Chicago Fire Review: The Plunge (Season 7 Episode 13)
Christopher Herrmann may just be the most underrated character on Chicago Fire.
Chicago Fire Season 7 Episode 13, “The Plunge,” gives the character a chance to explore some new emotions after he pulls a teenager out of a car that was wrecked thanks to the teen stupidly following behind the fire truck.
The incident hits Herrmann on a personal level because of his own son. At the beginning of the episode, Herrmann is lamenting college choices for his son, already hinting at his natural fears of his child growing up and moving on without him.
The way Herrmann lashes out at his family is more understandable to the audience than it is to his wife and son at first. We’re able to connect the dots, and we know that watching another teenager’s near-death experience has Herrmann on edge because it feels so close to home.
It’s powerful stuff as it is, but David Eigenberg shows a range of emotions with his character, and his remarkable performance only makes me wish we had more episodes that focused on Herrmann in this way.
Foster also has a chance to shine. I’ve liked Emily since her first episode on the show, but she continues to win me over. Her stalker doctor crosses *several* lines.
I have to say, it’s not where I expected this to go. The doctor goes after Foster’s job first and foremost, using power to his advantage and then offering her a way out — he can help her. It’s awful and hard to watch because it’s so very relevant.
Emily’s reaction to him is perfect, though. She calls him out in front of a crowd in a moment that feels really empowering.
Emily: Every woman in this department deserves to know exactly what kind of man they’re working with.
She walks out, and he follows, but it’s in that moment that backup arrives. Her firehouse family is there to have her back, and Boden even states he knows she can handle herself, but that they all want to be there for her anyway.
It’s the best moment of the entire episode. The found family aspect of this show is always, always its strongest element.
Another significant plot point revolves around Casey and Severide, who, now living together, plan a much-needed guys night out. It feels fitting to an extent, but also a little forced.
I like the idea of these two friends reconnecting, and I even like the idea of them going out together, but the way it ends puts Severide back into his old habits and leaves Casey in a space that’s out of his element.
Neither character feels fleshed out in these moments, and I don’t necessarily believe either of their motivations. I could, I think, if we were spending more time with each of them. But the way we’re rushing past all of this is, quite frankly, pretty disappointing.
The episode does end on a nice note, with Emily deciding to join her firehouse family in the plunge after all. It’s sweet and endearing, and it’s nice to see everyone together having fun.
What did you think of this episode of Chicago Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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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.