Chicago Fire 12×08 “All the Dark” Spoilers Ahead
Chicago Fire Season 12, Episode 8, “All the Dark,” is proof that the show is at its best when it focuses on the found family in Firehouse 51. When the drama boils down to the lengths they’ll go to in order to protect each other and when multiple storylines coexist without feeling too cluttered? That’s when the show shines the most.
“All the Dark” marries heavier storylines with heartwarming beats that remind viewers how deeply these characters care for each other, but it also sets up everything that can come up in a shorter season. Last week, I voiced that it felt like the show was continuing to recycle similar storylines, and it’s mostly true. However, switching gears from Robinson vs. someone at Firehouse 51 to Robinson vs. Boden could create a more intriguing battle that stems from the top.
Plus, an episode that gives us quiet moments of intimacy with our favorite couples is also one we’ll always take.
Is Gibson Gone for Good After Chicago Fire 12×08?
Chicago Fire 12×08 “All the Dark” is an episode that emphasizes partnerships and what it means to have people looking out for you. Gibson was a good egg. He was an intriguing character, too, but the demons in a person’s past don’t stay hidden for too long. It’s sad to think he might be gone for good because we didn’t have him long enough to get to know him fully. But it’s also refreshing to know that the show continues to handle storylines about addictions with grace and empathy.
Carver, being the one to essentially approach Gibson about noticing withdrawals, and Stella, being the one to find him, made the episode feel much more gut-wrenching. The guilt, the sadness, and the understanding that all characters went through in a span of a single episode never once felt like it was too much. The approach felt organic, and I imagine that if I had the time to go back and rewatch some of this season, we’d see some of this planted earlier on.
Casual? We Don’t Know Her
You don’t have to devour romance novels as regularly as I do to know that the words “this is casual” never, ever stick. Feelings grow, sex turns into something more, and quiet mornings become the one thing you start to crave after grueling workdays. As much as Violet and Carver want to sell their burgeoning relationship as casual, we all know better. Stella knows better, and it’s exciting to see her lovingly call Violet out on it.
At the same time, Chicago Fire 12×08 “All the Dark” continues to showcase that Violet and Carver are good for each other. There’s a lot they both carry that they don’t talk about frequently and the weight they both walk around with clearly subsides when they’re together. They don’t have to try hard. They don’t have to be anything that they aren’t, which essentially makes such casual relationships evolving into real ones easily believable because the couple goes through a ton without the added pressure of trying to impress one another. So, I’m here for it in every way.
Stellaride Anything. Yes, Please. Always.
Stellaride crumbs always feel like an entire piece of cake—that’s their indescribable power, which no ship on the show has managed yet. Whatever scene they share, whether it’s a look across the room, a quick makeout session at the loft, or a moment of vulnerability at the end of a tough day, it always feels satisfactory. It makes the episode compelling.
They have each other’s backs through everything, and watching Kelly remind Stella that she isn’t a bad lieutenant because she didn’t notice that Gibson was hiding withdrawals meant everything. Because it’s not only what she needed to hear, but it’s the truth. It’s a reality to say that people hide it best from their direct superiors. Simultaneously, Stellaride are the closest people to Boden, so if this whole thing with Robinson backfires, as it undoubtedly will, it’ll be riveting to see how they fight tooth and nail for him.
Further Thoughts
- Hermann getting glitter-bombed in his car was the perfect dose of levity in an otherwise taxing episode.
- No, but Carver and Violet straight up demolishing a nightstand? I love them, your honor. Who’s writing fan fiction for that? Also, are the sweatpants grey? The romance girly in me has to know.
- It’s hard to believe Lennox is really gone. Did Violet showing him appreciation actually do the trick? Something tells me no.
- It’s been a while since we complimented Stella’s braid game, so let’s throw it out there again. Aces. I also just adore seeing her work so closely with Carver and watching their friendship grow.
- Where was Ritter this week? Did I miss him because I blinked at one point?
- Kelly telling Violet they have her back? A+++
Now streaming on NBC and Peacock: What are your thoughts on Chicago Fire 12×08 “All the Dark?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: (Photo by: Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC)