Reviewer Rating: 4.5/5.0
4.5
Who else is super excited about 51’s return?
While several cliffhangers from last season’s finale kept us waiting for a long time, Chicago Fire Season 13’s first episode got off to a strong start.
The season premiere gave us all the answers we’d been hoping for and more.
“Chicago Fire” Season 13 New Commissioner Episode 1
Tonight we meet Borden’s successor and the new man in charge of 51st.
Chief Dom Pascal, played by the talented Dermot Mulroney, steps right in and starts shaking things up.
In my interview with showrunner Andrea Newman, she told me we might be surprised to see which firefighters immediately accept Pascal and which firefighters rebel against their new leader.
Given Stella’s relationship with Boden, I knew Stella might be slow to warm to her new supervisor.
I didn’t expect her to be completely aggressive toward Pascal, though.
Kidd, Mochi, and Tony are all deeply touched by the changes around the house.
Seyfried, meanwhile, was completely unaffected, which was kind of shocking.
The episode dealt with the fact that Herman wanted to see Herman take over after he was informed last season that Borden was leaving.
I’m glad they didn’t ignore this because it was such a meaningful scene.
Herman isn’t ready for the job, which basically boils down to the fact that he’s not qualified yet.
To show his loyalty to the 51st, Mauch decided not to take the lieutenant exam until Hermann was promoted because he did not want to risk being transferred.
I know these people are like a family, but there are so many big career decisions that are interconnected that it seems like a recipe for disaster.
So, a lot happened in Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 13, and we’ve been speculating all summer about how it would be handled in tonight’s premiere.
Let’s get started.
carver and violet all this
First, Carver confesses his love to Violet and then disappears, so the episode begins with her planning to tell him how she feels and apologize for the way she treated him.
Violet’s vulnerability and willingness to share these personal thoughts with friends is refreshing and shows how far she’s come.
I really loved seeing that side of her – her opening up and ready to experience love again.
Unfortunately, Carver’s aloofness is explained when his strange curly-haired girlfriend curls up to pick him up.
What the hell, Carver? ah. I guess it’ll be a while before we know if Cavalette is going anywhere.
Will we get a stellar baby?
We’ve also been thinking about Seyfried telling Stella that he wants to start trying to have kids.
This was only briefly mentioned in the premiere, but it was enough.
As it turns out, Stella isn’t ready, and Severide doesn’t mind that.
I love that he doesn’t pressure her at all. He listened to her concerns and validated them rather than making her feel guilty.
As I admitted in my Chicago Fire Season 12 transcript, I’m an admitted Stellaride hater. But this episode made me rethink my stance.
Damon’s secret grim relationship
Obviously, the biggest reveal from last season’s finale was Damon’s admission that he was Benny’s secret son.
I definitely think this episode will show Seyfried avoiding Damon and pondering the news.
Imagine my surprise when the two of them hung out together and bonded. Where is the plot?
What’s more, when Damon gets hurt on a call, Seyfried can’t focus on his job.
His concern was sweet, but it sparked greater concern for Cruz, who now believed Benny’s sons might be a risk to each other at work.
Cruz’s point makes sense, considering Severide has been on Pascal’s radar since he’s been working with Stella on “Chicago Fire.”
Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 1: Monsters on the Battlefield
Speaking of that phone call, this is where we learn the meaning behind the episode’s title.
The guy gave clear and confident marching orders and then jumped into action himself.
Novak joked that Pascal might “lack the fear gene” because he was so happy to get involved in saving people.
He was a beast and everyone noticed.
The question is, will this make the team resent him, or will it win their trust?
I can’t wait to see how Pascal’s relationship with everyone develops.
Speaking of Pascal, this guy definitely has a big reveal.
It looks like Pascal has a partner (played by Cady Strickland of Private Practice fame – I loved seeing her in this episode!), and there’s some mysterious tension there.
We know he’s from Miami, and because an old friend came to visit him, we also know he had some trauma that happened there.
Does anyone have a theory? I’d love to hear their voices!
Could we look at Bobby Nash in the context of 9-1-1, implicitly taking the blame for causing some kind of mass tragedy?
Maybe he experienced some kind of significant loss and left Florida to start over.
Whatever it was, I was eager to learn more.
This new relationship is completely unnecessary and annoying.
I’m not eager to see any new romance between Damon and Lizzie, though.
I can’t really explain why, but the whole thing just turns me off.
He already had a long-lost brother at the fire station.
Did the 51-year-old really need to add another romantic relationship to his already complex role?
Novak continues to prove himself on Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 1
While we’re talking about Lizzie, I have to talk about the incredible job she does responding to car accident calls.
We know from the first few episodes of her last season of the show that she’s someone who excels in a crisis.
She just knew how to talk to people and get them to trust her, and that was her gift throughout her career.
In Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 1, an abusive father intentionally crashes his car with his wife and children inside, and Lizzie uses her skills and compassion to uncover the truth .
PS: Thankfully, the children escaped uninjured. Their car seat straps are a disaster that could have ended horribly for them.
When Lizzie and Violet express concern that there is more to the case than their mother is telling the police, Pascal supports them in pursuing a deeper investigation.
This was a great moment to show what kind of Chief he would become – one who didn’t tell them to let go, but supported them and trusted their instincts.
Stella and Carver chat for a while about the car accident and their abusive father, which is theoretically normal.
But can anyone tell me why she wanted to ask Carver, “Can you imagine?” Was it appropriate?
I have a feeling that, yes, at 51, Carver can imagine what it would be like to have an abusive father.
Full Size Season, Full Size Cast
The best part of this episode was meeting almost everyone in one hour.
We get a lot of help from Ritter, who gives Violet advice and a listening ear, and we also briefly see Dwayne, as he’s involved in the accident case.
I look forward to seeing more relationships like this, especially since they are the only LGBTQ+ representation in the OneChicago universe!
Overall, Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 1 was a very enjoyable return to the series.
It touches on just about everything I’ve been thinking about all summer, and opens the door to several storylines that will hopefully be full of excitement throughout the year.
I give this episode 4.5 stars because it’s a great start to season 13 and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Let me know in the comments all your favorite moments from tonight’s premiere and what you think of the rest of the season.
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