Chicago Fire 10×13 “Fire Cop” is an outstanding episode of television, intense, thrilling, and emotional in all the right ways. Kelly Severide gets a chance to shine, and so does Stella Kidd. But they shine on their own, even if they are always, always a unit, while the romantic storyline is carried mostly by our favorite new couple in the One Chicago universe, Hawkami.
Some characters take a step back emotionally — Gallo, we need to have words, because in this house (and any house) we do not slut shame women — but all in all, this hour, much like the last one, is proof of why Chicago Fire has been able to headline the One Chicago franchise for so long. Outstanding plots are good, but outstanding characters carry a show — and a franchise. And Chicago Fire doesn’t just have a surplus of them, it seems to have no trouble adding new ones.
Let us go into the Hawkami of it all, as we celebrate both Stella and Kelly individually and rejoice at the lack of love triangles to be found in Chicago Fire 10×13 “Fire Cop”:
ALL ABOARD THE S.S. HAWKAMI
If the last episode didn’t convince everyone, this one should do the trick of getting those few stragglers. This is a great episode for Hawkami, not just because we’ll take shirtless Hawkins any day of the week and twice on Sundays, but because they clearly established that there was more there than a casual hookup. What they feel for each other is not something they can just get out of their system. And most importantly, it’s not something they want to.
Chief Hawkins is the first to say no, we shouldn’t be doing this, but in Chicago Fire 10×13 “Fire Cop,” he’s sure. He seems to have done his research, and more importantly, he’s made his decision. Violet is worth the risk. And he’s unequivocal about it. He wants a relationship, and though he’s willing to give Violet her space, that doesn’t mean he’s backing down, no. It’s sexy as hell, I’m not gonna lie.
Violet, on the other hand, has a lot more to think about. She’s the one in a subordinate position, and she’s the one who stands to lose the most when the relationship is revealed. The world won’t judge Chief Hawkins, they will judge her —just like Gallo does, without any details. So, it’s fair to allow Violet to take a moment and ponder if she’s willing to risk everything for this man, if what she feels is more important than the issues that might arise.
Her decision, thanks to support from both Stella and Sylvie, isn’t all that surprising. But it is important to note that it is a decision. She isn’t being coerced, and though there is a power imbalance, she isn’t entering into this relationship to gain something or to get over someone. In fact, she stands to lose more than she can gain. But she wants to try anyway. Not because she wants to date Chief Hawkins, but because she wants to date Evan. And that…well, that’s what makes this work.
That’s what makes us want more. So much more. Well, that and the fact that they’re adorable together.
STELLA FREAKING KIDD
This was a really good episode for arguably my favorite character in this show, Stella Kidd. And it wasn’t an episode of big things, because it doesn’t always need to be. Instead, Chicago Fire 10×13 “Fire Cop” was an episode about leadership and what that leadership means. Because Stella is the right Lt. for Truck 81. Not just because she’s good at her job, which she is, but because she knows these people. She understands them. She’s one of them.
But this episode was also about Stella realizing that she doesn’t need to put one dream on hold to be able to have another dream realized. Sometimes, what you need is to understand that it doesn’t all fall on you — that you put good out in the world, and sometimes, that comes back. There are people you can depend on. And you can have it all, if you’re willing to rely on those people.
Kylie is where she is, at Firehouse 51, because of Stella. And Kylie is the right person to help with Girls on Fire so that Stella con focus on her other dream, one that she wasn’t deferring as much as she was giving up on, just so she didn’t have to give up on Girls of Fire, which was her baby.
The best thing about this storyline, which I haven’t always been happy about, is that Stella didn’t need anyone to save her. She only needed Kylie to point out the obvious, and if we remember where Kylie started, it’s easy to see that this is just …part of Stella’s legacy. Girls on Fire will continue, and she will be able to move on and be a Lt., and it’s all because of her hard work. It pays off. It really, really does.
KELLY SEVERIDE IS ALL HEART
It’s been a while since the show has focused on Kelly Severide’s goodness in the way Chicago Fire 10×13 “Fire Cop” does. And that’s not to say Kelly Severide goes around being an asshole, it’s that we’re at that point of the show where we all already know he’s a good guy, so the fact that he is isn’t necessarily the storyline all that often. But “Fire Cop” takes a beat to remind us of what makes Kelly Severide a good man to have at the center of this show.
Every time we bring in the arson team, the show focuses on Severide’s instincts, but it isn’t just that. Of course, he has good instincts, but he also has a good heart. This episode’s investigation was a combination of both. Severide could sense there was more to the fire than met the eye, but he also wanted there to be more than just a troubled teenager causing problems. And the people around him, from Seager, to Sylvie and Violet, trusted his instincts and his heart.
It wasn’t just blind faith that drove Severide in this hour, and it wasn’t just his instincts. But it was goodness, in a sense. Severide has an innate ability to see the good in people and to give people the benefit of the doubt. That’s come back to bite him in the ass more than once, but that hasn’t changed anything. He leads with his heart, and he tries to put himself in the shoes of the people he’s trying to help and listen to them—truly listen to them. You can’t solve all problems like that, but sometimes, you can actually help, which is exactly what he does in this episode.
And if I got a little emotional at the end, then who can blame me?
THERE ARE NO LOVE TRIANGLES
There are no love triangles in this show right now, even if there are two situations that could become love triangles, and that any other show would use to add drama for the sake of drama. Seager has been anything but subtle about her interest for Severide, even if she hasn’t crossed any overt lines, and I feel like perhaps Severide could have made it clearer earlier that he wasn’t interested.
He does so this episode, on more than one occasion — even if he doesn’t make any big declaration. But in a way, that’s life. The big confrontations, the I’m engaged, stay away from me, that’s not as common. Instead, there’s the making it clear where he stands. Because he not only takes the time to check in with Stella while in the middle of his investigation, he also only has eyes for her after he figures out the truth. In his moment of triumph, it’s not Seager he wants to celebrate with, it’s his fiancé. And Seager sees it, just as Stella does.
It’s a good thing, too because earlier we saw that Stella was feeling a little insecure about Seager, even if she told herself there was no reason to. Sometimes, feelings don’t follow reason, and there’s nothing quite like the certainty that the person you love more than anything loves you the same way. That’s where Stellaride is now. And Wendy Seager, well… She has no place in the show unless she can understand that.
Then there’s the Gallo of it all, except…there’s no Gallo of it all. There wasn’t even before that out of line comment about Hawkins. Chicago Fire could have used the Hawkami to further Gallo and Violet, and instead they’re giving that relationship a chance to become whatever it can be. Gallo is out of the picture for now, and let’s be clear, he took himself out of the situation. Even without his missteps, though, Violet has made it clear what her decision is. And her decision is all that matters.
If you ask me, the way forward now has to include Jimmy Nicholas as a series regular. Then, there’ll be plenty of time to explore the relationship, and even throw some angst their way. I won’t even complain about that, as long as I know Chief Hawkins is sticking around. I solemnly swear I won’t.
Things I think I think:
- I screamed at the first scene in this episode, I’ll have you know. Brynna, Gina, you called it. Or wished it into being.
- Also, more shirtless Hawkins, please. And thank you.
- If I didn’t ship it before (and I did), that tiny moment when Violet goes back in for a kiss would have convinced me.
- Stella’s quick thinking saving the day — and Gallo — is A+.
- That’s where we are now, Gallo? Slut-shaming? I’d say shame on you, but you’re way past shame here.
- If Seager is going to keep coming back, she needs more of a storyline than “makes eyes at Severide every few episodes.”
- This cursed office plotline shouldn’t be as funny as it is.
- THAT TEXT MESSAGE. Good trouble indeed.
- Ritter is always looking at Gallo like “what did you do now?” and honestly, he’s on point.
- When Severide was all like, “just gonna call Stella,” my heart soared.
- It was actually good of the show to let Stella have feelings on Seager, too. She doesn’t have to be right to feel a little jealous.
- Violet and Sylvie trusting Severide’s instincts was also A+.
- THE VIOLET/STELLA/SYLVIE SCENE. So much goodness.
- And Stella’s advice, too.
- Plus Sylvie’s whole, okay, spill. And then, no judgment.
- Was the last episode my favorite, or is this episode my favorite?
- Seager looking at Severide looking at Stella should put an end to this storyline, right? Right?
- Boden’s “I’m not proud of myself”? I cackled.
- The SMILES in this last Hawkami scene. We went from fire to cute in the same episode, and I’m all in.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 10×13 “Fire Cop”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays on NBC.