Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Mercy

Firehouse 51 battles a fire at Herrmann’s home on Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 4, “Mercy.” It’s a deeply emotional episode that allows David Eigenberg to shine in his role, but I can’t help but feel like Herrmann can’t seem to catch a break.

At the beginning of the episode, we see the hustle and bustle of a normal morning at the Herrmann home, but with the addition of Cindy heading back to work, excited for her first day at a new job.

It’s seemingly mundane, but every detail is actually foreshadowing, from marking one son’s height on the wall to the brief moment where Annabelle says she wants to stay home from school.

Not long after, Herrmann is at the firehouse when a call comes through that there’s a house fire at his address. One nice detail here is that it isn’t so coincidental as to have Firehouse 51 be tasked with that call.

They just hear the address, realize it’s his, and the team springs into action. It makes it a little more realistic in some ways, and it also adds an extra layer of conflict.

Severide, who is in charge on this shift (which I love, for the record), insists his team is heading to the scene, despite being told that another firehouse is already on it and that they should stand down.

He refuses, and 51 shows up anyway, diving in as you’d expect they would — especially with the knowledge that Herrmann’s daughter could be in that house. 

Herrmann’s desperation makes the whole scene a tearjerker, and David Eigenberg plays each emotional note perfectly. At the same time, there’s that same uplifting tone we’re used to getting from Chicago Fire as everyone pulls together.

And, thankfully, it’s not long before news arrives that Annabelle ended up going to school that day after all. 

Yet watching Herrmann shift his focus to grabbing as much as he can before the whole house is destroyed — unable to grab a wedding photo and so many other things– is gut-wrenching. It also provides a moment that feels pivotal for newcomer Sal Vasquez and his place on the team.

He uses physical force when he has to get Herrmann out of the house, probably saving his life in the process. Herrmann’s angry, but it’s the right call, which Stella makes sure to tell Vasquez later. It winds up being a really great moment for that character.

Even though everyone is safe from the fire, Herrmann’s home is destroyed, so 51 shifts their attention to finding him and his family a place to stay and helping gather anything they may need.

The most endearing moment, though, is when Mouch finds Herrmann back at the burnt-down house, searching for the priceless items that are more than “just stuff.” They don’t come up with much, but it’s a sweet reveal that Mouch is able to recover Cindy’s mother’s ring.

There’s also a nice connection to Isaiah, the teenager Kelly and Stella are continuing to foster and try to connect with. When he finds out one of Herrmann’s sons, who is his own age, has lost everything, he offers a special hat of his own in a selfless gesture. 

I have to say, as much as I’m upset over how Stella’s pregnancy was handled, I do really enjoy seeing Stella and Kelly in this new dynamic with a teenager. 

Other thoughts:

• The fact that Joe Cruz is missing for an episode like this is really disappointing. It remains frustrating that there are few instances where everyone is together at the same time.
• Capp being trained by Violet and Novak is a lot of fun to watch, but even better is the reveal that Kelly had some strategy as a leader when he suggested Capp as their trainee. 
• We’re continuing to learn more about Vasquez, finally seeing him interact with his father, who is in prison. Is it me, or does Sal’s father seem unusually invested in what’s happening at Firehouse 51? 

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

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