Chicago Fire 10×22 “The Magnificent City of Chicago” does all that this show does best, and then ends in the way this show loves to …with pain, or at least, with worry. Because we certainly cannot go into a long hiatus just celebrating Stellaride, right? (Rhetorical question here. Of course we can, and at some point, we should just be allowed to relax for like, one hiatus).
[kofi]
What the episode succeeds at is, of course, celebrating the main couple of the show, and the focus of this hour, Stellaride. Stella and Kelly have gone through a lot, have grown a lot, and they deserved this moment. One that was about them, their love. One where the people in their lives, the people that love them, their family …were just there to lift them up, to help them out, and to pour one out to them and their love.
So, let us go into the happy couple, the family aspect and the setup for next season as we discuss Chicago Fire 10×22 “The Magnificent City of Chicago”:
THIS WEDDING IS FOR US
The Stellaride wedding ends up being everything I wanted it to be. It ends up being all about Stella and Kelly. A decision they made, a moment they chose. Commitment issues jokes aside, this was about what they are together, the way they make each other feel, and the family they want to start — together.
Not asking for kids yet, or anytime soon. Family can be two. It should be two, for a while. Let’s let them enjoy this moment.
In the end, the issues, the fears, the rest of the world, all of it …didn’t hold them back. It couldn’t. Because when it came down to it, when they were both in danger, when the world got small, all they could see was each other. All that mattered was each other. And that’s why they got married. Not because others expected them to. Not because it was “time.” But because they couldn’t imagine another second apart, and they wanted to make that official.
Seems like a silly thing, marriage. You love someone or don’t love someone — that’s not on the paper. The paper means nothing. Except, in so many ways, it does. It’s about you and the person you love, but it’s also about the world. About telling others. About shouting from the rooftops that you love and you are proud of that love.
Now, of course, what we need is for them to get to enjoy their marriage. So, if you don’t mind, we’re just gonna ignore the last few seconds of Chicago Fire 10×22 for the entirety of the hiatus. We can worry come September.
I WILL CATCH A GRENADE FOR YOU?
Look, this isn’t the exact quote, but don’t tell me you didn’t think about it. Because in this episode, Hawkins is one hundred percent committed to helping Violet. Even if that means he has to lose his job. And that’s because he recognizes how good Violet is, and how unfair what Emma is asking of him is, but also because he loves her. And when you love someone, well, common sense doesn’t enter into the equation.
He didn’t have to fall on the sword, but he was willing to. And that means a lot. Violet doesn’t know it. That means a lot too — it means there’s unfinished business. Setup for drama! That should, you know, earn him a return as series regular next season, when we can explore how their relationship has been a rollercoaster so far, and how they can find, you know, some peace. I’ll even take some angst, if that’s what TPTB want to give me. As long as I know we’re working towards something.
And, honestly, what else could we be working towards, for Violet? Who else? Gallo has been a good friend, but he’s been just that: a friend. Plus, there was that love confession between Hawkami. Reciprocated love confession. And that sizzling chemistry. Not to mention that, now that Stellaride is married and Brettsey isn’t sharing a screen, well … the show does need a couple that’s going to keep us on our toes. Give the people what they want, Chicago Fire. Let this not be the end of Hawkami, but the real beginning.
IT WOULD BE MY GREATEST HONOR
Chicago Fire has always been about family, and one of the best relationships to showcase that is that of Stella and Boden. Because Stella is right: Boden is the closest thing she’s got to a father. He’s the person who’s always been in her corner. The one who’s believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself. And, despite the fact that what I just said applies to Kelly as well, he’s the one doing it not because he’s in love with Stella, so in a way that’s hard to explain, it means just as much, in a very different way.
We’re conditioned to believe romantic love is the only love that matters, or at least, that it’s the most important one. It isn’t. No matter what TV says. Life is complicated, and to get through it, we need a lot of people in our corner. Sometimes, like Stella, we don’t have them. But family isn’t always blood, and sometimes, if we’re lucky, the important people, the ones that love us for who we are, find a way to us, when we need them the most.
That’s Boden, yes. The father figure. The protector. The foundation on which this show, and this Firehouse, rests. Has always rested. The one that makes everyone better. And the only person who could give Stella away, not because he’s the only one that loves her — everyone does — but because he’s the one that’s helped her love herself, and become the person who can walk down the aisle to meet Kelly Severide with a smile on her face.
But that’s also Sylvie, Ritter and Gallo for Violet. That’s why they don’t give up. That’s why they continue to have Violet’s back, even when it seems like there’s nothing they can do. Even when Violet herself has given up. Because that’s what family does. Believe in each other. And that, well …that is why the “win.”
Things I think I think:
- Desperate, unkempt Evan Hawkins is very attractive. But then again, to be fair, he is very attractive to me in basically every mode.
- Severide’s like, testifying? Yes. Where do I sign up? What is fear? And he truly does like running after bad guys.
- STELLA AND VIOLET AND SYLVIE HUG.
- Casey looks like he joined a 90s pop band, and not in a good way.
- The BACHELORETTE PARTY is kinda perfection. It’s small and silly and just …Stella.
- I get it, Emma, but …you didn’t even last that long. After all of that you made it SO EASY?
- “My hero.” EVERYONE’S HERO.
- “All of Me” is the perfect Stellaride song, okay? Perfect.
- THE VOWS. I’m going to replay those minutes three times a day the entire hiatus.
- I find it significant that, even if Sylvie and Casey spoke of their fears out loud, the show didn’t actually break them up. That’s a decision. Why? If they wanted to start fresh, they could have. Matt in Portland. A new love interest for Sylvie. So why not? What’s the plan? Or are we fully in hope territory here?
- I’d worry about the look Violet gave Gallo, but like …that’s this show’s MO. 90% of the time it means nothing. And even if it DOES, if you bring back Jimmy, I won’t complain. Much.
- The episode about Stellaride’s wedding was …about Stellaride. As it should be.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 10×22 “The Magnificent City of Chicago”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC. It will return for Season 11 in the Fall.
I might be in the minority but I felt that what the showrunners had promised for the season finale (the best one yet in their words) was kind of a letdown and the episode fell flat to me. Of course, this excludes the Stellaride wedding – which I wish had seen way more off. Even Mouch got a bachelor party – where was Severides?
Everything felt so rushed and there were some scenes that were not needed or it felt like there were some that were missing that should have come before or after. Did anyone anticipate Severide KILLING a man in this episode? Anyone, anyone? This episode felt weird especially the anticlimactic way of what was Emma’s storyline. You mean to tell me that after all the bad she had done wrong in the previous episodes (which I loved, because who doesn’t love a crazy villain) that she was going to leave on her doing with her tail between her legs? In terms of Brettsey, I don’t think it is fair for the showrunners to leave this open ended. Give the fans a definitive answer, it is not fair to say ‘are they together or not together’, going into season 11 especially fans who are hopeful or need proper closure. Lastly, please do not throw tomatoes at me, but I am excited to see where the Violet and Gallo story goes. I know, I know, they are not Hawkami but I felt like they were never given the proper focus or attention to see how they would be as a proper couple. If it works out great, if not, at least they tried.
I agree with a lot of what you have said. I think that Sylvie and Matt have broken up without them saying it officially. I believe they did not want to distract too much from Stellaride’s wedding. Matt giving Gallo his ax and saying “it belongs in Chicago” means he isn’t coming back to Chicago. Sylvie acknowledging the life he has built in Portland and reminding him she has built a great one in Chicago means they will be a part. I suspect that their breakup will be official in episode 1 or 2 next season.
I know their wedding was planned on short notice, but they go to Severide’s cabin in the woods afterwards when Kelly’s life is being threatened, really??? How about a weekend in Mackinac Island instead? Do better One Chicago.
I’m glad Emma is gone, but I was hoping her take down would be something she could not recover from. Unfortunately, we could see her again.