Chicago Fire Season 4 Episode 11 Review: “The Path of Destruction”

Chicago Fire gets its heart back this week, but that doesn’t mean that others aren’t struggling. Some merely have to work through their struggles, but Chili’s declining behavior could spell the end of her career.

Chili’s erratic behavior is now completely out of control. It was one thing when Chili was simply blowing off her coworkers, but not her attitude is affecting life and death calls. Chili nearly kills a patient on a call by giving her the wrong medication, then passes it off as inconsequential. Brett hopes that she can cover for Chili, but Dawson makes her see that Chili can no longer be trusted to do her job. What Dawson learns too late is that Chili’s sister was recently found dead in a flophouse. She doesn’t get the chance to tell anyone before Brett goes to Boden with the truth about her partner’s actions.

Otis is still a bit hung up on Brett even if she isn’t quite as into the guy she’s dating as previously thought. I was hoping his crush would have passed by now, but really its just a symptom of not having a girlfriend. Dawson agrees to be Otis’ Mr. Miyagi of dating to get him out of the friend zone. The first step is always the hardest, and even I had trouble with Dawson’s suggestion that Otis shake things up by shaving his mustache. He did go through with it by the end. Whether or not this small decision will yield any results we will have to wait and see.

After wrapping up the drama that nearly took Boden’s career, Chicago Fire is in need of a new arc for the rest of the season. A Homeland Security agent shows up in need of the CFD’s help kicking down some doors. Severide agrees to help and they find ingredients in an abandoned house with the potential to be catastrophic if someone with a bad attitude wanted easy access to bomb materials. Severide is always the no holds barred hero so this should be an interesting arc for him.

Hermann goes back to work despite wife Cindy’s reservations. The whole house is overjoyed to have Hermann back, but Cruz can’t stop apologizing and trying to help. He thinks the best way to do this is to keep Herrmann updated on Freddie’s trial, but that’s the last thing that Hermann wants to hear. Truth be told the demons are more in Cruz’s head than in Hermann’s. Cruz’s internal demons are eating him alive, so he goes to see Freddie. Ultimately it’s a good decision, because Freddie sets Cruz free of the burden he’s been bearing.

In the midst of all of this the house must prepare for an incoming tornado. All of Chicago is put on lockdown and the house is only allowed out for emergency calls. Unfortunately the first call touches down in Hermann’s neighborhood. It’s difficult for Hermann to focus on the call, but focus he must in order to save another person’s family. It’s exactly what Hermann needs to get back to himself; that, and seeing his family safe. It really is true, the house isn’t the same without its heart and soul at his best.

How great was it to have Herrmann back where he belongs? Does the new Homeland Security angle feel like the right direction for Severide to dip into next?