Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 8 ‘A Man Possessed’ is mostly a Kelly Severide episode, and one that gives Taylor Kinney a chance to do something other than be the usual stoic, composed Kelly Severide. It’s not that we have not seen this character break before; it’s that when we do get it, it’s usually with Stella. Here, Kelly gets to be emotional, sometimes irrational, and Kinney gets to flex some acting chops.
Because Kelly Severide is a really good character, and Kinney understands who he is inside and out, this is a more than satisfactory hour, even if it ends without any actual resolution. That will surely come later. For now, ‘A Man Possessed’ is about what makes Kelly Severide tick, who he considers family, and what he would do for the people he cares about.
And we already know that the answer to that is anything and everything. What we perhaps didn’t understand before is to what extent that included Tom Van Meter.
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FAMILY
Every once in a while, Chicago Fire hits us with how well this group—new faces and all—works as a family. This is the case in this episode, when we see everyone show up for Severide and Captain Van Meter, when we see not just Stella, but Isaiah, not hesitate to return because Kelly needs them. And ironically, this is one of the first few episodes when we really see that applied outside of just Firehouse 51.
Because yes, 51 shows up. Kelly’s wife, the family he chose, shows up. And then he opens his arms and draws Isaiah into the mix. And it’s clear that, no matter what happens with Isaiah next, he is family. He will always be. And though that doesn’t fix the loss Kelly and Stella have suffered, Isaiah can still be someone they genuinely love and want to be part of their family, in whatever way he can be.
Ironically, this episode proves that so is Van Meter. He and Severide have always been friendly, but perhaps not “buddy buddy” in a way that’s too obvious, but this hour makes it clear that Tom Van Meter has become not just a mentor to Severide, but as close to a father figure as he’s got. And let’s remember he doesn’t exactly have a good track record with those.
So to have Van Meter care, to have him be there to support Severide, to listen, to teach… It’s meant a lot to him. And now, he just can’t process that he could possibly lose Van Meter without being able to put into words how much all of those things have meant to him. So if Severide isn’t exactly seeing straight at the end of the episode, who can blame him? Isaiah clearly doesn’t.
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I WILL NOT GO QUIET
The B storyline this hour concerns Mouch and the decision to cut Engine 51. Pascal spends the entire episode trying to get someone, anyone, to reverse course, only to figure out at the end that it wasn’t a CFD decision. Instead, his new love interest, Annette Davis, is behind it all. It’s all part of a ploy to…eh, get Pascal on her side by taking away something he loves so they can then do great things together? Unclear how that works other than, you know, it doesn’t!
It’s not a surprising storyline. Ever since budget cuts were introduced as a storyline possibility, I had a feeling Mouch or Herrmann would be on the chopping block, and after they burned down his entire house, I figured it would be Mouch. It would just be adding insult to injury to do this to Herrman now. But Mouch is also one of those characters it’s hard to root against, and perhaps that’s the point.
We all want this to work out, somehow. Pascal included. Whether that will require him to dance (or sleep) with the devil, remains unclear. But hey, at least we get to enjoy Annabeth Gish for a while longer, even if her plans make absolutely no sense.
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Things I think I think:
- I don’t know about this teacher; he looks like someone I wouldn’t like either.
- But like, not enough to set him on fire!
- “If I thought a phone call would have stopped it, I would’ve already made it.”
- Vasquez and Violet? Truly? Like, seriously?
- I was so scared we wouldn’t see Stella this episode, so yay Stella.
- The one time I’m like, okay, good that you didn’t answer, Kelly.
- Rappel down?!
- At least Van Meter knows what he’s doing.
- Burden an entire building for this teacher! Are you telling me no one else lived there?
- Kelly almost didn’t get out. Like, he almost didn’t get out. I’m pretty sure he won’t tell anyone how close that was.
- Because Van Meter is doing badly.
- The way he said “Tom.” Like, I’d forgotten the man’s name was Tom!
- Also, he called Stella before he even got into the ambulance, good man.
- Isaiah is just packing, no questions asked. I’m emotional.
- Oh, Archer! So good to see a familiar face.
- I truly didn’t think Van Meter could be this hurt.
- It’s nice that everyone just went to the hospital.
- Stellaaaaaa my love. And Isaiah getting in on the hug!
- Violet and Lizzie are very casually talking about Vasquez as if it’s all fine, and I think the show is just faking me out. Someone’s gonna be upset soon.
- Glad you told Mouch, Pascal.
- A medically induced coma?
- I like this version of Pascal trying to play dirty, not gonna lie.
- I’m fine is not an answer to “when’s the last time you slept?”
- Is Vasquez also flirting with Lizzie? I’m so confused.
- Herrman helping!
- Severide, might I remind you that you’re hurt?
- “He’s gonna get the guy who hurt Captain Van Meter. He can’t take breaks.”
- I CRY.
- Everyone was already in the Zoom waiting, yeah, right.
- Novak is seeing right through Violet about Vasquez, and I’m gonna be mad if this man ends up coming between them, even if I like him more now.
- “Consider what we could do for the city, together.”
- Okay, but what? Could I have like a breakdown? A list? I don’t get how he helps you. Why do you need him? What makes him so interesting?
- “But not at the expense of my people.”
- Already over Vasquez and Violet.
- Of course you’re off the case, Severide. And of course you’re not gonna listen.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 8 ‘A Man Possessed’? 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.
