Kidd & Severide Begin a New Chapter
The episode picks up after Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) lost their baby in the premiere. The grief is still fresh, but hope flickers when the adoption agency contacts them about fostering a teenager named Isaiah.
Isaiah’s mother is sick, and he needs a safe home. While Kidd hesitates, Severide’s optimism wins out — though connecting with Isaiah proves difficult. By the end of the episode, Severide gently breaks through Isaiah’s guarded exterior by bonding over a video game, hinting at a fragile but hopeful beginning for their new family dynamic.
Vasquez’s Reckless Heroics and Troubled Past
New recruit Sal Vasquez (Carlos Leal) makes a chaotic debut at Firehouse 51. His inability to follow orders and his impulsive approach during a junkyard fire push Kidd’s patience to its limit.
Though his risky move saves lives, his behavior raises red flags. When Kidd assigns him to file an incident report, Vasquez takes it as punishment. His defensiveness finally makes sense later when he receives a phone call — and greets the person with a quiet, “Hey, Dad.”
The call reveals Vasquez’s father is incarcerated, shedding light on the firefighter’s need to prove himself and the deep emotional turmoil driving his recklessness.
Violet and Novak’s Mysterious Case
Meanwhile, paramedics Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) and Lyla Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) respond to a strange call involving a woman named Laura, who claims she stabbed herself while cutting a frozen chicken. Violet suspects something darker, and her instincts prove right when they later discover Laura’s brother Carl with a similar wound.
It’s soon revealed that Carl, who is mentally ill, accidentally stabbed Laura. The heartbreaking moment underscores the quiet compassion that Chicago Fire often injects into its emergency calls.
Ritter’s Emotional Farewell
The episode also sets up Darren Ritter’s (Daniel Kyri) exit. Still grappling with guilt over his boyfriend Dwayne’s shooting, Ritter decides to fly to New York after encouragement from Violet.
His final moments at Firehouse 51 are understated but powerful — a heartfelt goodbye filled with love, regret, and hope for a second chance.
Final Thoughts
“Primary Search” is classic Chicago Fire: a balance of emotional depth, adrenaline-fueled rescues, and deeply human storytelling. Kidd and Severide’s foster journey offers healing after heartbreak, Vasquez emerges as a complex new addition, and Ritter’s goodbye marks the end of an era for fans who’ve watched him grow since Season 7.
