Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 14 ‘Hit and Run’ says goodbye to Pascal, but it does so in what is one of his best episodes. We never truly warmed up to Dermot Mulroney’s character like this show probably expected, but he leaves the most likeable the character has ever been and with the respect of everyone on Firehouse 51. We wouldn’t have called that when he first arrived.
That’s not all that works in ‘Hit and Run’, as the show continues to give Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd a lot to do, separately and together. But this episode doesn’t just do that; it also hits a few good emotional notes with the characters. They work very dangerous jobs, so there are going to be close calls. Severide just had one in the crossover. But for Severide, it’s way harder to see Stella in danger than to be in danger himself.
And for Stella, well…she’s still trying to catch her breath after losing Macy. She’s still trying to work through the knot in her throat and the pressure in her chest. It eases a little bit when she talks to Pascal and realizes that everything she felt about how he’s always treated her wasn’t right; it just wasn’t for the reasons she believed. Instead, it was because he sees endless potential in her. Like we do. But it doesn’t dissolve. That will take time.
Now what? Now, the firehouse moves forward. Again. We’ve been here before. It’s just that this time, what comes next kinda makes sense.
DON’T HURT STELLA KIDD
Severide plays cop again in ‘Hit and Run’, but we can’t even blame him this time. Because the truth of the matter is that Stella came really, really close. They are well-trained, and they had the tools and knowledge to help her, plus Stella herself was just badass out there, but part of it was also luck. And Kelly doesn’t feel comfortable leaving his wife’s well-being to luck.
After the close call, the two react in very different ways. Stella is shaken, but determined. She’s been shaken since she lost Macy, but she wants to keep working because at least when she’s working, she’s doing something that isn’t sitting down and thinking about it. Severide, meanwhile, fixates on catching the guy because that’s the only way he can control the situation. That’s the only way he can manage his fear.
The truth is, Severide panicked when he saw Stella hanging from that cable. And Stella knows how close she came. And sure, in the moment, as two people who have been in plenty of close calls before, they did what they had to do. They kept going. But after, when you stop, it really hits you.
Now, Kelly has to deal with that fear every day, and he has to deal with the responsibility of the entire firehouse. A responsibility he never wanted, but that he is, perhaps, more suited for than he ever believed. Let’s hope those two never come into conflict, because we pretty much know what he’d choose. His wife. Always his wife.
WE’RE GONNA MISS PASCAL
Pascal had big shoes to fill from the beginning, and I’ll be the first to say he’s had a hard time living up to Boden. But in truth, anybody would. Wallace Boden was the leader of this firehouse for so long that we were always going to be resistant to the idea of someone stepping in to take his place, especially someone new. And Pascal came with secrets, and with changes, and with a little attitude for Stella, so we had a hard time warming up to him.
Losing Monica humanized him, yes, but I remember back when he was having cigar chats with Severide thinking… he hasn’t earned this. He’s not there. I don’t believe it. I don’t feel it.
But today, knowing that Pascal won’t be around anymore leaves a bittersweet aftertaste. And getting fired? It kinda stings. Probably because he’s leaving right when his character was finally starting to feel like he fit in. When he had that great scene with Stella. And he’s leaving because he did the right thing in the One Chicago crossover, and saved a few of our favorites because of it. Was he the leader we wanted for Firehouse 51? Not really, despite how much this episode tries to send him out on as much of a high as Boden. But he was less of a problem than I expected him to be, and at times, he was actually useful.
So yeah, I’m going to miss him a little. Not crying or anything, but at this point, I can at least appreciate him as I say goodbye.
Things I think I think:
I guess at least Pascal is going out on top.
Mouch is back!
If Chief Pascal is getting an assistant, but Chief Pascal is gone, who is she assisting?
Also, this is Jeanine Mason. Let’s keep her forever.
Severide is going to go from worried to mad in 0.2 seconds.
Taylor Kinney played Severide’s panic perfectly.
“The firefighter he almost killed, that’s my wife. So I’m not letting this go.”
Yes, she is an action hero, Herrmann. I agree.
Is Stella okay? I don’t think she is, but I do understand wanting the distraction of work.
Appreciate Stella recognizing that Kelly is actually not okay. I’m pretty sure seeing her in danger felt worse than being in danger himself.
Pascal being super efficient on his last shift is actually kinda funny.
Cruz is right; this makes Severide the new ranking officer.
“Tell them to move faster.”
Stella calling it out that Pascal always comes out harder on her. Thank you.
“When I saw that truck coming, I thought I was about to lose Stella.”
We know, Kelly. We know.
Tell him, Stella!
“I suppose it’s because I see so much of myself in you.”
A failure of communication indeed.
“You are an exceptional leader, Lt.”
“Make people see what I see in you.”
Pascal, you gave me feelings. And also, you’re never coming back, right? This feels very much like closure.
Cruz calling out Severide is perfect. He needed it. Who knows what he would have done?
I’m not sure this was about not wanting the responsibility as much as it was about priorities. Stella is the most important thing in Severide’s life. More than the firehouse, more than his job, more than anything. And that’s actually the way it should be.
“Being ready isn’t a feeling, it’s a decision.”
Pascal making me like him even more.
Lucy, yeeees. Stay.
He left you the office.
Oh, wow.
Severide, you’re in charge.