Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 19 ‘Permanent Damage‘ does pretty well at managing an hour without Miranda Rae Mayo and with Severide focused on a fire investigation, but it gives us very little in the way of clues as to how the show will end up writing out Carver and Ritter. In fact, the show seems to actually make both characters even more integral to the narrative in this hour, a pretty frustrating thing considering we’re losing both of them at the end of the season.
But in general, also a really frustrating thing considering how well they both work within the context of what this show does. The realities of TV budgets being what they are, it would almost be better if the show had to send someone to a conference every three weeks, or if, hey, here’s an idea, they got rid of the Chief they had now and just let Herrmann take over. That would save some money!
Carver and Ritter feel way more essential than Dom Pascal, and add a lot more to Chicago Fire than the new Chief has. And it is really hard to imagine what the show is going to be next season without them. Sure, we’ll still have Stella and Severide, Herrman and Mouch, and there will be storylines with Violet and Novak, and even Damon, but it’s already clear the two will leave a void that will be very hard to fill. If Chicago Fire works as well as it does right now, it’s because the show has always been able to lean into the idea of family. How long can it continue to do that if we keep losing pieces of that family, little by little?
MORE: Stellaride shined in the crossover! We discuss how here.
EVEN WITHOUT STELLA, THERE’S STELLARIDE
I love when the show manages to make episodes without Stella still be about Stellaride, and Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 19 ‘Permanent Damage’ is a very Stellaride-heavy episode even though Miranda Rae Mayo isn’t in it, because Kelly Severide’s main priority is his wife. And family man Kelly Severide—don’t you just love how far we’ve come?—gets up early, probably makes sure the apartment is clean, checks on his brother in the hospital, goes to work, and makes the day about Stella!
That’s obviously a joke, because it was Natalie who made it about Stella, but Taylor Kinney plays Kelly’s private smiley at every second someone is talking to him about Stella to perfection. And then, of course, the fire investigation bug is awakened, and that’s it. The Natalie thing is suddenly about both I’m and Stella! The couple that is involved in things together, stays together, or something!
In a way, perhaps it’s good that this does not seem to be leading to Kelly and Stella adopting Natalie, because that is a story we’ve seen before, but there is still a way they can both help her. Not exactly in a parental way, but something that sorta reinforces how ready they are to be parents. Because now we look at every interaction they have with a child and go, see… I know you have doubts. I know you think that because your upbringing wasn’t ideal, perhaps you wouldn’t be great at this, but just look at yourself.
Look at how gentle you both are. How much you pay attention. How much you try. That’s not all parenting is, but it’s half the battle, I promise. The rest, when they’re little, is just about keeping them alive.
Things I think I think:
- Good brother, bringing too.
- What do you mean it’s an episode without Stella?
- “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
- I get a Carver and Violet hug just when I’m going to get robbed of them forever, I’m gonna cry in a corner now.
- “Sort of between living situations at the moment.”
- Friends offer to let you crash with them so you don’t have to stay at the firehouse, obvs.
- Have I told you all how much I love how calm and collected Violet is?
- Natalie bonding with Severide too?! Also, him being SO GOOD WITH KIDS TOO.
- Ritter’s “power corrupts.”
- Novak trying to guilt Ritter into being her roommate was kinda funny. Or sad. BECAUSE HE’S LEAVING.
- “Lt. Kidd carried me out.” I’m gonna cry. Big tears.
- Oh, see, now it’s a possible fire investigation, and Kelly sure loves those.
- Aww, he called Adam.
- Look, I appreciate Mouch trying to learn all the things.
- So, Damon’s gonna be fine. No lasting damage. And he and Lizzie are flirting.
- Telling Kelly no never helps.
- Okay, but the whole siblings should look out for each other thing is giving me feels.
- “What would I do without you?” I’M GONNA CRY.
- Why is Novak moving in with Ritter NOW?
- “I thought your job was to help people.” And the picture with Stella?
- SO WEIRD WITH RITTER NOW. SO WEIRD.
- Who knows what Pascal is thinking, indeed.
- Three weeks.
- “Doesn’t feel the same at 51 when you’re gone.” WE KEEP CRYING.
- So, we’re gonna see Danny again.
- I know your tricks, Chicago Fire, no setup means Carver and Ritter, or at least one of them is dead. I KNOW YOUR TRICKS.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 19 ‘Permanent Damage’? 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.
