Episode 5 of Chicago Fire Season 13, titled “Down the Rabbit Hole,” serves as a reminder that even top-tier shows have weaker episodes. While it’s not a total miss, this installment proves to be one of the least engaging of the season. The primary tension that has been building between characters feels overdrawn, and the developments in this episode push it into frustrating territory, particularly surrounding the Violet Mikami and Sam Carver storyline.
Stellaride’s Dynamic Investigation
A highlight of the episode is the return of Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide as a professional duo. In previous episodes, Severide’s best moments often come during his investigations, and here, both Severide and Kidd are tasked with looking into a series of accidents tied to a questionable trucking company. Stella plays a central role in advancing the case, even convincing a reluctant truck driver, Lisa, to testify against her corrupt boss. While the case is predictable and the outcome expected, the teamwork between Severide and Kidd remains a focal point of interest.
However, despite the appeal of seeing Stellaride work together, this investigation doesn’t offer much in the way of surprises. The trucking company’s villain, Maddox, is immediately pegged as the antagonist, and the episode unfolds with little suspense. The obstacles that Kidd and Severide face—Lisa’s fear of losing her job, bureaucratic roadblocks—are expected, with the most dramatic moment occurring when Lisa’s son is injured. This allows Stella a moment of justified anger, and Chief Dom Pascal even delivers a memorable line about Stella, calling her “a hell of a pain in the ass.” It’s a humorous moment, though accurate, as Stella’s persistence often drives her character forward.
Violet and Carver’s Storyline Stretches Thin
Where the episode falters is in its handling of Violet and Carver. Their romantic entanglement, along with the involvement of Carver’s girlfriend Tori, feels worn out. This episode reveals that Carver finally learns about a text Violet sent him earlier in the season, leading to tension as Carver oscillates between attending Violet’s birthday and dealing with Tori’s manipulations.
Carver’s character is portrayed as indecisive and lacking resolve. Instead of standing up for himself or addressing his feelings for Violet head-on, he retreats into his relationship with Tori, despite her obvious toxic behavior. This backslide is frustrating, especially since Carver had a chance to confront Tori and show growth but instead falls back into the same dynamic. Even worse, the show introduces a new potential love interest for Violet, Flynn, in what feels like an unnecessary love square. This storyline, much like the love triangle from earlier seasons, drags on without adding much depth to either Violet or Carver’s characters.
Humor Saves the Day
One redeeming quality of “Down the Rabbit Hole” is the humor, particularly from David Eigenberg’s character, Christopher Herrmann. Herrmann’s quest to secure better radios for the station is both amusing and heartwarming, with help from new recruit Kylie and advice from Darren Ritter. The comedic timing and interactions between these characters provide some much-needed levity in an otherwise lackluster episode. The subplot involving Pascal, Ritter, and Novak is also a welcome diversion, with Pascal unwittingly becoming the source of some light-hearted moments.
While Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 5 isn’t the series at its best, it still manages to deliver some enjoyable moments. The main plotlines may falter, but the humor and camaraderie between the characters keep things afloat.
