Chicago Fire 10×20 “Halfway to the Moon” introduces a little hiccup to the Stellaride happiness, then solves it in the best way possible, only to leave us on a weird sour note. It also goes from 13 to 384 with Emma’s arc, which strangely enough, doesn’t truly feel like an obstacle to Hawkami as much as it feels like an obstacle to the way things are done at Firehouse 51.
In a way, this makes it better. I don’t know how Violet and Chief Hawkins get out of this mess, but I also know you don’t try to play these games with the Firehouse 51 family and get away with it. Emma doesn’t know that yet, but I’m pretty sure in the final two episodes of the season, she’s going to find out.
So, let’s talk about Stellaride’s Gallo issue and Hawkami’s Emma issue as we discuss Chicago Fire 10×20 “Halfway to the Moon”:
THE “EMMA” ISSUE
There are moments during this episode where you kind of second guess yourself, just like Violet does. Not because Emma hasn’t gone above and beyond to make you think she’s dangerous, but because, deep down, good people just want to give other people the benefit of the doubt. Emma proves that’s not a good idea at the end of this hour, though. So, yay, we’re free to just full-on dislike her, which we’d all been doing anyway.
Ironically, Emma as an obstacle to Hawkami feels like the lesser obstacle they’ve faced this season? Jobs on the line, outed to their bosses, having to keep a secret, surprise love confession …Sorry, Emma. You don’t even rank on the list of problems. So, please, don’t end the season with something that will make you rank. Please. We don’t want to spend an entire hiatus worrying for the well-being of one of our favorites.
Because yes, Chief Hawkins has become one of our favorites, just as Violet before him. The chemistry between them, the way the relationship has progressed, has just made it more and more interesting. And though this is TV, and we understand there will be issues thrown their way, we just really, really hope they get to face most of them like they did having that dinner, hands clasped, looking out to the future.
Which, again, leads me to the same point: Jimmy Nicholas for series regular, everyone? Like, I know there was a notion that Gallo might come back into the picture, but what picture is that? Gallo is the past, and what a brief past it was. Hawkins is the present and the future. And it’s one we want to invest in.
THE “GALLO” ISSUE
For all that Stellaride has dealt with some contrived issues this season, the Gallo one didn’t quite feel like that — at least not till the end of the episode — because if there’s one thing Chicago Fire loves, it’s leaving us with that weird wait should I be worried about the thing you’d literally just put me at ease about? kinda feeling. Stella and Kelly got into a professional dispute, one that was clearly about more than Gallo; it was about Stella feeling good about her position, about the way she does her job. And Kelly Severide did the thing he always does, the thing he’s so good at, remind her of who she is.
He didn’t solve the problem for her — this isn’t a “problem” to be solved by them. This is decision to be made by Gallo, and the only thing Kelly and Stella can do is support him. Gallo chose with his heart in the end, and he did so because Stella made it clear she had his back either way. Like family does.
I can understand Kelly being a bit miffed by that, particularly if there are lingering issues from the other miscommunication from this season. I just hope the show intends to discuss them. Otherwise, this weird tiff two episodes before their wedding is more than a little absurd. I don’t want to go into the finale worrying about Stellaride, and I don’t want them to go into the wedding worrying about each other. That’s not the way it should be.
Particularly because, for most of this episode, Stellaride was what they always are, what they’re so great at: partners. That doesn’t always mean just support; sometimes it means perspective. Stella got that when she needed it. Hopefully, Kelly will too, and that’ll be the end of this.
But hey, if the episode had ended like 30 seconds earlier, no one would have complained.
Things I think I think:
- Play the first scene ON A LOOP.
- We should endeavor to not make Stella worry, okay? Okay.
- Soft Kelly Severide because Stella exists is my favorite Kelly Severide.
- Like, he always just pauses and considers her opinion. No matter what.
- Violet, you’re too good. Too good.
- The Hawkami scene was the definition of short but sweet. And not unnecessary, no. It’s ship building.
- Emma makes me roll my eyes, and she has only been around for 0.3 seconds. I guess they didn’t want us to like anyone else since Sylvie is coming back?
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 10×20 “Halfway to the Moon”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
I have mixed emotions about this episode. I loved Herman being Herman. Enthusiastically helping someone, then feeling betrayed and ripped off by the guy and then having Cindy calm him down. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and does what he and everyone at 51 does in the end, helps someone who needs it. I love how Gallo and Ritter have Violet’s back. Ritter offering advice and Gallo turning Emma down. I loved how Gallo was thoughtful in this episode. He talked things out and sought advice, he didn’t act impulsively. That Pelham gave him good advice and told him it was Stella who suggested he saved the cat shows the kind of guy Pelham is. I hope we see more of him.
I hated the Stellaride of this episode. Stella is driven and ambitious. She sees what she wants and goes after it, but she is and always has been about helping others. She started Girls on Fire to help young women, it’s who she is. The idea that she would stand in the way of Gallo going to Squad in contrary to her whole character. Her conversation with Gallo should have happened without Severide telling her about his relationship with Grissom. Severide’s line at the end “you always get what you want,” bothered me. Casey could have said that to Gabby. Stella is not selfish or self centered. She has put up with Severide’s mercurial nature so that line rings hollow to me. Plus, when did Severide become thin skinned? I really didn’t like this angle at all because it runs so counter to who these 2 characters have been.
I could not stand Emma and I hate her even more now. Frankly, I wish Hank Voight would do Firehouse 51 a favor and “take her for ride” and explain that one way or another she isn’t going to be staying at 51. I suspect that Chief Boden will be the one who “saves the day,” because Hawkins can’t and Boden always protects his family. The only good thing is that Brettsy will be back for the final episode, so Emma’s fate will probably be determined in the next episode rather than in the final episode or God forbid, next season.
I like your reviews, and this is your site and your review so you can write however you want, but I also wish you would highlight on the other characters in your review such as Herrmann and Mouch. Granted they are not part of the ship world but it would be nice to read about them in the recaps as well. Or that Gallo went to see Pelham in this episode which was a very nice scene.
Thanks for the comments! Poor Herrmann (who is consistently one of my favorites) typically ends up with the C plot that doesn’t really requiere much analysis, and since this isn’t a recap, that means I often find very little to say about him other than how much I enjoy him. Pelham’s scene was indeed nice, but it felt like it was part of the whole Stella/Kelly/Gallo thing. I have dedicated a fair bit of words to Pelham this season, though!
The whole Stella Severide situation in real life if they got married one would have to be transferred they could not be stationed together.