Chicago Fire 12×06 “Port in the Storm” Spoilers Ahead
Chicago Fire Season 12, Episode 6, “Port in the Storm,” is a near-perfect episode of television. It’s one of the show’s strongest exhibitions of high-action, astute pacing, gorgeous beats of transparency, and a plethora of heart in a way that Firehouse 51 excels at showing.
It’s the one with Brettsey’s wedding, marking the end of Kara Killmer’s run on the show in an exit that feels incredibly organic for the character. But this is also Chicago Fire, and we can’t have a wedding with multiple fires to put out. Simultaneously, it’s an episode that celebrates and centers romance, which seems to be a theme this week. [See also The Rookie’s 100th episode.]
Chicago Fire 12×06 Solidifies Brettsey as the Port in the Storm
Sylvie and Matt were always going to be endgame, and encircling their vows around family and the importance of it is entirely what makes this episode an absolute gem. At its core, Chicago Fire is a show about family—it’s people showing up for others because they care about humanity. It’s an episode where a kid from across the street shows up with a battery up his nose and where a hostage situation showcases that they’re consistently willing to show up for one another. Even the nod about Otis being a great name brings this theme to life gorgeously. Gibson telling Kylie she should tell Boden about being interested in returning to Firehouse 51—all these small moments bring this detail to life by showing viewers how much love exists in this show.
And it’s only natural that the love comes to life through a wedding between a couple who faced tireless heartaches and separations. The reminder of what the aquarium represents, the candle lighting for firefighters who’ve lost their lives, the reception at Molly’s—it’s all proof that love makes it to the end. Brettsey walking down the aisle together, then leaving with their new family with their old family cheering them on? It’s an absolute, undeniable tear-jerker.
Top it off with the way Violet and Stella say goodbye to Sylvie, and it makes the whole goodbye gutting. Many shows pit women against each other, but Chicago Fire does the opposite. It creates sisterhoods amid all the flames and darkness. It brings to our screens women who’d go through hell and back for each other, and that’s something that will be so easy to miss when we no longer see Brett driving the ambulance. But they did it—they said “I do,” while promising that they’ll always come home to Firehouse 51 and what that means, only time will tell.
Stellaride and Always Coming Home
Stellaride are synonymous with Firehouse 51. Yes, Casey was the captain before he left. Yes, Chief Boden is, in many ways, the beating heart of the station, but Stellaride are the crown, especially where romances are concerned. When they’re good, we’re good. When they’re happy, we’re happy. When they fight, it becomes a problem for all of us. And in Chicago Fire 12×06 “Port in the Storm,” we fortify this concept of a home away from home when Severide proves that he’ll always come back to Stella.
The show knows how to torture viewers and draw out the tension by making it seem like he’s ghosting her again, but to reveal that he had legitimate reasons and wanted to surprise her? You win, Kelly Severide. You win. Between their brief cuddle in the office, the sweet dance, and the sheer vulnerability in Taylor Kinney’s transparency when he tells Casey that losing Stella made his choice clear, I lost it.
It’s one thing for a person to tell their partner they’re going to do something. It’s another to show up and do it, but there’s also something to be said about their partner finally believing them. And in spite of everything they’ve been through, Stella finally believes Severide, which makes their final scene substantial in every way. These two, they’re it. They’ll always be it.
Violet and Carver’s Transparent Beginnings
Chicago Fire 12×06 faces heartaches head-on, continuing with an honest and necessary conversation between Sam and Violet. What she experienced losing Hawkins is still profoundly traumatic, and it’s something that will likely haunt Violet for the rest of her life. And with something as harrowing as this, triggers will often be right around the corner, ready to hit her at a moment’s notice. Hanako Greensmith is one of the best performers in the show—the one character whose emotions are always so evocative that they can be hard to watch at times.
That’s what transpires when she realizes that something happened to Brett, and she bolts up the stairs without a second thought. To have Sam stop her from going up and then vow to go with her makes their dynamic richer and his heart that much bigger. (I still don’t understand how I went from not caring a lick about him, to he’s now one of my favorite characters?) Still, Carver’s alertness and his prominent care for her is on full display at the moment, not just as a coworker but as something more—as Violet. We can fully trust her with him, which makes their bourgeoning relationship worth celebrating.
And then there’s the dance at Molly’s during the reception. The chemistry was already sparkling, but the second Violet opened up about her feelings and inadvertently mentioned her fears, they went from cute to beautiful. Jake Lockett matches Greensmith’s vulnerability with such nuance in this scene that it floored me, so much so that I lost count of how many times I actually replayed it. He hears her—he sees and understands the fears. He’s willing to meet her halfway, making an impossible promise, but it shows viewers this isn’t a game for him. It’s real. He wants her, and he’s willing to prove it, making rooting for them now effortless.
With clever nods to new and old details, all the foreshadowing and remembrance, the narrative coupled with the exceptional performance make Chicago Fire 12×06 “Port in the Storm” an episode that’s going to be hard to forget. These days, it feels like there’s always something missing in the show, but here, everything felt right.
Further Thoughts
- Absolutely not ready to start talking about Mouch retiring.
- Could we not have added some instrumental music in the background to drown out the water of the fish tanks?
- Carver getting hotter just proves that men who listen to and respect women are hotter.
- I adore the fact that Gibson and Kylie know each other.
- Okay but how is it possible that the vault didn’t have a code overriding system?
- Also, really tired of people in the district constantly trying to cause problems in Violet’s life. Has this woman not been through enough??!!
Now streaming on NBC and Peacock: What are your thoughts on Chicago Fire 12×06 “Port in the Storm?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©(Photo by: Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC)