Station 19 Review: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (Season 5 Episode 13)
Station 19 Season 5 Episode 13, “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire,” answers some burning questions and leaves others to sizzle beneath the surface.
It reveals Robert and Natasha’s past to inform their present and potential future. Their decades of knowing each other make Robert and Natasha seem like they could be one of Station 19‘s next big couples.
Additionally, their past ties into Robert’s decision to go to Chief Ross about Beckett’s drinking problem, hopefully moving that story forward in definitive ways.
Elsewhere, Travis faces the challenging realization that he may be more like his father than he cares to admit.
This revelatory moment appears to tee up a journey of introspection for Travis.
But, Travis doesn’t immediately share that information with Emmett. That decision lets the potential longevity of their relationship linger between them again — or still.
Plus, “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire” finally puts the custody battle for Pru to rest — at least for now.
A story of this magnitude is never one that should begin and end over a single episode or even two episodes. It’s a delicate situation that deserves attention and time.
Station 19 gives it that from multiple angles throughout multiple episodes. This one alone tackles it from different, necessary perspectives.
Not to mention, it’s an excuse to see Ben Warren and Miranda Bailey on-screen together. They remain one of the best ships on TV!
Most importantly, “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire” gives much-needed context to Dean’s parents’ rash actions regarding the custody battle.
It peels back the curtain to reveal a devastating answer and an ever-important reminder that life is too short and family is important.
In some ways, Ifeya’s health scare initially comes across as a deus ex machina because it swiftly ends an ongoing plot.
But, it speaks to Ifeya and Bill’s past interactions with Ben and Miranda. Plus, it’s a reveal that works in service of another story that creates more questions, which is necessary to advance the season and the characters.
Ben Warren’s career is a viable question of concern, considering the multiple losses the Millers and 19 have faced.
It’s telling that when Miranda asks for Ben’s opinion on the matter, he switches the subject to Miranda and what’s happening on Grey’s Anatomy.
Ben Warren is a good man, and he’s an impulsive man, and sometimes those two things don’t collide in the best ways. Many examples of such live on Grey’s Anatomy, while others happen in the field on Station 19.
Ifeya is right; Ben has a family to consider. Still, it’s challenging to imagine he would ever set his career aside entirely. But maybe he won’t have to if he becomes more considerate of the life-saving rules put in place to protect him and others.
Despite this season hurtling towards its finale, there are plenty of stories left to tell. The episodes keep doing a great job of revealing just enough information to propel the story forward in an enticing way like it does with Ben.
Station 19 still has plenty to uncover with him (and Miranda), as it does with Travis, Robert and Natasha, and Beckett.
Similarly, “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire” answers Maya’s questions about her captaincy and the basically non-existent investigation regarding her demotion. Even then, Station 19 leaves plenty of story for the remainder of the season.
As frustrating as the conclusion is for Maya and those of us rooting for a positive outcome, Chief Ross’s response to Maya’s demotion is reasonable.
In her own way, Ross acknowledges plenty of Maya’s grievances while reinforcing basic guidelines one must follow in the fire department.
Maya’s demotion can be a product of skipping rank to save a life and perhaps unintentionally risking others and a side effect of deep-rooted sexism in a department that needs a serious wake-up call.
There are countless examples on Station 19 when it actively acknowledges how male firefighters get away with bending or breaking the rules. In contrast, female firefighters must rigidly follow them to maintain their positions.
Most recently, Station 19 Season 5 Episode 9, “Started from the Bottom,” tackles this when Ben takes risks to rescue Owen and receives minimal pushback, and Sullivan gets a promotion over Maya.
In reality, every season and every episode of this show addresses that topic and its themes in varying degrees of focus.
It’s important that it continues to do so, and it’s reassuring that Station 19 doesn’t seem to want to stop unpacking the internalized misogyny within the department.
It’s equally reassuring that Station 19 knows Marina has become a healthy, strong couple that can withstand a setback involving Maya’s captaincy. That final (and really only) scene between Maya and Carina could have become something else so easily.
It could have been an argument. It could have felt reminiscent of their tumultuous past. Instead, it highlights their growth through open and honest communication and deep love and support for each other.
It speaks to Maya’s emotional intelligence that she knows she needs to get her anger out before she can show up for Carina. Similarly, it’s fantastic that Carina knows to show up for Maya means to give her space at that moment.
Through it all, there is such a sound belief that they will make it through this — that their eventual family will make it through this. It’s poetic that the same sentiment can extend to the firefighters at the heart of this show. They’ll make it through this.
Stray Thoughts
- Travis’s reactions to Alan and Virginia are hilarious and perfectly in character.
- Vic speaks directly to my soul when she says, “If we don’t get that baby, I’m gonna sue.”
- Emmett is the sweetest, and I don’t want to see him get hurt again.
- Miranda Bailey becomes the MVP of every show she’s on — good for her!
- I definitely teared up when 23 cheered for Andy. It’s what she deserves!
What did you think of this episode of Station 19? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Station 19 airs Thursdays at 8/9c on ABC.
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Shelby Elpers
Shelby is a TV enthusiast and pop culture writer. She's an avid podcast listener, green tea drinker, and soccer fan. Her brand can be summarized in rom-coms, superheroes, teen dramas, and workplace comedies.