is something that probably needed to be explored before Stellaride got married. It just needs to be explored by them, for them. Wendy Seager should have no part of that.
Drama for the sake of drama is never what fans want. But drama that moves the characters forward, drama that makes them and their relationships stronger? That we can deal with. For a few episodes there, it didn’t seem like Chicago Fire was building towards the second option. Now it seems like there’s a chance. Let’s hope the show can remember what we like about it and go back to delivering.
Things I think I think
- The convo at the beginning of the episode was a very adult conversation. I’m proud of Stella and Kelly.
- Sylvie is finally going to visit Matt!
- No, but Sylvie running into Stella’s arms might be my favorite thing about this episode.
- That whole “you didn’t take the job from me” moment was peak Stella, and so well played. If she’d wanted the job you wouldn’t have had a chance, Pelham. It’s just the truth.
- I will say that as much as I appreciate Stella’s reasons, deep down, they make no sense. She’d rather wait for another spot and never get 51? The thing she was most worried about at the beginning of the season was …being away from 51.
- Stella and Sylvie scene!
- Ritter is all heart, and that’s why we love him.
- I hope Trudy showing up on Fire means this storyline will pick up on PD soon.
- Finding Chief Hawkins pretty attractive these days, what can I say?
- I hate the drama, but I guess it’s better than the last cliffhanger?
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 10×01 “Back With a Bang”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
Hiya. Noticed a typo in your first sentence (it’s written 10×01, instead of 10×10)