Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 8 Review: All the Dark

Boden breaks the chain of command on Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 8, “All the Dark.”

Any time Boden gets to shine is a good thing, and I like seeing this side of him. When he finds out what kind of nastiness Chief Robinson is actually up to, he confronts her in a way that proves he’s the better person — and the better leader.

Of course, this was all about a political maneuver. It makes perfect sense. But what Robinson didn’t know about Boden is that he doesn’t want that new position. He’s happy where he is, and the fact that he gets to remain at 51 in the first place was a stretch. 

He also offers to give her his support for the position if she drops the charges, and the case he makes for this is a strong one. 

But when she doesn’t budge, he takes a risk to go straight to DC Hill. 

Hill, by the way, has a real attitude problem about the whole thing that seems unwarranted. Luckily, she takes what he has to say to heart anyway. 

Hopefully, DC Hill’s decision to drop the charges and remove Robinson from that shortlist will be enough to keep Robinson from coming around again. She’s such a caricature of a villain that she’s difficult to watch, and it’s getting old fast.

Her smug comments to Boden at the end of the episode, however, suggest this won’t be the last we’ll see of her.

Lennox is a bit much, too, but he at least shows some complexity and vulnerability. He actually asks Violet to break protocol and let him drive when he’s afraid of a patient, and when Violet points out the hypocrisy, he seems to get it.

He also shows genuine fear at the thought of riding in the back with that guy, and Violet, being the kind of first responder that she is, gives in and breaks protocol because it’s the right thing to do. Even for Lennox.

As redundant as the whole, “somebody is out to get Firehouse 51” and “can’t trust the new guy” storyline is — we’ve seen this type of thing on Chicago Fire more times than I can count — it does give the opportunity for Violet to stand out. And boy, does she.

She’s already killing it as PIC, and to do so under these circumstances is a great way to see her shine. Whether he’d want to admit it or not, Lennox got a real lesson from her in dealing with an agitated patient, among other things.

It is perhaps too convenient that Boden is able just to let Lennox go, saying he’s not a good fit for 51, yet he couldn’t have a say in who the new person was going to be, to begin with. It’s too easy of a fix that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you think about it very hard. 

At the same time, I’m glad the show isn’t dragging this out too far. 

Meanwhile, Stella and Carver become worried about their former teacher at the academy, Charlie, when they run into him on a call at a dialysis center. 

It’s a hazmat call that’s resolved fairly quickly thanks to Severide and Cruz working together (which I love, for the record). When it’s over, Stella and Carver become worried when they can’t find Charlie.

It’s a good thing they check on him when they do because he’s passed out and bleeding on the floor at his home. This gives Carver a reason to bust in the door, and the audience a reason to love Carver just a little more, if you ask me. 

There’s a nice little crossover with Dr. Marcel from Chicago Med, who determines that Charlie was misdiagnosed with kidney issues — and perhaps that it was done on purpose.

Leave it to Stella to start investigating and figure out just how bad this doctor is. Once again, we have firefighters doing things that are entirely beyond their job descriptions, which is expected at this point. And this story, on its own, is entertaining. 

That said, it’s become tiresome to watch stories like this so often. Even though the circumstances change, it’s the same basic plotline just being recycled time and again. 

The way this particular one is resolved is special, though. Stella enlists the help of Severide and his connections at OFI as a way to take down the doctor and his dialysis center.

It’s satisfying to see them bust in together and start pointing out violations, and maybe even more satisfying to see the look on Charlie’s face as they do. 

Other thoughts:

• The chemistry between Violet and Carver remains palpable, and it works well that Violet’s grief over Hawkins remains very much a part of the story.
• With Gibson’s addiction storyline, Stella beats herself up for not noticing, and it leaves an opportunity for Severide to remind the audience of his own issues with addiction. It’s a nice callback.
• For a little extra fun, the rest of the firefighters are pranking each other, and Herrmann gets blasted with glitter from his car’s AC. His reaction, which is all in good humor, is the best part.

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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