Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 15 ‘Too Close’ is an episode about family, and what that means. One Chicago has always leaned on the found family aspect, but this hour is about how choosing to love is something you also do with the people who are related to you—and your significant other. But it’s also an episode about loss, and about where that might lead you.
It’s setup, of course. For Pascal. And Stellaride. For Herrman and for Mouch. Even for Violet and Carver, who isn’t around. A lot more is coming, and we are just starting to see the full picture of where Season 13 is going. Some of it works. The rest we’re still not sure about.
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TOO CLOSE
Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 15 ‘Too Close’ is the definition of just that. Too close. The hour first puts Damon in danger and then lets him off the hook, then it puts Stella in danger and lets her off the hook and then keeps building and building on the worry so by the time it reaches the end, you’re feeling like your heart is pounding really hard because you just don’t want anything to happen to any of these characters.
But in the end, it could only be one person. We knew it since we first watched the trailer. We knew it since we saw her at the beginning of the episode. And when we finally get to the devastating moment when we find Monica Pascal hurt, the rest just clicks into place. We’re going to lose her. And the reason we are is because we can’t lose Stella. Because the show doesn’t want to lose the possibility of Damon. And because this is still a procedural, and every once in a while, Chicago Fire wants to hurt us.
Does it work? Debatable. It’s both sad and infuriating because we barely knew Monica Pascal, just as we barely know Dom Pascal. What’s her story? It’s hard to tell, and without that information, it’s hard to fully mourn her as something other than an idea. And sure, we can mourn an idea—and let me be honest, I’d take that over mourning a character we are actually attached to, but we can’t really mourn her as the show might want us to. Just as we can’t really get invested in Pascal’s future spiral. For that, we’d need to care about him. And we’re not there yet, either.
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FAMILY IS FAMILY IS FAMILY
Often the show focuses on the found family aspect, but in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 15 ‘Too Close’ the focus is on the relationship between Severide and Damon, who are actually related by blood. It’s a good decision, mostly because it would have felt disingenuous to introduce Damon as Severide’s brother, have him be another firefighter on a firehouse in Chicago, and then make it so the two never interacted or they never mentioned each other.
And sure, they had some issues when Damon was at 51, and Severide made the right choice for himself and for Damon to make it so he wasn’t at Firehouse 51 anymore. But the thing is, Damon is still Severide’s brother. Benny’s kid. That’s always gonna be something some people are going to resent. He can’t help that. All he can do is be himself and be the best firefighter he can be.
Well, he can lean on his brother when he needs him to, as he does in this episode. And no, he doesn’t have to do what Severide says. He’s an adult, who can make his own decisions, for better or worse. But it’s always good to have a big brother to bounce decisions off. A big brother who will try to fight for you, even when you don’t need him to.
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Things I think I think:
- Look, I saw Monica Pascal and got worried. Not gonna lie.
- What are you wearing, Stella? LOL
- It’s kinda cute to see Kelly and Stella so nervous.
- Ok, look, I’m gonna be honest… I wasn’t sure after he left if I was gonna be glad to see Damon again, but I am.
- That was way too close, Damon. But big bro got your back.
- Okay, so Carver went to rehab? Good.
- Supportive Violet is my favorite Violet.
- I can’t imagine 51 without Mouch. Truly cannot.
- He went to big bro for advice I’ve got FEELINGS.
- Violet sure has her partner’s number.
- The way Stella and Kelly LOOK AT EACH OTHER is goals. I think sometimes people think the quiet, certain kind of love isn’t as romantic or exciting, but it’s actually the type of love you dream of, in the long run. The one that doesn’t disappoint. The one that you can trust.
- Herrmann and Cruz gave me a level of second-hand embarrassment I don’t know I’ve ever experienced on this show.
- Damon asking about the adoption agency gave me feelings.
- But ofc that dude was gonna cause trouble.
- I don’t know if Pascal is wrong about Herrmann, though.
- Yeah, would Pascal go for that?
- Anyway, have I mentioned I love episodes when Kelly and Stella just talk things through?
- THEY GOT APPROVED!
- Now it’s all gonna go to hell.
- Stella, don’t jump in front of cars, please.
- Man, it kinda hurts and also it’s kinda infuriating at the same time. Another woman dead so we can watch Pascal’s manpain? Been there, done that.
Are you excited for Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 15 ‘Too Close’? 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.
