Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 7 Review: Pierce the Vein

It wouldn’t be a Chicago Fire Fall Finale if there weren’t a cliffhanger, right? On Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 7, “Pierce the Vein,” we get just that, and it’s a big one.

This episode has Severide doing what he does best: investigating a suspicious fire with OFI. This one is at a high school, where it seems the fire was an effort to target to school’s principal. 

All things considered, it’s an interesting storyline, and the way Severide responds to everything shows a lot of growth on his part. There’s even a little change based on his new role as a foster parent. He’s just a little more understanding and aware when it comes to the teens involved here.

He also has a nice moment with Van Meter where they talk about Isaiah — and how different he is than Severide himself was when he was a teen.

Once they start to nail down the details of what happened with the fire, including the fact that there is a long list of suspects due to a Facebook Group dedicated to hating this principal, Severide and Van Meter pay him a visit at his home.

Unfortunately, this puts them both in the wrong place at the wrong time. They’re on the top floor of his home when we see someone with a hood light the place on fire. 

I can’t help but think this situation is even more dire than it would be normally, considering all the budget cuts happening with the CFD…

Speaking of those, there’s a lot of focus on Pascal and his new love interest, Annette Davis. They have some endearing moments as they try to coordinate a date, and it’s a chance to see a new side of Pascal. 

Unfortunately, when they finally do sit down to an actual meal together, Annette has to break some bad news to Pascal. Partially due to his own advice, which has to sting, her office has helped avoid a teachers’ strike by finding other places to adjust the budget.

One of those places? Removing Engine 51 — which Mouch has just become the leader of — from service. 

I don’t imagine Pascal will allow that to happen easily. There has to be some pushback, and we’ve learned that he’s the kind of leader who will go to bat for his team. At the same time, it feels ominous, especially considering the complaint I mention in nearly every review — that we rarely get the full cast on any given episode anymore. 

Mouch is doing so well in that role, too, and taking initiative in a way that shows he really cares. Taking that away from him now just seems cruel.

Meanwhile, Novak has the day off thanks to Vasquez stepping into a paramedic role, but just as she sits down to watch TV, she gets a call that her sister is in the hospital. This is a chance to learn more backstory about Novak, which has only been revealed in some small bits and pieces since she first joined the series. 

It’s really compelling, particularly as she confides in Violet and realizes there’s a way she can make a change and take a step toward getting closer to a family member.

Violet also lends an ear to Vasquez on this episode, whose father shows up having gotten parole and immediately asks for his car back. This guy is something else, and the effect he has on Vasquez makes it clear there’s still more going on with their relationship that hasn’t been revealed yet.

The best part of all of that, though, is seeing Vasquez become vulnerable with Violet. It’s a nice moment, and in the very least, it looks like they could have a really nice friendship.

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Chicago Fire returns January 7th on NBC.

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