Abhiroop Das
Created by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, NBC’s ‘Chicago Fire’ journeys along with Firehouse 51, whose task is to sift in and out of the city to save lives whenever possible. However, fire here becomes a backdrop to constant personal developments for the tightly knit team of firefighters and paramedics, and as a result, their emotional dilemmas often pour out on the professional front. In the previous episode, Kelly and Van Meter are targeted by a mysterious arsonist who previously set a school on fire. In episode 8, titled ‘A Man Possessed,’ of this procedural drama series, that thread gets its payoff, as both seasoned firefighters have to fight for their own lives for a change. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Kelly and Van Meter Barely Make it Out of the Fire, But Not Quick Enough
‘Chicago Fire’ season 14 episode 8 picks up right where the previous episode left off, with Kelly and Van Meter showing the school principal a Facebook group made specifically to share hate posts about him. The goal is to identify any posts in the group that are similar to the threats the principal has been getting this entire time. However, with more than 80 members and hundreds of comments, that proves to be a tall task. Meanwhile, Dom and Annette discuss the details of engine 51’s decommissioning, and it appears that the orders are coming from higher up in the chain. Still, Dom isn’t about to let this go without a fight, and an idea already begins to emerge in his head. Elsewhere, Vasquez and Violet appear to be on somewhat of a date, where he finally opens up to her about his difficult past in the academy.
Back at the principal’s house, the fire started by the arsonist is nearly at the door, and the smoke and heat tip Kelly off. Together with Van Meter, he immediately sets up an emergency escape path, directly through the bedroom window. However, the fire is spreading much faster than they thought, and with the added steps of tying together several bedsheets, they are already too late by the time the principal is out of the house. Van Meter’s back gets scorched completely, and the surrounding smoke slowly starts to get to both him and Kelly. Still, both of them manage to get down just in time, with Kelly only sustaining surface burns. For Van Meter, however, the situation is far more intense, as right after directing a neighbor to help the principal, he collapses to the floor.
Van Meter’s Situation Fuels Kelly’s Drive For the Truth
While Van Meter is immediately rushed to the hospital, the situation looks increasingly dire, as Dean, from ‘Chicago Med,’ announces that the smoke inhalation and burns have created a potentially fatal combination. The first day is critical in estimating whether the chief will live and die, and Kelly, along with the entire crew, holds their breath anxiously. To add to the worry, Dom reveals to Mouch that his job is essentially in danger, and while the battalion chief is trying everything in his might, Mouch realizes that he might have to step up soon. Kidd, who is with Jeremiah in Cleveland, is left shaken by what has just transpired with her husband and begins packing up immediately, with her adopted son volunteering to help her in the process.
Even with Van Meter out of the picture temporarily, Kelly has no choice but to continue the investigation, especially now that there is a personal angle here. With the help of the police, Kelly tracks down the creator of the Facebook group to be a girl named Lily, whom the principal recognizes. At Lily’s house, however, the situation turns out to be unexpected, as Lily has no real interest in the group or either set of opinions, but is simply an agent of chaos. This means that the real arsonist is likely still out there, planning his next big hit. Meanwhile, Mouch contacts his union lawyers, explaining how the firehouse’s plans to fire him have to be illegal, but is surprised to see that the law has been tweaked. His only option, as such, is to reach out to the Civil Services Commission.
Kelly Loses His Cool and is Plucked Off the Case
Elsewhere, Dom tries to pitch in his moves as well, directly contacting the higher-up who made him hire Vasquez. This time, Dom wants engine 51 reinstated by any means necessary, but doesn’t know that the decision for the scrapping came not from the top, but from none other than the mayor’s office itself. His relationship with Annette is now effectively fraught, as it is revealed to rely on selfish interests and possibly nothing else. Van Meter’s condition continues to deteriorate, as he is now put into a coma, with an exceedingly low chance of recovery. Kelly, in turn, is now obsessed with figuring out the mystery, even if it means giving up on sleep for a while. Help comes when Kidd comes to meet him, and quickly notices a new upload on the Facebook group, showing a video of the principal’s house burning, which was filmed in real time.
In a surprise development, a teen named Malcolm becomes the prime suspect, but not because he might have committed the arson, but because he might have seen who did it. After hearing of a search warrant in his name, Malcolm tries to make a run for it, but is pinned down at the terrace by Kelly, who, by now, is seeing blood. The hunch turns out to be correct, as one frame in the video shows the hooded arsonist leaving the scene. The particular road, named Aberdeen Street, only has a select few neighborhoods.
Another discovery in the investigation turns out to be the IP records of those who registered as anonymous, which leads them right back to the original list of suspects. It dawns on Kelly that the arsonist might not be a student at the school, but a parent. However, when Wyatt Moore’s father becomes a suspect in the case, right after he was cleared as a suspect, Kelly lets his emotions get the better of him, building up to a violent exchange between the two. As a result, Kelly is taken off the case, leaving things even more in the dark.
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