Dick Wolf’s long-running NBC procedural centers on the heroic firefighters and paramedics of the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) as they

sweat through the perils of their professional and personal lives. Currently, Dermot Mulroney’s Dom Pascal serves as Firehouse 51’s

battalion chief, overseeing a team that includes Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide, Hanako Greensmith’s Violet Mikami, and Jocelyn Hudon’s Lizzie Novak.

 

 

At the forefront of the fall finale is a serious fire at a local high school, which Severide investigates. After putting out the blaze, he realizes it was set just outside the office of the principal, Mr. Cole. This leads him to believe it was a targeted attack.

Cole suspects a Black student named Wyatt, whom he’d previously busted for marijuana and had a tense encounter with the night before at a basketball game. After seeing a photo, Severide realizes he saw Wyatt outside the school when they pulled up.

 

 

Severide links up with investigator Tom Van Meter (Tim Hopper). The pair speaks with Wyatt’s father, who insists his son is innocent and refuses to let them talk to him.

Later, Wyatt’s name is cleared when investigators realize the fire was set remotely using a smart plug — at the very same time Cole saw him at the basketball game.

When Severide and Van Meter bring this info to Wyatt’s father, Wyatt shows them a private Facebook group called “I Hate Mr. Cole.” The group accuses the principal of bullying students, humiliating them publicly, and even pumping up charges in an effort to expel those he deems problematic. It’s a solid lead, but with 83 members in the group, there are now 83 new suspects.

The episode ends with Severide and Van Meter visiting Cole’s apartment. As we watch the trio speak through a window, a fire ignites in the building’s stairwell, and a hooded figure exits onto the street.

Somebody really wants Cole dead — and they don’t seem to care who else they hurt in the process.

“Pierce the Vein” begins by revealing it’s the day of Ray’s (Gonzalo Menendez) parole hearing. Tensions are high between him and Sal, as Sal was devastated to learn that his dad is guilty of the crimes of which he’s been accused, including fabricating evidence as a detective.

“He made his bed, however long he’s gotta lie in it,” Sal says. “That’s on him. I’m done.”

Sal, then, is shocked when Ray approaches him and Violet outside the station. “Didn’t expect to see me so soon,” Ray says. He’s come for his car, which Sal has been driving. “You try to teach your kid good manners,” Ray intones, “but they are who they are.”

This exchange only adds to the unease Sal has been feeling. Earlier in the episode, we see him distracted as Violet trains him on starting an IV. Sensing his distress, Violet invites Sal out for a drink. He accepts, but doesn’t want the night to end. When we last see him and Violet, they’re shutting down a bar and heading to another.