‘Chicago Fire’ 11×20 Review: “Never, Ever Make a Mistake”

Chicago Fire 11×20 “Never, Ever Make a Mistake” sets the course for the future, it’s just that, for some characters, that seems very, very clear — and for others, because of circumstances, it’s murky at best.

Clarity is Sylvie Brett’s middle name, for once. Chicago Fire has never truly known what to do with her character, especially not outside of romantic relationships. But now it seems that the path ahead for Sylvie is clear, and it’s taking her away from Firehouse 51, away from Dylan, and away from the things just a couple of seasons ago she was unable to give up even for the man she loved.

Stella, in the meantime, cannot really go anywhere, storytelling-wise, because so much of her storyline is tied up with Severide’s, and Severide is not around. So the show has Carver step in as some sort of Severide stand-in, except they can only do that with Carver as a platonic kind of stand-in because the audience absolutely will not accept anything else, which makes the whole thing lose a lot of the emotional weight it would have had if Severide had been around.

There seem to be the two big storylines the show is looking to pay off as we go into the last two episodes, so let’s talk about them as we discuss Chicago Fire 11×20 “Never, Ever Make a Mistake”:

EXIT STRATEGY?

Is this storyline setting up an exit for Kara Killmer’s Sylvie Brett? It’s hard to say anything with certainty when it comes to One Chicago, but it suuure seems like it. There’s a baby. One that she could try to adopt. Jesse Spencer’s Matt Casey is coming back for the finale. She has already brought up the possibility of leaving Firehouse 51, unprompted, something Sylvie categorically refused to do in Season 9 when Casey asked her to go with him. Back then, it wasn’t the right place and the right time. Earlier this season, it still wasn’t that. Could this season finale see Brettsey finally coincide in both things?

If Jesse Spencer’s return a few episodes ago had put a firm lid on Brettsey, I would have said no way. But it didn’t. In fact, that episode seemed to revive Brettsey, if anything. And we know he’s coming back in the finale. Then there are the clues of this episode. It doesn’t necessarily have to add up, but it’s also not that hard to reach the conclusion that it might. It takes no Sherlock Holmes to get there.

THERE BETTER BE A PLAN

The thing about this Stella storyline is that it reads tailor-made for Kelly in the place Carver is in, and I understand they had to adapt, but they can only adapt so far. So I hope there’s a plan going forward for Taylor Kinney. Is he coming back next season? Because the elephant in the room is  — how long is the show sustainable without him? And hey, the WGA strike might be playing in their favor, because until the AMPTP figures out a fair deal for writers, then the new seasons won’t even start being planned. That might happen tomorrow (but it probably won’t). So there’s time to figure it out. But there needs to be a plan.

Because scrambling for a few episodes has been messy, but it can be done. Scrambling for longer …won’t work. This show, at this point, especially with how many people continue being, is sustainable because of characters like Stella Kidd, yes … but also because of Stellaride. The show cannot really afford to lose them permanently. Hopefully, whatever is keeping Taylor away is something that allows him to return, because otherwise, I don’t know that Chicago Fire can recover. I really don’t.

Things I think I think:

• Just saying, Herrmann, the breathing exercises could help.
• Nothing quite like a Boden pep talk. Well, except a Stella AND Boden pep talk.
• I mean, I’m not sure it’s what Kylie needed, but it helped me.
• I love the mini crossovers. I’d missed them.
• Mouch complaining about firefighter shows is hilarious.
• I don’t think I’ll surprise anyone by saying I love Stella Kidd a whole lot, but her empathy blows me away every time I watch this show. She is completely present at every call, giving it all.
• Capp and Tony are assholes. I said it.
• Proud Papa Javi is the best.
• Violet going to Brett …even if there are no answers …makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
• I mean, I think he knows she doesn’t know love him. I think Carver’s pretty clear on that, yeah.
• I HATE THIS STORYLINE WHEN SEVERIDE ISN’T AROUND TO MAKE THE FACE CARVER IS MAKING.
• Me, being happy that Carver exists, in this economy.
• Look, I don’t like Carver in the Severide role, but if he keeps it non-romantic, I’ll take it.
• “You do me proud, every day.”
• IF KELLY WERE HERE!
• Prud of Kylie!

• I’m not gonna lie, this Brett storyline feels like it came out of nowhere. I get this is about her mother, it’s not her reaction that came out of nowhere, it’s tying it to her possibly leaving.
• Look, in-universe, Stella, if you call your husband right now, he’s gonna get on a plane or something.
• Ciny and Herrman are the best.
• Look, Carver, I am on your side. I am. But we need to think about how to articulate your side better.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 11×20 “Never, Ever Make a Mistake”? Share with us in the comments below!

Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays on NBC.