Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 17 Review: Is a Mysterious Teen About to Change Everything?

Is Chicago Fire about to deliver one of its most unique storylines yet, or is it heading down a path that’s all too familiar? Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 17, “A Beast Like This,” sets the stage for both when a teenage girl named Natalie approaches Stella, eager to join Girls on Fire.

Natalie, age 13, is a bit too young for the program but insists she’s tough enough. She also knows a lot about Stella’s background, and there’s something mysterious about her right off the bat.

Stella is intrigued by her and offers her a way to participate, partly, but Natalie quickly breaks Stella’s trust by sneaking away to smoke. Then, when she doesn’t show up again for the next lesson, Stella goes looking for her at the address given on her application, only to find a torn-down building. 

If you watch a lot of TV, you can probably guess where this storyline is headed even before learning more about Natalie. This troubled teen shows up just as Stella and Kelly are in the process of trying to adopt. Yes, they’re hoping for a baby, but in TV land, hopeful adoptive parents often end up with an older child who needs a home.

This also feels reminiscent of Joe’s storyline with Javi, so if that’s where all of this is headed, I’m worried about how predictable it might feel. But, there’s also a possibility for something entirely unique.

What Stella discovers at the end of the episode is that when Natalie was four years old, Stella was part of the crew that rescued her and her family from a fire. This could take the story in an unexpected direction and has the potential, even, to give us more of Stella’s backstory, which would be great to see.

Meanwhile, Violet notices a pattern between two unusual calls, both involving healthy men from the same gym, and takes it upon herself to investigate.

It’s satisfying to see her be correct about this, and even more so for her and Novak to show up with cops behind them to bust the trainer who’s been selling dangerous steroids. 

On the personal side, Violet seems increasingly uninterested in Finn, and a text from Carver that he’ll be back for the next shift suggests that we won’t be seeing Finn for much longer. (Also, thank goodness Carver is returning soon!)

As for Novak and Damon, they call things quits just as fast as they started since Damon is now a permanent fixture at 51.

Based on both of their personalities, I wouldn’t be surprised if it sticks, and it would certainly be a refreshing change for Chicago Fire to let a romance end without teasing another will-they-won’t-they dynamic.

Overall, this is a bit of a quiet episode that does more to set up what’s coming in the future than anything else. But hey, quiet is good sometimes. 

Other thoughts:

• I enjoy seeing Novak and Pascal continue to bond, as well as Pascal’s honesty that perhaps he did return to work too soon.
• Damon’s hesitation at the firehouse, along with his offer to pay for something he broke, highlights how much he’s changed since we first met him. The way Herrmann responds to all of this and assures Damon that this is home now is also really endearing.
• And in two weeks, Wallace Boden is back! If you’re like me, you’re counting down the days.

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Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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