Chicago Fire absolutely did not have to say anything more about Jack Damon, which makes it surprising that Episode 4 brings him back. After how quickly Damon went downhill in Season 13, it was a relief when Pascal agreed to transfer him out of Firehouse 51. That means it’s almost bewildering that the subplot of “Through the Skin” is Stella worrying about Damon’s future. Yes, he may be Kelly Severide’s half-brother, but he lied to her and about her; she doesn’t owe him anything. Nonetheless, Stella and Severide want to make sure that Damon is okay, which leads Severide to visit Damon’s new firehouse. And when he gets there, he vouches for Damon to the captain.
Damon’s surprise when he learns about Severide’s recommendation — which prompts the captain to offer him a permanent spot at his new house — is exactly the reaction the viewers have. This is the Damon storyline the show should have had all along. The half-brother bit always felt like a stretch, but Severide mentoring Damon and encouraging him to find his own identity is so much more worthwhile than Damon scheming and feeling entitled. Michael Bradway also gets to relax in his performance, too, now that he doesn’t have to lean into Damon’s negative qualities. The earnestness of the character is back, and it’s nice to see him end up in a good place, similar to how Chicago Fire let Hope turn things around.
Kelly Severide: I’m not going anywhere, Jack.
Plus, there’s an unexpected and creative solution to Stella’s problem: Daniel Kyri’s character Darren Ritter moves from Engine to Truck. It’s a very wise move to give a new opportunity to an existing character rather than compulsively add someone else who has to start from scratch. Ritter deserves more screen time and the job switch is a way for him to get it, by opening up different things for him to do.
“Through the Skin” is not going to be remembered as one of the most exciting episodes of Season 13. But it’s important in changing the way audiences perceive Damon and Pascal, which matters in the big picture. It turns negatives into positives. It also highlights the growth of Violet and how much more of a journey she has ahead of her. One of the cool things about Chicago Fire is that it’s been willing to re-evaluate characters over the years, and this episode is anchored by three characters who’ve all changed significantly. It’s an hour that the writers can build upon to make the season that much better.
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. on NBC.
