Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 7 Review: Untouchable

Maybe don’t mess with Dom Pascal? 

On Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 7, “Untouchable,” that seems to be the lesson, adding a layer of complexity to his character that I honestly didn’t expect. 

Pascal and Severide work together to help with an investigation of State Police Captain Bishop, a dirty cop who turns out to be responsible for the fire on the previous episode, and who’s been getting away with a lot more than that for a long time.

Watching Severide and Pascal work the investigation together is a bit tired, though it’s nice to see Severide be lauded for arson investigation skills. 

Bishop seems untouchable, and he’s not shy about making threats, either. He even goes so far as to follow Stella to a call and have her give a message to Severide, and he has a photo taken of Severide and Pascal investigating him.

Pascal’s wife reveals a little more detail about their past when Pascal suggests she get out of town for a while. She says it feels like Miami all over again, and all signs point back to this mysterious “Hendricks” person. 

Then, at the end of the episode, a garage fire call brings Firehouse 51 right to Bishop’s door. 

His car is on fire, and once the fire is out, Severide has the opportunity to search the garage openly — and, of course, find evidence that leads to an arrest. 

It’s awfully convenient and a heck of a coincidence that the same MO Bishop used. It’s hard to tell exactly when Severide figures out that Dom was responsible, but when he makes that suggestion, Pascal subtly admits it, saying now their families would be safe. 

Severide seems to respect that, just a little, though he also seems wary. Of course, this conversation happens over cigars, much like Severide and Casey used to do together.

That connection seems promising, and it’s not until we first see them sitting out there together that you realize how much Severide has needed a friend in the firehouse. Not that he doesn’t have them, but he hasn’t had anyone compared to Casey. 

Meanwhile, this episode also puts an end to the Carver drama, at least where Tori is concerned. It’s clear she’s been pulling him back into bad habits, while he’s conflicted between an old life and the new one that’s centered on his career.

Carver realizes his mistakes and tries to make good choices, which is definitely redeeming for him, and he even goes to Stella to tell her he’s serious about the job and won’t be a problem any longer. 

Tori, however, wants Carver to prioritize her, even if it were to mean blowing off a shift altogether. When he refuses, she leaves. 

He looks heartbroken yet a little relieved at the same time. It’s Jake Lockett’s excellent performance there that really shows that nuance. 

The timing of Tori’s exit when it comes to Violet, naturally, is going to be complicated. Violet is just starting to move on, even bringing her new guy out to Molly’s after having opened up to him about Hawkins’ death — or rather, blurting it out. 

I like that complication for the two of them, and more importantly, I think it’s strong writing that Violet’s character remains so affected by what happened with Hawkins. It’s a through-line that hasn’t been forgotten, and it’s entirely realistic that it would affect her dating life in this way. 

This episode also focuses a bit on Mouch’s studying for the lieutenant’s exam. He’s working hard and admits he’s never been good at test taking, and Cruz, sweetly, offers some help.

I’d wondered what that dynamic would be like since Cruz has considered going up for such a promotion as well, but for now, he’s just entirely supportive of Mouch. 

He offers up a study technique he learned about when he was preparing to take the test himself, one that involves intense exercise and ultimately brings in some humor for the hour. 

But when Cruz points out how amazing it would be that Mouch could be the oldest lieutenant in the CFD, Mouch starts to wonder if he should go for it or not.

This all makes for an endearing conversation that allows Cruz to inspire Mouch. He tells him those decades of experience are exactly why he’d made a great lieutenant, and that experience is probably what will help him pass that test. After that conversation, it’s going to be rough on the audience if Mouch doesn’t pass the test. 

Everything is set in motion for more change at the firehouse. I could certainly see Herrmann becoming Captain and Mouch taking his place on engine. Is it possible that could even happen with Pascal still at the firehouse? it seems it could be, and at this point, I’m so invested in Pascal that I do hope he sticks around for a while.

He’s brought a great energy to the firehouse, and his character seems incredibly complex. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, the bond he’s developing with Severide could be a great thing to see continue as well. 

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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