Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 13 Review: Another Old Enemy Makes a Frustrating Return

Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 13, “Born of Fire” is a reminder of just how long the NBC show has been on. Its main storyline goes back to a plot idea that the writers have used several times before. One of the subplots follows the natural progression of the best TV relationships. And a bunch of references are made to past characters and events. All of it makes viewers acutely aware that this series has been full steam ahead for almost a decade and a half.

“Born of Fire” is a Violet Mikami-centric episode, because the central story is about her facing down a character she never wanted to see again. But the secondary plotline involves her, too, and her relationship or lack thereof with Sam Carver. Elsewhere, Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide officially make the big decision they already agreed upon. This is not the most memorable hour of Chicago Fire, but it does entertain fans in the middle of the season.

Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 12 Utilizes a Common Show Trope

Jared Lennox Is the Latest Bad Guy to Reappear

Chicago Fire loves to bring back antagonists after they’ve caused trouble at Firehouse 51. Audiences have seen that with Hope Jacquinot, they saw it with Emma Jacobs, and now they can add ex-CFD paramedic Jared Lennox to the list. Lennox returns when Violet finds out that her boyfriend Flynn Calhoun is representing a medic accused of criminally negligent homicide. (Eagle-eyed fans will notice actor Wesam Keesh’s name pop up in the opening credits while Violet and Flynn are talking about the case, therefore immediately revealing who Flynn is talking about and spoiling the surprise.) While not perfectly written, Lennox’s return to Chicago Fire is much better than it could have been.

Lennox returns an apparently changed man, saying how much he learned from Violet and pleading for her help. That’s not that interesting; fans have also heard that line before. And the pacing of the plot is abrupt; Violet is determined to help when she doesn’t know the defendant is Lennox, then very quickly is convinced of his guilt once she realizes it’s him, pointing out that he’s done “exactly what we saw him do last year.” That comes across as a huge jump to conclusions. The facts of the case haven’t changed, so the only plausible reason for Violet to change her tune is a blind hatred for Lennox (which admittedly she deserves to have). Eventually, though, Violet becomes convinced of Lennox’s innocence and is able to help clear his name.

Nothing about this plot is original, and fans can debate whether or not the show even needed to bring Lennox back. (His return is a little extra amusing since Chicago Med now has a character named Dr. Caitlin Lenox — just spelled differently.) But it is nice that he turns out to actually have learned from his mistakes. It would have been easy to just have him be deceiving Violet and Flynn all along for dramatic effect. Instead, the show provides a resolution that’s almost hopeful, since Lennox and Flynn join Violet at Molly’s at the end of the episode.

Chicago Fire Tries to Explore Sam Carver – Sort Of

Carver’s Story Is Subjugated by Another Creepy Character

Violet is also part of Season 13, Episode 13’s subplot, which is a flawed attempt to explore Sam Carver’s sobriety. Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 12, “Relief Cut” ended in part with Carver walking into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and viewers see part of a meeting near the start of this episode. Carver’s had a rough season — both in-character and in the sense that most of his screen time was spent on the forgettable Tori plotline — so it’s nice to see him taking some steps forward. But at this meeting, Carver meets a guy named Lee, who not only tries to impersonate him, but tries to attack Violet.

For two-thirds of the episode, this is a strong subplot that gives actor Jake Lockett a lot to do, even if he doesn’t have much dialogue. Lockett says enough with just his expressions sometimes, and there is an honest exploration of what it means to be a recovering alcoholic when the primary gathering place for everyone in your entire world is a bar. That’s probably not something many viewers ever thought about given how much of a fixture Molly’s Pub is in the One Chicago universe. Seeing Carver tempted by a bottle of alcohol is a “yell at the screen” kind of moment. But as soon as Lee’s true nature is revealed, the plot goes off the rails and never comes back.

Chicago Fire has had its fair share of “crazy in the firehouse,” to quote showrunner Andrea Newman. Lee is not the first creepy or disturbed character to get too close to someone on the show. And suddenly, an exploration of Carver as a character becomes a bog-standard plot about Carver trying to stop Lee. Most audience members will guess at what’s going to happen once Lee starts asking Carver questions about Violet, so him showing up at her apartment isn’t that shocking. Plus, the script cuts away from what should be its biggest moment: Carver telling Violet that he’s a recovering alcoholic. Instead, the next time people see the two of them together at Molly’s, she just knows. So much more could have been done with this storyline.

Chicago Fire Paves the Way for a Stellaride Baby

Season 13, Episode 11 Has a Delightfully Meta Moment

Near the end of “Born of Fire,” the show revisits the subject of Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide adopting a child. There’s no revelation, since the duo already decided on the idea at the end of “Relief Cut.” However, they agree to call a recommended adoption agency the next day. This is a reminder of how far Stellaride have come, because there’s a progression for TV couples. There’s the “will they, won’t they” phase, then they get together, then they get married, and then there’s a baby. That’s how it always works as shows want to keep viewers’ interest in their pairings. In Chicago Fire, things go a step further when some dialogue becomes almost meta.

Stellaride has been the ship name for Stella and Severide for years, so it’s amusing as all get out that Chicago Fire now makes it canon for the characters, too. But that’s not the only little bread crumb thrown to the fans: Stella mentions the person who recommended the adoption agency is Violet’s former partner Sylvie Brett. Christopher Herrmann also makes reference to Molly’s North and the death of Brian “Otis” Zvonecek in the “C” story, which is about Herrmann once again trying to expand Molly’s. These little tidbits help make “Born of Fire” more entertaining. It’s not the most dynamic Chicago Fire episode, but it’s one that longtime fans will appreciate because of all the history.