Chicago Fire Review: Whom Shall I Fear? (Season 10 Episode 7)
Mouch says it best when he asks Boden directly: “Doesn’t Kidd seem like the natural replacement for Casey?”
Truthfully, there are several things that don’t make sense on Chicago Fire Season 10 Episode 7, “Whom Shall I Fear?” and this is just one of them.
Whether Stella’s lengthy absence really is just about story or if it has something to do with Miranda Rae Mayo’s availability is beside the point when it comes to this one. Stella should obviously replace Casey, having just recently passed the lieutenant exam and knowing she’d be looking for a place to take on that role.
Yet suddenly, she’s just off for weeks on end working on Girls on Fire. That’s understandable to a point, but would she really not return upon Casey’s departure in hopes of filling that position?
Would Boden really not push for it, especially after how much he’s supported Stella in all of these endeavors? It doesn’t add up, and it feels like a stretch that there’s any question of who would take Casey’s place.
Instead, it would be perfectly fitting to have this floater lieutenant filling in until she returns, but that’s not the story that’s being told.
It is always fun to have someone new come in temporarily to Firehouse 51, though, and Brett Dalton’s Jason Pelham is fun to watch.
He obviously butts heads with Gallo, who needs to calm down if you ask me, and he’s so likable and good at his job that it raises suspicions for Herrmann and Mouch. Plus, it’s a way to pay tribute to Casey, especially since Pelham is quite a contrast.
Casey’s absence also has Brett pining, and I can’t imagine the long-distance relationship is going to make it. We do get to hear how well things are going for Casey and the boys after his move, and the letter is a nice touch.
He even includes a recipe for Gallo, and that’s one of the more emotional moments of the episode. He’s passed the torch, and as much as Chicago Fire has worked on developing mentor relationships and having the original characters become the wise ones to a new group, it’s a sweet detail that suggests Gallo could be the next Matt Casey.
Meanwhile, and more things that don’t really add up, Severide chooses to continue to work with OFI on the ongoing arson investigation, even though he’s not technically needed any longer.
So, what, he can just go do that whenever he wants? And the firehouse is down yet another firefighter? Because if we’re counting, that brings the group down by two for the moment, unless I’ve missed something.
It’s fitting for his character — that we know. But logistically, I have a hard time buying it.
The arson case is also a bit anticlimactic, though it’s interesting and unique compared to other cases we’ve seen on the show before. And Severide is definitely cut out for the work.
What makes this all less fun to watch, really more awkward than anything, is Wendy Seager. It’s a bit over the top the way she makes eyes at a very engaged Kelly Severide, even when he brushes her off. Which, for the record, he does well, unless we’re meant to believe he doesn’t see what the rest of us do.
I would like to see how Severide is coping with things beyond an arson investigation, too. Not only is his best friend gone now, but his fiancé has been traveling for weeks, leaving him with a quiet home for the time being.
There should be interesting stuff going on with his character there. I hope we see that explored soon.
Other thoughts:
- Hey, Atwater! I love a good mini-crossover with Chicago P.D. like this one.
- Violet’s feelings for Gallo causing her literal stomach pain is a fun detail. I’m becoming more invested in the idea of the two of them with every episode.
- I adore the scene with everyone gathering around for corned beef. It’s such a special, telling moment.
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.