Chicago Fire 12×05 “On The Hook” is an episode about the secrets we keep, and why we keep those secrets. It’s also an hour about what it means to be part of something, to be able to find a place where you don’t have to look over your shoulder all the time. It’s both a scary, scary feeling and a truly liberating one. But the fear comes first, and that fear …well, it’s hard to let go of that and trust in yourself and others around you. That’s where our newest member of Firehouse 51, Derrick Gibson, finds himself.
If anyone sees through that clearly, it’s Carver, because Carver was there not that long ago. Carver was Gibson, and he remembers how hard it was for him to trust. How much Stella had to fight for him to give her and Firehouse 51 a chance. But trust he did, and thanks to that he’s found a family. He’s found a place to belong. And who knows, he might be on his way to finding love too.
So yes, Carver had to be the one to reach out to Gibson. He had to be the one to offer understanding. He had to be the one to just …be there for when Gibson wanted to talk.
the rest you gotta take one step at a time
For Gibson, the rest is going to take time. He has already put in so much of the work. He’s still wounded, that much is true. What he went through, what we now know happened, will probably be with him forever. But he’s also gotten to a place where he can recognize that as tragic as what happened was, it was not his fault. Even if he has to repeat it to himself every day like he had to tell that kid.
And now, well …now there’s another factor to the equation. The Firehouse 51 factor. Just like Carver before him, Gibson doesn’t really know what that factor entails. He thought he was coming into a good Firehouse for him as a firefighter. He didn’t really understand before that Firehouse 51 is about more than just being a good firefighter. It’s about being a family. And sometimes, that’s the scariest part for someone like Gibson, because a family expects things of you. Wants things of you.
The thing is, of course, that Gibson is already at 51. He’s already opened up. And now, whether he wants to or not, he’s a part of 51. The good news is at least he has Carver to tell him how things will go. And honestly, there are worse things than having an entire Firehouse of people who will care and have your back.
just ask Sylvie and Violet
Ironically, we kinda see with Sylvie and Violet the other side of what we see with Carver and Gibson — the less wholesome side, at least this time. Violet is right to trust that Sylvie would never make a careless mistake, but part of the reason she trusts Sylvie is just instinct. She has, after all, worked with Sylvie for a long time. She knows her and trusts her. That’s not factual, that’s just what happens when you work together for a long time.
Firehouse 51 strikes being a family strikes again, and then …well, it takes a turn that will probably not benefit Violet in the long run. Should she have talked to her boss like she did (twice!) in defense of Sylvie? We all know the answer to that is no. Of course, this was just set up for Violet going forward, since Sylvie is leaving, and in that regard, it works really well. And it’s also very, you know, Violet. But in general, even Boden recognized that the way the boss lady was acting made sense. It’s one thing to give Sylvie the benefit of the doubt, and the other to go all guns blazing on your boss.
For Sylvie, she’ll get the recommendation she needs and her storyline ends the way it deserves to end — with her as the great paramedic she always was. For Violet, well …some professional drama is probably not a bad storyline. We can’t just have romantic drama, that’s boring. Been there, and seen that.
Things I think I think:
- I know it feels superfluous, but what I wouldn’t have given to SEE the Bachelorette party.
- Stella sent dirty pics to Severide and we didn’t see what led to that!
- Can someone write that fic, please?
- Okay, home in two days. Two days.
- On the hook makes sense now. Not that I think they’re really gonna make it Brett’s fault on what is probably her penultimate episode, but you know, DRAMA.
- It is ugly.
- Violet sticking up for Sylvie is nice, but it is kind of standard protocol to suspend and not recommend someone who “screws up.”
- It’s funny that Gibson is giving Carver the Carver treatment, lol.
- BUT ALSO, I love Carver now.
- And kinda love Gibson.
- So, that was quick.
- LOOK, the Aquarium thing is somewhere between heartbreaking and funny, depending on how invested you were in the venue. I got married in a courthouse, so that’s where I stand on the importance of venues. And, if I’m being honest, I would have gotten married on the street and not cared one bit. But if you care, it’s not even remotely funny.
- Sure, plug in the thing that was in the trash. Are you guys firefighters or …?
- I’ll hug Gibson. Let me hug him.
- AND THE WEDDING PROMO.
- KELLY AND MATT.
- STELLA HOLDING JULIA.
- I DESERVED THIS, OKAY?
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire 12×05 “On The Hook”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
