Chicago Fire Season 3 Episode 4 Review: Apologies are Dangerous
Carissa Pavlica
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In a blink.
That's how quickly a rescue can turn into a recovery if a first responder takes their eye off the ball for even a second, and Mills was already worried about working with Sylvie Brett during his first day as as a paramedic.
On Chicago Fire Season 3 Episode 4 there were a lot of firsts. It was Dawson's first day as a candidate, the first time Severide saved a life off the job thanks to Shay's paramedic training, the first day Mills was a paramedic, it was Mouch's first day back on the job and the first time Brett choked during a rescue.
Whew!
It's no surprise that these stories were all told in a way that seamlessly laced them together. It's what Chicago Fire does best. With as many characters as there are, it never feels as though stories are rushed or that a character is tossed into the fray just to give them airtime.
It was surprising that the ruckus on the El train went by so quickly, but the resulting effects of it were well utilized. As Severide rushed to the aid of a train conductor who had been shot, he was dodging bullets and using the training Shay had shown to him to save a life.
Injured Lady: Maybe you missed your calling.
Severide: My best friend was a medic. She drilled this stuff into me.
Injured Lady: Amen to her.
Shay's presence is everywhere in Severide's life and it seems he will finally be able to live with that. Not only did the doctor at the hospital remark about how much they all missed Shay, but the conductor went to the firehouse with the hopes of meeting Severide's best friend whose instruction helped him save her life.
Severide finally said it out loud -- that Shay was dead -- but as much as it hurt, it freed him a bit, especially when the woman said she could feel Shay's presence. If there is an afterlife, there's no doubt that Shay would be at her friend's side, hoping he found his way without her.
Dawson's first day as a candidate wasn't as great as she thought because it's the job of the others in the house to remind candidates of their place. She is at the bottom of the pecking order no matter how long they've worked together.
Even so, Dawson couldn't help herself from going against Hermann's suggestion to unburden herself to her Lieutenant about being the cause of a delay, resulting in the entire crew having to spend extra time working with her until the end of the shift.
I think a part of her kind of hoped she would be treated differently, but it's great that she wasn't. She needs to remember how Jones felt, how Mills felt, how they all felts when they first came to 51 as candidates. She used her ingenuity to find water when it looked doubtful and the crew finally yanked her chain. All was well.
Hermann's past coming back to haunt him as he tried to get a new venture off the ground was a fun twist. Do you remember how flighty he used to be with all his business ventures? That darned mineral water and the attempt to run a limo service were just a couple before it went right with Molly's.
I don't want him to leave 51, though. Is it wrong to hope he doesn't get a promotion? He's the heart of 51. There isn't a doubt that someone equally as appealing would replace him, but I still like having him around.
Mills really surprised me. Once he recovered from the idea he couldn't be a firefighter and grasped onto being a paramedic, he decided to be the best. It didn't stop him from asking if Severide might be trying to find a way around his medical issue, but he wasn't wasting a minute of his new opportunity.
Do you think we just lost another female on Chicago Fire? Did Brett come and already make a decision to leave or did she cry on Harrison's shoulder because she made the decision to stick out her new life in Chicago? It's difficult to tell, but what Mills said had to shake her.
Brett became attached to one victim and when she perished, she had a hard time letting go. That's when Mills launched into his speech about what can happen in a blink -- a rescue can become a recovery. Pretty much everything that happens in their line of work is determined in a blink, and Mills has been through enough to know that he doesn't want to be the victim of another lost moment.
Mills was a good firefighter and now he's a great paramedic. He's inspirational. It might be nice to see him stick around in that area and grow for a while with or without Brett at his side.
What are your thoughts? Did you enjoy the installment and the way Severide finally got to say goodbye to his friend? What about Mills as a paramedic? Do you think Brett is a goner? Chat about it in the comments and remember, you can always watch Chicago Fire online via TV Fanatic if you need a refresher!
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
