Tonight on NBC Chicago Fire returns with an all-new Wednesday, May 15, 2019, season 7 episode 21 called, “The White Whale,” and we have your Chicago Fire weekly recap below. On tonight’s Chicago Fire as per the NBC synopsis, “A serial arsonist cold case is reopened when Lt. Severide finds a connection to a recent salon fire. Firehouse 51 celebrates a retirement party.”
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Chicago Fire begins tonight with Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) sitting in Chief Wallace Boden’s (Eamonn Walker) office, explaining to him and Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer) about the hair salon fire and how his father, Benny was obsessed with an arsonist from back in the day that he called “White Whale” and someone who was responsible for at least 8 fires, killing 2 people and injured another 6. When Matt asks how he thinks it is the same guy and Boden shows him the timing device and how he always turns out the power just before the break-in. Severide knows it isn’t a copycat because most things were not publicized. Boden wants him to message the papers over as he has a job to do there. Once Severide leaves, Boden feels it will be interesting to see what Hubble says about it all.
Randall “Mouch’ McHolland (Christian Stolte) puts up a retirement poster for Russ LaPointe someone he despises. Mouch talks about competitions and how LaPointe dusted him after he begged him to let him win in front of Trudy Platt (Amy Morton); Ritter (Daniel Kyri) can’t believe how bitter Mouch is being. In the meantime, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Layo) and Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) bug Emily Foster (Annie Ilonzeh) about being so tired, convincing her to join them Sylvie begins to cough when Matt walks in the room, but once he leaves they demand to know what is going on. She insists she just swallowed her spit wrong but finally admits that Olivia said her and Casey were meant for each other; Emily doesn’t think that is ridiculous and she should forget the Dawson stuff for a minute but Stella says the coughing fit does make her know how she really feels.
Everyone races off to a park, where a man tells them they were having a Roman Candle war and the one who was going to shoot off 5 can’t find his fingers; Sylvie peeling back the bandages and seeing only a couple there. The guys are looking around, told to watch their steps but 3 other men continue the game, making Matt tells Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov) to tell them to stop before they get injured too. Stella is able to locate the fingers but not before the guys throw some of the candles towards the rescue crew. Sylvie tends to Matt, smiling as she makes him promise to take care of it.
Chaplain Kyle Sheffield (Teddy Sears) is at Firehouse 51 when they return; he apologizes for being away so long and thanks to Matt for setting him straight. He hasn’t seen Foster and Sylvie so he suggests catching them another time. Stella asks Matt if he thinks the salon arson is connected to the old Benny case.
Ritter and Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) come to see Russ, saying 51 sends their best except for Mouch who is still upset about the muster thing. Herrmann introduces him to Darin Ritter as Herrmann is told they need to ignore the flyer, as he doesn’t need a big event where someone writes a big check. He wants a barbecue at home, something Herrmann tells him to make sure he goes to. He shakes hands with Ritter, saying if Hermmann says he is a good guy than he is; he tightens his squeeze as he tells him it is the good ones that get hit the hardest on this job; advising him to take care of himself.
Severide finds Captain Hubble, giving her a copy of his dad’s notebook. She says she will check it out but Severide keeps pressing her, She says she will have a look but needs to go to the forensics lab, she is not saying he’s wrong but she isn’t betting any chips on Benny’s theory until she sees that these cases are connected. He warns her that the guy works in waves, but she tells him she doesn’t need a lecture.
Boden confronts Severide about going to see Hubble against his orders. He knows Severide has a lot to give to this case but his judgment gets clouded when it involves something about her father. He begins to shout at Boden who reminds him who he is talking to; Severide felt he was talking to a friend, not someone based on rank. Boden puts him on medical leave until he can do his job with a clear head. In the locker room, Matt says he will back him up and he isn’t the only one. Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) is acting squad lieutenant, but Matt is more concerned about what is happening with Kelly. Kelly says he sure isn’t going home to stare at the walls.
Herrmann tells Ritter the party is canceled as Otis says they should get Russ to Molly’s and raise a glass in celebration.
Severide finds Niya (Zenzi Williams) having several community members helping her cleaning up, but Severide spots Gavin Harkey (Peter Goldsmith) not helping and Niya says he is not very helpful. She tells Kelly that his apartment wasn’t touched by the damage as it is in the back of the building; she doesn’t know much as he just got out of prison for supposed vehicular manslaughter and served a pretty long stretch; Kelly asks if it was 15 years but she isn’t sure.
Kelly walks over to Gavin, who smirks as Kelly asks if he knows anything about the fire. Gavin says life is a real kick in the nuts, and Severide shoves him against the wall, saying he is definitely going to answer some questions. Fellow community people pull them apart as Niya asks Kelly what is going on?
Sylvie runs into Matt in the locker room, her saying she doesn’t have a cough. She gives him heck for keeping the same bandage on since yesterday and if it isn’t cleaned with a new dressing by the time she sees him in Molly’s he will be in trouble. He says he has one quick thing to do and then he will take care of it, appreciating her concern.
Matt goes to see Capt. Hubble, who has her entire staff working on the case. Matt reveals the story of Gavin Harkey. He admits Severide might have come by himself, but he’s worried she’d issue a restraining order. She feels that everyone in the building isn’t suspicious. Hubble reviews the case, but wants to know if he is the arsonist, why is he aiding in their investigation. When she says Severide was there, Matt tells her that maybe he is seeing something they are not and wonders if there is a chance he is right.
At Molly’s everyone gathers as Russ shows stories; Ritter seems especially affected. Russ is going to the bathroom but stops in front of Mouch, offering him his medal. Russ says he doesn’t need it anymore and lays it on the bar in front of Mouch before he walks away. Severide and Matt agree that Hubble should drag the guy off and interrogate him now; Severide opens his dad’s book repeating some of his words, saying if she bothered to read the notes she would know the similarities. Severide felt his whole life he has been trying to prove he is better than Benny, but with this stuff, he can’t even hold a candle to him.
Russ starts telling more stories, especially emotional about a woman who was skinned by an airplane but she was still alive. Ritter feels that should have been rough and Russ asks for another drink. Herrmann suggests he get into a cab but he stumbles to the floor, saying he is fine. He stands up saying they are firefighters and they are tough! Herrmann takes a broken down Russ and walks him out the bar, while everyone watches; Ritter saying they don’t prepare you for that at the academy and how the job gets inside your heads; Stella agrees as she watches Severide quietly leave too.
Stella comes to see Matt the following morning, as Matt tells her that he is trying to track down a witness from the original fires. Stella admits she tried to reach out to him, but Matt suggests she try again because he has a feeling that Stella is the one Severide needs right now. Mouch sits on the couch, holding the medal Russ gave him; knowing the medal meant the world to him. Ritter says someone needs to go check on Russ and Herrmann agrees.
They take the rig and arrive at the LaPointe’s home, his wife says he’s on shift but she reveals Russ doesn’t live there anymore; they split a few months ago. They shake her hand and Herrmann knows that Russ is in a bad way; Ritter tells him that his Uncle Anthony was a firefighter who took his own life two years ago, and he took this job to make things right somehow, wishing he has seen the signs and they are seeing them here and it isn’t too late for LaPointe.
Severide finds Carole Pierce, revealing that he is Benny’s son. Once inside, he reveals he is working on her case and he believes the arsonist is back. He asks Carole to walk him through that day. She says she will never forget what this man looks like so Kelly shows him a photo of Gavin. She thinks it could be him, but the harder she looks she is certain it is him. Kelly excuses himself, calling Captain Hubble. Carole begins to review the file Kelly has and he says that is privileged information and she apologizes asking if he would like some coffee. Kelly looks down and sees the electrical tape, timers, and wiring, but when he looks for Carole she has left the house and drives off before he can stop her.
Kelly calls Matt, sharing with Boden that Carole is the arsonist, not a victim. He believes she planted her next device as she plans to burn down a church.
The fire crews rush over to the church as Matt feels they are not too late, Boden says assuming they are in the right place. Boden tells everyone to proceed calmly and leaves the church, even though they are in the middle of a baptism ceremony. Matt is told where she would hide the device and heads to the basement. Matt doesn’t see anything but he smells gasoline, bringing him to a caged area where there is smoke rising and the timer going. Matt calls for a hose line and extinguisher right away.
The fire erupts as Matt and Herrmann call out for each other. Matt is able to rip the lock off and use the extinguisher to put it out. Matt does a silent prayer. Back at the firehouse, Stella praises Severide for putting out fires over the phone. Hubble arrives, calling Severide over. Matt finds Sylvie in the bunkroom, saying the bandage came loose on the call and he needs a new bandage before she yells at him. He comments that she is really good at this stuff and should consider a job in EMS, reminding her that it is exciting; they stare at each other for a few moments before Sylvie pulls way.
Herrmann knocks at Russ’ door, who finally opens and sees the whole fire crew there. They are there to help him, Christopher saying he is in crisis and they are not going to leave him behind no matter what. Kyle tells him about a trauma retreat. Mouch gives him back his medal, asking Russ if they can take him there. Russ cries and hugs them.
Captain Hubble reveals what is going on with Carole Spears, asking Lt. Severide to explain to everyone what they are up against. Kelly literally takes the place of his father, explaining that they better move fast. Everyone stares at Carole’s photo.
THE END!
