Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 5 Review: Following Stellaride’s Emotional Journey
Happy (early) Halloween! Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 4 ‘Ghosts‘ is the show’s Halloween episode, and though there’s nothing quite that spooky going on here, it’s still a pretty fun hour. Or wait, did I say fun? I meant emotionally compromising, but nice and family-oriented. You know, just what we want out of a holiday episode!
From Herrmann not knowing how to ask for help, to his team (family) finding a way to help anyway, to Stella and Kelly once again proving why they’re the pillars of One Chicago right now, this is an episode about how you need people in good times and bad ones. And Firehouse 51 will always be there for each other. Sound familiar, right? That’s been the show’s vibe from Episode 1. But it’s a very good thing that they can still manage to send that message as well as they did this hour.
MORE: Check out our review of Episode 1 of Season 14, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4.
NOBODY AT 51 IS ALONE
‘Ghosts’ moves away from the immediate aftermath of the fire at Herrmann’s house, and instead focuses on how the family picks up the pieces. Except that’s not something anyone knows how to do. The situation doesn’t come with a manual. In fact, the only thing Herrmann knows when this episode begins is that he would like people to stop trying to fix things for him.
It comes from a good place, of course. But it’s also exhausting for Herrmann, particularly because he doesn’t have answers. He doesn’t know what they need, you know, other than turning back the clock. And so he defaults to saying he doesn’t need anything. But Mouch sees through him, and Firehouse 51 is quick to rally behind Mouch’s idea. Because that’s what you do for family.
Herrmann just wants things to go back to the way they used to be. But that’s not possible. Now, what he needs is to find the best way forward. And even if he wants to be the one to fix everything, the truth is he doesn’t have to do that alone. He can’t. He needs to involve his wife, his kids, and yes, even his found family in it. Because Cindy and the kids deserve a say, and because his family at Firehouse 51 can help. He’s not alone, and though sometimes, in our hardest moments, it’s hard to remember that, the people who care for us will always be there to remind us.