Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 4 ‘Through The Skin’ is a surprising episode that shakes up some of the ideas we had for the season, and yet it is also one that introduces interesting new questions. Overall, the show has started the season solid, which after Boden’s departure and the change that meant for the dynamics at Firehouse 51, feels like a win.
Stellaride remains steady — and communicative, Cruz, Cap and Tony get a fun storyline that allows them a chance to be as hilarious as we know they can be, Pascal comes through in a surprising way, Herrmann basically saves the day with his brilliant idea and oh yes, Violet gets to be a hero. What else could we ask of this show? Oh yes, maybe for Carver’s girlfriend to go back home. But I guess we can’t have it all right away. Some things we apparently need to be patient about.
MORE: Here’s our review of the Chicago Fire Season 13 premiere! And here’s our review of Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 2! And here’s our review of Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 3.
LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE
In general, my vibe about Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide is always that Kelly Severide should listen to his wife. But this is especially true in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 4 ‘Through The Skin’ when Stella is just trying to help Kelly maintain a relationship with his brother, even after what happened.
And let’s be clear, she’s not doing it for Damon. Damon hasn’t really given Stella a reason to root for him or to go out of her way to defend him. No, Stella is doing it for her husband, because she knows how much the relationship he was building with his brother meant to him. And even though she had issues with Damon, she’s willing to put that aside for Kelly.
Kelly listens because no, he isn’t Benny. And he understands that. That’s a big sign of growth for the Kelly Severide we know and love. As he himself said, for a long time, Severide wasn’t just trying not to be Benny, he was trying to prove to others and to himself that he would never turn into Benny. But now he knows he won’t. And the people around him know he won’t. So that’s why Severide can reach out to his brother and be the bigger, better person. For a long time, Stella Kidd was the only person who believed in Kelly Severide. Now, she’s just an angel on his shoulder when he needs it because now Kelly Severide believes in himself.
Talk about a glow-up. And hey, this should go without saying but all of those things just make him a better partner too.
MORE: Is Chicago Fire Season 13 living up to our hopes for the show? Read on for more!
THE PARAMEDIC YOU WANT
Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 4 ‘Through The Skin’ showcases a Violet Mikami who, as we already know, is very good at her job. But above all things, it showcases a Violet who is a good person, and who will always put her patients above everything. Being a paramedic, and in her case, being the PIC (Paramedic In Charge) is clearly a calling, and let no one say that this is just work for Violet Mikami. No, this is what she is. She’s a person who will take that risk if needed, to save a life. And a person who will not regret it, even if it might cost her everything.
The surprising thing about this episode isn’t what Violet does, at all. The surprising thing about this episode is Pascal’s reaction to it. There was a sense, from his very first appearance, that he liked Violet (and Novak) way more than he liked Stella, for example. But it was just that, a sense. This episode pretty much confirms it, because even though he’s harsh on Stella for no good reason after she can’t find a replacement for Damon right again, he goes out of his way to help Violet.
And hey, no complaints here. People should go out of their way to help Violet. But why exactly is Pascal doing it? We don’t get any indications in this episode of the reasoning behind it, but this is TV, which means there’s gotta be a reason. And knowing this show, we’re going to find out sooner rather than later. In the meantime, it’s good that she’s got so many “friends” on her side, isn’t it?
Things I think I think:
- Well, I’ll take a shirtless Carver. No complaints.
- Am I like, supposed to worry about Pascal? Because I won’t.
- Carver, you are being very weird with Violet. Please don’t be so weird.
- Novak saying “We are in this together” KILLED ME.
- Violet, you are a QUEEN.
- KYLIE YES.
- “You’ll work it out, you always do.”
- Everyone helping Cruz is heartwarming.
- I mean, we know the suspension was coming and it still hurt.
- Pascal giving good advice and actually on Violet’s side? I’m shook.
- She went to Goodwin? HELL YES.
- Stella advising Severide to go see his brother is good. I like it when they TALK, which they always do.
- Kylie, will you ever say yes? You’re breaking my heart here.
- Okay, Pascal likes Violet and doesn’t like Stella? Why? Someone explain it to me.
- Tori deserved that one, what can I say?
- OKAY FINE PASCAL, I’LL GIVE YOU A PASS FOR NOW.
- Novak, walk away from Pascal now. Walk away. Slowly. Please.
- “I know I’m not Benny, that’s why I talked to your Chief.” I’M GONNA CRY.
- Ritter on Truck makes sense, actually. And Kylie on Engine makes sense. EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE IN THE WORLD.
- Friends, yeah riiight.
- Violet you should have told him the truth!
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 4 ‘Through The Skin’? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Fire airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
I dont like the new chief and turned it off for that very reason not liking the way the new episodes are going at all
I agree with much of what you have said. Given the number of characters on this show, it can be difficult for everyone to get screen time. Fire usually does a good job of blending the multiple stories it tells into each episode. I like Cruz, Cap & Tony, but I did not like this subplot. As soon as I saw that the seller of the bike was another kid, I knew where this was going. I could have done without it.
I like how they have handled Pascal. They did not try to make him a clone of Boden. He does care about the people under his command like Boden did, but shows it in a different way. It took guts to ask the guy he punched a week ago for a favor. He has Kidd in his cross hairs because between Herman, Severide and Kidd, Kidd was the only one that has been somewhat resistant to the change in leadership. What fascinated me the most in this episode was Chief Robinson. I didn’t think we would see her again. Will we see more of her? Was her praise and support of Violet genuine or did she do it for political reasons? She may not have expected Violet to win and she could have told Commissioner Boden that she supported Violet and took Violet at her word that Novak had nothing to do with the C-section.