Wednesday’s episode of Chicago Fire brought some major shifts to Firehouse 51, especially with its Truck and Engine teams. Herrmann stepped up with a creative solution to address Truck 81’s lineup issues after Damon’s departure, which brought about unexpected changes.
Ritter Joins Truck 81
Stella Kidd, faced with filling the open position on Truck 81, initially turns to Kylie, her top choice. However, Kylie declines the offer, citing that she wants to grow outside of Stella’s shadow. With Chief Pascal pressuring her to make a permanent decision and stop relying on temporary floaters, Stella feels the heat to find a solution.
Luckily, Herrmann steps in with a suggestion. He proposes that Ritter, who has been wanting a spot on Truck since filling in for Mouch, would be the perfect fit. This solves Stella’s dilemma, and Herrmann is fine with losing Ritter from Engine because he has the perfect replacement in mind: Kylie! This time, Kylie agrees to the new role, happy to join Engine and chart her own path.
Violet Faces Suspension After Risky Procedure
Meanwhile, Violet finds herself in serious trouble after performing an emergency C-section on a patient in the field, well beyond the scope of a paramedic’s duties. As a result, her medical license is suspended, and she is assigned desk duty. Though Violet tries to protect Novak’s career by insisting she acted alone, Chief Pascal advises her to find a medical advocate to help her case with the Illinois Medical Board.
Violet turns to Sharon Goodwin from Chicago Med for help, but Goodwin points out that the doctors on the board are unlikely to support a paramedic who overstepped their role. Instead, Goodwin suggests finding someone with political clout.
Political Power Saves the Day
After relaying the bad news to Chief Pascal, he turns to Lieutenant Vale for help. Although Vale is initially skeptical, Pascal manages to convince him to use his connections. At Violet’s hearing, Vale shows up with a politically influential alderman, and with additional support from Paramedic Field Chief Robinson, Violet’s case takes a positive turn.
The alderman threatens to publicly expose the names of the doctors on the board, which, combined with the presence of the baby’s family at the hearing, pushes the board to reinstate Violet’s license. Chief Pascal is praised for his efforts, with Novak even telling him that by saving Violet’s job, he saved countless lives. Violet, relieved and thankful, also mends her strained relationship with Carver, and they agree to be friends, with Violet encouraging Carver to find happiness.
Severide and Damon Make Amends
In a surprising turn of events, Severide’s conflict with Damon doesn’t end in revenge. Instead, Severide chooses a more thoughtful approach, putting in a good word for Damon at his new firehouse. When Damon questions why, given their rocky history, Severide takes him to see Benny Severide’s plaque of valor. He explains that Benny was a great firefighter, but it came at the expense of everything else in his life. Severide admits he used to be the same way but assures Damon that he’s not going anywhere now, signaling personal growth and reconciliation.
The episode ends with new dynamics in place, setting the stage for the upcoming challenges and relationships within Firehouse 51. Fans will be eager to see how the new team gels and what lies ahead for Violet and her colleagues.
