Chicago Fire 11×12 “How Does it End” gives us temporary drama and long-lasting drama, and though it doesn’t hit any surprising notes, it’s still an entertaining hour of TV that manages to not just showcase the couple at the center of this show but also to give a character who is always stuck in the background, involved in the jokey storylines and little else, a juicy storyline.
Sure, we really wish it didn’t come at the expense of Cindy — and truly, we cannot deny we’re worried about her. Chicago Fire doesn’t really have the best track record with significant others, or with couples. Plus, they sure love to make us suffer, and boy, this looks like a storyline that will make us and Herrmann suffer a whole lot. Hopefully, it can also be one about family, and about what it means to be there for each other, just as Stellaride’s storyline in this episode was about how, sometimes in life, we take turns being the one emotional one and the one picking up the slack.
Let’s talk Chicago Fire 11×12 “How Does it End”:
NO MAN IS AN ISLAND
For Herrmann, keeping Cindy’s diagnosis a secret isn’t about not trusting his Firehouse family, or even about not needing the support — it’s about avoidance. If he tells them, he has to admit that what’s going on with Cindy is serious and that she might not come out of it. If he puts it out there in the universe, it’s real. And of course, it’s real anyway, no matter what he does. But saying it out loud to the people closest to you somehow makes it even more real.
But, even though it’s harder, Herrmann can’t hold it in. He shouldn’t have to. He tells Boden, and later he and Cindy share with their kids — something I’m fully in support of. Kids don’t need to be protected from the realities of life, they need to be taught how to face them. And as Christopher is there to support Cindy, well, someone should be there to support him.
Afterward, Boden is. And that’s important. No, it’s crucial.
It takes a village, they say, about raising a kid. The saying also applies to these kinds of situations. It takes a village because there will be good days and bad days. It takes a village because you cannot think of everything yourself on the good days, much less on the bad ones. And in this particular case, it’s good that it takes a village because considering what’s coming, Herrmann will probably need one. And that means not just Boden, but the entirety of Firehouse 51.
TEAMWORK
Kelly and Stella have a little bit of a tiff in this episode. Not anything more, truly, just a little bit of a tiff. Sure, they spend a chunk of the episode not really happy with each other, but it’s one of those things that comes from a good place, for both of them. And afterward, they both deal with it differently, because they’re different people. For Stella, there’s a desire to talk it out, to understand. For Kelly, there’s no reason to dwell on it. It’s over and done with.
The worst moment comes when they’re not communicating. When they’re letting their assumptions get in the way. Later, they talk about it and it’s better. Not perfect, not right away. It takes another call, one where they can work together, one where the fact that they know each other, that they can compensate for each other, works in their favor. Because Kelly is a tad emotional in that last call, and Stella is a bit emotional in the first one. And that’s okay. Emotions are normal. Emotions are human.
But the thing to take from this argument isn’t that yes, even couples like Stellaride can sometimes have off days, it’s that at their worst moment, it really wasn’t all that bad. It wasn’t “I’m breaking up with you” or “I’m rethinking our relationship,” no, it was “maybe we cannot work together.” Considering this is a TV show, it feels like a big deal. But in real life, that’s the kind of sacrifice you make if you really cannot figure it out. Marriage over work is just how it should be.
Anyway, Stellaride is good. They’re solid. No worries here.
Things I think I think:
- I mean, am I supposed to care about Sylvie’s relationship with a guy I see once every 5 episodes?
- Herrmann, don’t lie to your Firehouse family.
- I get wanting to save the victim, but you can’t do that if you’re dead, Kelly.
- Listen to your wife. And not just because she’s your wife, but because she’s using common sense.
- You didn’t even look that closely!
- I’M DONE TALKING ABOUT IT, he said. Kelly Severide, you are close to the edge here.
- Carver and Mouch’s “Mom and Dad are fighting” look is priceless.
- I really enjoyed Truck and Squad getting into a little bit of an argument because they were each supporting their Lt., not gonna lie.
- See, this is what you do, Kelly. You shut up, let her talk, and THINK about what you’re gonna say.
- THIS IS WHY YOU TELL YOUR FRIENDS, CHRISTOPHER! So you’re not alone!
- Boden being “Dad” is my favorite Boden.
- The way Kelly said “let me start,” I love this Kelly so much. And he has no trouble being vulnerable with Stella, either.
- Communication is the key. And Stellaride always finds a way. Even when it takes them a bit.
- Good teamwork deserves good food.
- Thank God Boden is there.
- I knew this Cindy storyline wasn’t going to last one episode. I knew it. I hate it.
- Not complaining about the making-up part.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 11×12 “How Does it End”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.