When everyone thinks you’re honorable to a fault… but the evidence tells a different story.
Did Dom Pascal really try to kill the man responsible for his wife’s death? It’s not the type of question you ever expect to ask about a fire chief.
But in true One Chicago fashion, things escalated fast during Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 21, and we’re now staring down the possibility that one of the show’s highest-ranking characters could be taken down in handcuffs — or take Severide down with him. Because, of course.
And that wasn’t even the only emotional landmine.
Violet ended her relationship with a man who thought he was doing the right thing. Stella embraced full mama bear mode. Carver all but vanished in a puff of smoke. And Ritter’s final episodes are being filled with parking-related rejection.
Let’s break it all down.
Stella Steps Into Motherhood — Again
Stella’s storyline has quietly become one of the emotional centers of this season.
The fallout from her almost-adoption is still lingering, and her connection to Natalie — the young woman we met during a rescue earlier in the season — feels less like coincidence and more like a signpost for where things are headed.
Natalie shows up looking for $200 to visit her mother. Stella doesn’t just give her the money — she insists on driving her personally.
There’s a beautiful quiet tension in that drive, a mix of skepticism and hope. And when the inevitable twist arrives — Natalie’s mother no longer lives there — Stella doesn’t scold her. She simply doesn’t leave.
It’s that simple act of showing up — again — that seals the bond. If we’re heading toward a storyline where Stellaride welcomes Natalie into their life as an adult child, it’s honestly a smart pivot.
The show doesn’t need diapers and pacifiers. It needs a dynamic that allows for growth, conflict, and a believable reason for Kelly and Stella to become parents without derailing the show’s rhythm.
And let’s be honest: it’s nice to see someone choose Stella because she showed up — not because she made a promise she couldn’t keep.
Carver’s Disappearing Act
Every episode, it gets more frustrating. Carver went from emotionally rich storylines and meaningful relationships to… what? A passing mention in Violet’s texts? A reminder that he once existed?
The writers invested heavily in his redemption arc. They layered trauma, loyalty, and vulnerability, and then just left it on the floor.
If he doesn’t even get a proper goodbye in the finale, it’ll be one of the show’s biggest dropped balls in years. Say what you will about Chicago Fire’s ensemble shuffling, but this one stings.
Ritter Deserves Better, Too
I say this with affection: I get it. Parking in a city like Chicago is a nightmare. But really? This is how we’re winding down Ritter’s story? Ghosted over a parking space by a guy he liked?
Daniel Kyri has delivered so much quiet emotional depth over the years. This just feels like a sendoff-lite — something to fill a few minutes and give us one last moment before the curtain drops. It’s a shame, because if anyone deserved a final emotional arc with real payoff, it was him.
Violet, Flynn, and the Cost of Belief
Flynn meant well. Unfortunately, “well” doesn’t cut it. Violet never asked to be pushed into medical school or for someone to pull strings on her behalf. She definitely never asked to be told she was wasting her potential.
That’s the problem. Flynn didn’t listen. He assumed. And when Violet finally snaps, telling him it’s over, and that she’s in love with someone else (Carver, hello?) — it lands with the sting of someone finally saying what’s been building for a while.
It’s not that Flynn was a bad guy. It’s that Violet needed a partner who saw her as she is, not who he thought she could become.
Herrmann Rises, Pascal Falls
Herrmann’s panic over needing Pascal’s recommendation to apply for chief felt like classic 51 energy — until it wasn’t. Pascal not only wrote the letter, he hinted Herrmann may be needed sooner than expected. Which is ominous, because…
The Pascal Investigation Gets Real
Stella and Violet realize the man they just pulled from a fiery wreck is Robert Franklin — the same man who killed Pascal’s wife in a previous accident. And when Kelly digs into the fire’s origin, it leads to a startling truth: the blaze was intentionally set.
The fuel line was tampered with. A CFD-issued center punch was found. And the deeper Severide looks, the murkier Pascal’s past becomes — including a mass casualty event in Miami, a corrupt investigator, and mob ties that explain why Pascal’s late wife, Monica, lived in fear.
Pascal’s claim? He did it all to protect her. He wasn’t corrupt but fighting corruption.
But whether or not he started the car fire, the secrets are already unspooling. Van Meter is ready to arrest him. Worse still, he threatens that if Pascal falls, Severide will go with him.
What Now?
As we head into the finale, the table is set for major change. Herrmann’s promotion. Pascal’s arrest. Ritter and Carver’s quiet exits. Violet potentially restarting her life, and Stellaride possibly gaining a daughter.
It’s a lot. And while not every storyline is landing as cleanly as it should (looking at you, Carver), Chicago Fire is clearly trying to usher in a new chapter while honoring what came before.
But if Severide goes down with Pascal? If Carver disappears without resolution? Fans will not go quietly into that good night. And neither will I.
But What About You?
Do you think Pascal’s actions were justified, or is he finally paying the price for secrets long buried? Should Severide go down with him — or is Van Meter bluffing? And what’s your take on the way Carver and Ritter are being written out?
Would you rather see Stellaride start fresh with Natalie or try again with adoption down the line?
Let us know in the comments. We love hearing what you think, and your insights keep the fire burning around here.
Thanks for reading — and if you’re still with us after thirteen seasons, you’re as much a part of Firehouse 51 as anyone on screen.
Stay safe out there.
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The post Chicago Fire Blows It All Up Before the Finale — Literally and Emotionally appeared first on TV Fanatic.
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