Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 13 ‘Born of Fire‘ is a surprisingly poignant episode, elevated by the great performances of Jake Lockett and Miranda Rae Mayo, in two very different storylines that in the end, are about the same thing: new beginnings.
For Jake Lockett’s Sam Carver, it’s a new beginning for himself, a decision to finally take charge of who he is. For Miranda Rae Mayo’s Stella Kidd, it’s about letting yourself want things and taking that next step into the life you want. And for both, it’s about realizing that they don’t have to do either of these things alone. If we’ve learned anything from this show it’s that, at Firehouse 51, you never do.
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STELLARIDE
Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 13 ‘Born of Fire’ makes Stellaride—the name—canon, and also solidifies the parenthood storyline by having Stella tell Violet about it pretty much right away. While it remained between Kelly and Stella, it was an idea. Now that it’s out there, it’s a reality, one they’re working towards. And that the show is giving us Stella talking to her friend about it is a really good sign of where the storyline is going. It’s also a really good sign for a show that hasn’t always known what to do with its female friendships.
But it’s especially great for Stellaride, as the smile on Kelly’s face when Stella tells him that she talked to Violet about it proves. Stella tries to inject some realism into it all, by making sure Kelly knows she just told Violet they’d started talking about it, but if Kelly’s smile when she first brought it up is any indication, he doesn’t need that. He’s excited.
And Stella is excited too, it’s just that she seems to believe she’s gotta keep the excitement on the down low. Perhaps, it’s a way of protecting herself. If you act like you don’t want something too bad, then it won’t matter if you can’t get it right away. But Stella does want this. And now that she’s let herself want it, she’s realizing she wants it bad. Now all she needs is to allow herself to truly own that.
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SAM CARVER
Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 13 ‘Born of Fire’ feels like the first time we really see Sam Carver. It isn’t, he’s been around for a while, but perhaps the Carver we knew before was just the mask he put on. This is the real Carver, vulnerable, scared, determined, and strong—even if he wouldn’t describe himself that way. And it’s truly a pleasure to meet him.
Of course, this is just the first step. This journey has a lot of steps, and sometimes you take a few steps back before you can take another step forward. And despite Carver thinking he can do it alone, sometimes “it takes a village.” Part of it is communication, and even though Carver is kind of forced into it this hour, the fact that someone else knows what he’s going through, what he’s struggling with, cannot be anything but a good thing.
No man is an island, and when you do the job Carver does every day—and when your Captain is Stella Kidd, this is especially true. And sure, this was a very… what’s the word?… bumpy beginning to Carver’s sobriety journey. But he took that first step. That’s important. And now he doesn’t have to take the next steps alone.
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Things I think I think:
- “I’m Sam, and I’m an alcoholic.”
- We’re supposed to be liking Violet with her new beau and rooting for them and not just counting the days until she and Carver get back together, right?
- We’ve gotten so much Violet and Stella this season, I need to thank some higher power. That higher power might be in the writer’s room.
- “A Stellaride baby.”
- “You know that’s what we all call you two.”
- Kelly’s SMILE when Stella told him that she shared the adoption idea with Violet.
- “Did you know that they call us Stellaride?”/”Who’s they?”
- Someone hug Carver. I can be me. I volunteer as tribute.
- Lennox is better than Emma, what can I say?
- Where’s Ritter?
- Carver’s new friend clocked him right away. And also gave very good advice.
- Severide asking Cruz to do the rope course is kinda hilarious.
- I like Severide being a little protective of Violet, I do.
- Even Pascal thinks Cruz’s idea is bad.
- Cap calling out Cruz on “internalized misogyny” was perfect.
- The fear I felt that Carver had already fallen off the wagon when Stella had to show up at the precinct.
- Lee giving red flags so big the entire screen is red.
- Mouch is a good friend to check with Herrmann.
- Imagine that, the lesson here is you should have talked to the hot girl first, Carver.
- Carver getting there in the nick of time was such a hero move.
- “I think you might have lost your mind.”
- HA, it was Pascal’s idea?
- Imagine that, Cruz was right.
- Brett recommended an agency to Kelly and Stella.
- “Want to call them tomorrow?”
- Imagine that, Lennox wasn’t wrong.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 13 ‘Born of Fire’? Share with us in the comments below! And if you have your own opinion on the show, leave a review/rating on our Chicago Fire hub!
Chicago Fire airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
I agree 100 % . To many people are reading into the adoprion saying Kelly is not happy, wrong. He is so very happy, he just knows his queen needs time and he will do whatever his love needs. They are so in ❤️
His SMILE almost lit up the room! Man is thrilled.
Can Someone tell me the name of the actor that was on today’s episode?
Please and thank you
Good evening can someone tell me the name of the actor that came out today in Chicago Fire? thank you so much