“Through the Skin,” last nights episode of “Chicago Fire” leans hard on the fan-favorite pairing of Violet and Lizzie, putting them through the wringer with a high-stakes medical emergency. A pregnant patient’s death forces Violet to perform a risky C-section, with Hanako Greensmith and Jocelyn Hudon effectively selling the characters’ desperation and determination. The improbable success is immediately soured by Chief Robinson’s predictable bureaucratic overreaction, suspending Violet’s license.
The episode then takes a strange turn with both Robinson (Laura Allen) and Chief Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) offering support for Violet. Pascal’s sudden about-face, given his earlier antagonism towards Stella (Miranda Rae Mayo), feels unearned and potentially manipulative. Meanwhile, Stella grapples with the fallout from Severide’s (Taylor Kinney) brother Damon’s actions, inexplicably pushing Kelly to reconcile with him. Kelly obliges, though Damon’s apology lacks sincerity.
Mouch and Herrmann’s reliably solid banter provides a welcome break from the manufactured drama, leading to the logical solution of promoting Ritter to fill Damon’s position. This should hopefully lead to more Ritter, including interactions with his boyfriend and the increasingly appealing Violet-Lizzie-Ritter dynamic. A brief Carver/Tori scene hints at future conflict, while Violet’s apology to Carver feels like a final nail in the coffin of that tedious relationship.
Cruz’s bumbling attempts to recover Javi’s stolen bike, culminating in accidental petty theft, offer a bit of much-needed levity.
On the downbeat, the episode’s emphasis on potential redemption arcs for Damon and Pascal feels premature and strains credulity.