Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 19 Review: Permanent Damage

Violet and Carver reconnect on Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 19, “Permanent Damage,” but the walls are still up. Carver returned on the previous episode, but it isn’t until this one that we really get to enjoy his return.

Sadly, we can’t get used to it, since it’s been announced that Jake Lockett, as well as Daniel Kyri, will be exiting the show after this season.

For now, though, it’s nice to see Violet and Carver together, even if that reunion comes with the added drama of having a gun pulled on them.

Carver helps Violet in her mission to find out what medic left a patient to die after botching a procedure. It’s a friendly assist that also comes from a place of protection, and in the process, he marvels at how passionate Violet can be when she sees a problem that needs a solution. 

It’s a nice interaction; plus, the entire episode sees Violet taking charge and shows how far her character has come. 

The storyline itself also gives her a reason to bring up the paramedicine program, which, with any luck, we’ll see continue. It’s a good callback either way.

Meanwhile, Natalie returns to the firehouse looking for Stella, but winds up talking with Severide instead. Stella is out of town, and Natalie tells Severide about the fire from when she was young. Being forthright now seems like a good thing, but Natalie is clearly still hiding something. 

She tells Severide she thinks her sister was the reason for the fire, so of course, Severide investigates. What he finds out, though, is that the fire really does appear to have been accidental. There’s clearly more to the story here, and it feels ominous. 

Severide’s focus is also on Damon on this episode, who is still waiting on more results in the hospital at the beginning of the episode. It’s nice to see Severide and Damon’s bond growing here, with Severide also in the position of a mentor. 

Fortunately, Damon finds out his injuries aren’t permanent. He’ll need some physical therapy, but he’s expected to make a full recovery.

There is also the continued hint that Herrmann isn’t sure he wants to be promoted to Chief. Mouch finds out that the chief’s test is in just three weeks, and while he’s thrilled this means their plan — Herrmann moving up to Chief and taking Pascal’s spot, leaving Mouch to be lieutenant on Engine — is about to come to fruition, Herrmann, once again, looks hesitant. 

This also still leaves the question of whether Pascal would really move on, or whether he’d fight for the spot. Mouch says what we’re all thinking, even noting that it’s possible he could move back to Miami.

This could go a lot of ways, but the best thing about it is if Herrmann does wind up taking over as Chief, is that it was done with enough time and deliberation to make it truly feel earned. 

One of the lighter threads in this episode is Novak’s search for a new roommate, which eventually leads to him moving in with Ritter. He resists this at first, but ultimately gives in when he realizes how dire her situation is and how awful any other options are.

Plus, she’s great at reorganizing, apparently!

It’s a fun subplot that brings some much-needed levity to the episode and also offers the found-family energy that Chicago Fire does so well.

Too bad Ritter may already be regretting his choice when he comes home to a dinner that isn’t being made for him, but instead as a romantic dinner for Jack Damon. It’s awkward, but ultimately endearing that Ritter just retreats to his room.

All in all, this is a decent episode. It gives certain characters a chance to shine — especially Violet — but it also moves at a slower pace and doesn’t pack much of a punch. With a few notable character moments and some setup for future developments, it does what it sets out to do.

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

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