Chicago Fire 11×02 “Every Scar Tells A Story” Spoilers Ahead
Chicago Fire’s “Every Scar Tells A Story” is Javi’s episode, making everything a little sweeter. A large part of this job, and by extension, the series, showcases what it truly means to be a hero, with scars or without. It’s also an episode that reminds viewers why this show sticks out in the One Chicago universe by using character experiences to tell relatable stories.
The series has always done a great job exploring life as firefighters, but it shines when it deals with authenticity in growth and relationships. Some new characters leave a mark, while others viewers will forget by the following season. (There’s a lot to keep up with these days.) It’s also about the truth behind scars and the detail that while some do tell a grand story, others are merely embarrassing. (Shoutout to the ones on my hands. I’m entirely to blame for refusing to wear gloves when monogramming leather at my old retail job.)
While Chicago Fire 11×02 “Every Scar Tells A Story” is too early to tell which category Carver will fall into, his arc is a little more gripping today than it was in the season premiere. The suspicions about the construction job sight and the lies about his scars can be thrilling to watch so long as the series doesn’t push too far toward the edge of unnecessary drama.
The Coolest and The Selfless
Severide might be the coolest, but the fact remains, he wouldn’t be standing here today without Joe Cruz. And neither would Javi. It only took two episodes in the season to get me to cry, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. But seriously, this was Javi’s episode in every way.
In an episode that meandered into some rough territories, it was lovely to have the firehouse be a place of joy. Though it was concerning for a moment to watch Cruz start to feel like he was not enough, my heart sank when Severide told the story of how he saved his life. Because it’s true, cool stories matter, but more than anything, the more familiar stories leave the most lasting impact. The stories that point fingers at the true heroes and shine a light on them, reminding everyone around why this job matters. And more than anything, it was precious beyond words to see Javi agree as quickly as he did, calling Joe his hero. How does one not cry at a scene like this?
Hotel Rooms and Whatnot
With every passing episode, Violet and Hawkins become an even bigger problem (greatness), and it will only make their inevitable end that much harder. And while I’d love to be wrong here, I’m going to expect the worst and then be pleasantly surprised when the show proves me wrong. Still, it’s never going to get tiring watching them find new areas to explore in their relationship. Today it’s surprising one another in hotel rooms, and maybe soon we’ll get details about their past.
If we’re no longer in the forbidden romance territory, it’s about time we head into digging up past stuff to make for a better future. And really, this is just my plea to get to know both characters more, for as much as I adore their kisses, the conversations are necessary to strengthen them. Plus, it’s already so telling when Hawkins can immediately tell that something is wrong with Violet.
A Distraction
More people like Mouch in this world would make it significantly better. It almost feels a bit more fitting that he’d be the first to learn about Sylvie and Matt’s breakup because friends can hover when we often need to dwell in silence for a bit. And in true Mouch fashion, it was so sweet to see him realize that something was amiss even before she admitted to it. This is what we mean when we say the folks at this firehouse are a true family.
Chicago Fire 11×02 brings that idea front and center by allowing characters to confront issues before they’re told about them. Severide does it with Joe, Hawkins does it with Violet, and Mouch does it with Sylvie. And these actions gorgeously bring to the surface a familial bond that remains unbreakable. Further, watching him be beside her on the paramedicine runs (a patient who broke my heart this week) and then inviting her over for dinner with Trudy was a delight.
Stella Kidd is Still Right
Carver might’ve proved himself a bit more in this episode, but it doesn’t change the fact that Stella’s right about her instincts. And that’s especially the case considering he’s keeping the truth behind his scar a secret even after Stella confronted him about it. Whatever he’s done, it’ll either be not that big of a deal or highly questionable, and frankly, I don’t want to wait until the mid-season finale to find out.
That said, “Every Scar Tells A Story” is yet another relatively solid episode that cements this show’s best and worst effortlessly. There’s so much about Gallo that we still don’t know, and his love story got significantly more interesting when we learned that Tracy is Hermann’s niece. It could potentially be easy to care about Carver, but he still has much more to prove before we get there. As we dig into who characters can be, it’ll be riveting to see how traits come front and center.
Further Thoughts
- MORE HAWKAMI, ALWAYS, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
- Seriously, I cannot get over what a perfect little addition Javi is. Also, I know we’re only two episodes into the season, but I miss Chloe. How is she? What’s she doing?
- Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide both being hot and bothered over each other? We love to see it.
- Also, need the women to have a girl’s night or something ASAP. And if Tracy joins the ranks, great yes cool. There’s way too much testosterone sometimes and the more women, the better.
Now streaming on Peacock: What are your thoughts on Chicago Fire 11×02 “Every Scar Tells A Story?” Let us know in the comments below.