Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 22 ‘It Had to End This Way‘ is an episode for new beginnings—and some endings that don’t really feel like endings. For Stella and Severide, this is the long-awaited next step. For Carver and Ritter, this is a goodbye that feels very much like a “see you later,” as neither of them really gets a conclusive end to their storylines. And for Herrman and Mouch, it’s the setup for a very different story, one that flips the script for the long-time friends, but that allows them both to continue on in the show in a way that feels interesting, and in many ways, brand new.
On top of that, the episode also focuses on Dom Pascal and, through Severide, gives us a different perspective of the Chief. Pascal was always meant to be a stopgap, or at least, that’s what it feels like. This hour, Severide’s faith and the end result of the Monica business make it clear that Pascal is here to stay. He isn’t Boden. He will never be. But he is the Chief of Firehouse 51 going forward, and whether we like it or not, that doesn’t look like it’s going to change.
MORE: Stellaride shined in the crossover! We discuss how here.
STELLARIDE’S GOT THIS
A few episodes ago, as they were at the brink of adoption, Severide changed his usual pep talk to Stella to “we’ve got this,” to include himself. Because parenthood isn’t a Stella Kidd thing, it’s a Stella and Kelly thing. A journey they have to face together. In Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 22 ‘It Had to End This Way’, it feels like the show is both rewarding the couple and setting up the next stage of their relationship by ending on the reveal that Stella is pregnant.
In a way, it really did have to end this way. Because the season has been about Stella realizing that she did want a family with Kelly, but also that she could do this. She could be a good mom. And Natalie plays into that, even if Stella isn’t her mom. Because Stella helped, like Aunt Laverne helped her. Stella was the friend, the mentor, the supportive adult in her life when she needed it. And sometimes, that can be everything.
And, if Stella Kidd can be that to a girl she isn’t related to, how is she going to be as a mother? How is Kelly going to be as a father? They both surely had doubts, deep down. It’s impossible not to considering their upbringing. But they spent the season proving to themselves and to each other that they indeed got this. And that means that the moment of revelation is nothing but joy.
Going forward, this is now about how this changes them as a couple. What it means to have a family and do a job as dangerous as they do. How do you deal with that doubt and that fear? What happens when one of them needs to step back for a little bit? All of those are new stories, and we cannot wait to see how the show deals with them. How Kelly and Stella deal with them. The future has never been brighter for Stellaride, and that means all is pretty okay in Chicago Fire land.
MORE: If you missed this year’s One Chicago crossover, here’s our review.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 22 ‘It Had to End This Way’ leaves Ritter’s storyline incredibly open-ended—why would he even leave?—and worse, takes Carver’s storyline to a point where we can’t imagine this might be the last we’ve seen of him. Fortunately, showrunner Andrea Newman confirmed both might come back this season, but right now, just the thought that this could be the last we see of either of them feels devastating.
This is especially true of Carver, who ends the season telling Violet that he loves her and kissing her. It’s literally what fans have been waiting for, and yet it feels incredibly bittersweet because we won’t get to see this relationship develop, either way. We saw them get here, and the moment feels very much earned. But we won’t see them continue—even if Lockett is back next season. Or at least, we won’t really see their story develop in front of us.
We understand the realities of TV budgets, we do. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t really suck when they affect the stories we’ve invested in to such a degree. There are, of course, ways to at least keep Carver involved in the story next year, so we don’t feel like all the time we invested in Violet and Carver was for nothing. That might be what we get. For now, we’re going to mourn what we could have had for a bit, and hope that since the show chose to give us a payoff at the end of the season, it can find a way to do justice to the story it wanted to tell going forward.
MORE: How did the show do on the list of things we wanted to see in Chicago Fire Season 13?
A SACRIFICE
Herrmann’s decision in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 22 ‘It Had to End This Way’ is anything but a surprise. In fact, like the Stellaride baby thing, it almost feels like the name of the episode really fits this storyline, too. Because, in truth, how else was it going to end? We’d seen it coming for a while. It’s not that Herrmann couldn’t be Chief. It’s not even that he’d be bad at it. It’s that he didn’t want to be. It’s not the thing that would make him happiest. And, at some point, we all gotta choose that.
Interestingly, of course, it’s not that Herrmann can just choose to stay in his position, not go for the Chief. Because another thing Herrmann cares about is his best friend, Mouch. So let us not equivocate, what Herrmann does is a sacrifice. It’s a sign of his love for Mouch. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a part of it that’s for him. Because he didn’t want Boden’s job, and he’s fine with Pascal having it.
The sacrifice isn’t just metaphorical, either. It’s practical. There’s a pay bump that’s going to disappear with Herrmann back to regular firefighter. What that means for him going forward, and for Molly’s, we’re going to find out. And, how is Mouch going to feel when he realizes that Herrmann gave up for him is more than a title? Interesting dynamics to play going forward, and a really good solution for now that keeps both in the show and doesn’t feel like it comes out of nowhere.
Things I think I think:
- Everything in this episode made me go wait, what? So I don’t have many notes this time.
- Other than, as much as I love the Stella and Kelly… my favorite thing, always, I adored the Herrmann and Mouch storyline too. Chicago Fire is always best when it feels like family, and they gave me that, too.
- Also, justice for Violet and Carver, truly.
- The little moment before Severide lets himself believe it about the baby? Priceless.
- They’re gonna get to use all the stuff everyone got just a few episodes ago!!
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 22 ‘It Had to End This Way’? 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.
