Chicago Fire Review: Inside These Walls (Season 7 Episode 10)
I really love you, Chicago Fire, but sometimes I just really want you to slow down.
Chicago Fire Season 7 Episode 10, “Inside These Walls,” has a lot of great things going for it, with Casey’s story being the highlight. At the same time, much of the emotion involved in that life-altering incident feels just a little too rushed.
We do spend a lot of focus on Casey, and everything that happens is fitting for his character. The way he busts himself and Naomi out of his apartment is brilliant.
Who knows what would have happened had this been someone who wasn’t a firefighter? It’s a fantastic scene.
He then takes the time to get others out of the building, his leadership and firefighter skills kicking in on instinct.
We see his temper too, followed by a full-on determination to take down who he knows is responsible for the arson. It’s all very satisfying to watch.
Jesse Spencer does a phenomenal job with showing emotion, and I think a little shock, too. His reaction to finding out Herrmann passed the boot, and then to Kelly offering up his home, are both really powerful moments.
There’s also a brief chance to see him grieve in his apartment, looking at the devastation and dusting off an old photo of him and Gabby.
Then Naomi walks in, and Matt realizes she’s leaving. It’s a relief as a viewer, well, for me anyway, to see that things with her won’t be getting serious.
I do like her character, but the timing never felt right for this. For her to leave suddenly instead offers up some interesting possibilities for his character.
The fire certainly does feel symbolic, even more so now. Casey has to start over now with what is ultimately a clean slate. I’m excited that he’ll be doing that while living with Severide, who is now… single.
Ugh, the frustration! I’m conflicted about how I feel over everything with Stella and Severide at this point. The struggles they’ve had up until now have felt largely forced and mostly unpleasant to watch.
But for Stella to stand up for herself the way she does, break up with him regardless of admitting she loves him, is an incredible moment for her. As much as I’d have liked to see the two of them just be a happy couple for a bit, it’s a highlight the way she breaks things off.
Stella: I have been the lifeline for a drowning man, and I will never do that again.
This is even more loss for Kelly, who also is involved in a new project that feels problematic for a reason I can’t yet put my finger on.
Working on this boat would seem simple enough, but there is absolutely something happening with the guy he’s doing it for. I’m expecting trouble to come out of it sometime soon.
What did you think of this episode of Chicago Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.