Herrmann and Mouch played detective, as the tension between Gallo and new firehouse lieutenant Pelham escalated to new highs in tonight’s newest episode. With Pelham taking Casey’s spot, and Boden taking a liking to him, his job security is almost solidified. But his mysterious past of constantly moving firehouses made Herrmann and Mouch suspicious. What happened in this guy’s past that made him always jump around? And will he bring that past to Firehouse 51?

Somehow, Mouch got a confidential file on Pelham, and made sure to hand it to Boden, who found out in the file that Pelham was given the longest suspension in Fire Department history. When Boden asked what it was, Pelham was cryptic and said that it’s something he never wants to discuss. Kind of strange that he wouldn’t give those details to a commanding officer. And Boden just let it go, saying the episode title “What happened at Whiskey Point?”

Mouch discovered a rumor that Pelham punched a commanding officer in the face on a call at a warehouse fire at Whiskey Point, and a few weeks later, that officer retired out of the blue. Boden visited the captain, Stafford and asked about the incident. Pelham accused Stafford of stealing jewelry at the case. Stafford admitted he did steal the jewelry, and Pelham said he would keep his mouth shut if he returned them, and retired, and that Pelham is on the floater cycle because he hit a superior. Pelham took the fall for Stafford because Stafford was having a horrible crisis with his family leaving him, and was going off the rails.

Gallo once again disobeyed a direct order on a call to a house where the fire alarm was malfunctioning and the residents not home. Gallo found a way through an open window, much to the anger of Pelham. The two got into a heavy yelling match about how Gallo is apparently insubordinate, and Gallo retaliating saying he will be on 51 longer than Pelham.

A house fire tested their professional relationship like no other, as Pelham and Gallo worked together to save a little girl trapped in the blaze. The two saved the girl, and got out of the house with ease, upsetting Gallo as his family died in a house fire when he was a kid. This experience brought the two together, and Gallo apologized and promised he will be behave better.

Side plot A of the week: Sylvie and Ritter begging Violet to tell Gallo how she feels about him. It’s clear that she likes him, and has been insanely jealous of his flirtation with their mini-brewery investor Kara. The romantic tension between them has always been there, since they’ve been on again, off again. This came to a head when the stress of work and her personal life caused Violet’s appendix to burst while being reprimanded by paramedic Chief Hawkins. On the way there, a delirious Violet was ranting about her personal life, and made Hawkins believe that she was flirting with him.

At the hospital with Violet, Gallo said that he has a tendency to be dark and distant to the people he loves, because when he feels like those people always leave him.

Side plot B of the week: Herrmann started moving his things into Casey’s old office. Severide doesn’t like the idea of Herrmann having this office, since it usually goes to the truck lieutenant, which is Pelham. Not only that, but Herrmann tried to give himself an office in season 8, and nearly burned the place to the ground in the process. It was a back and forth of Herrmann annoying Severide with loud music, hammering in the walls. Herrmann tried to buddy up to Severide, making him burst with rage to Herrmann. Severide made up with him by bringing some cigars to his house.

Side plot C of the week revolved around Cruz befriending a future single mom on a call after rescuing her, and his introspective look at how there are different kinds of people raising kids in different environments. While he was freaking out over expensive preschools, this woman, Stacy, had to cut back on her finances and move around jobs because she’s a struggling single parent. Stacy knitted Cruz’s baby a little fireman’s hat, and gave him advice that her mom gave her about always sitting the positives of parenting.

The end of the episode had Severide drop a bomb that Stella is not sure when Stella will come back, since Girls on Fire is doing so well in Boston, and he’s nervous that they will be distant whenever she gets back.

Could this possibly lead to Stella and Severide breaking up, or possibly either of them leaving the show? It seems that that may be a big deal when the show returns for its fall finale on December 8.

As I have said a couple of times already, the show seems to really be setting up for Gallo to take some form of leading man role. So much of the last several episodes have revolved around him in some capacity. With Casey gone, and now some possibility that Severide could be headed out soon, they’re gonna need a new young looking firefighter to be the face of the show.

Cruz’s time today was great. I think they have been using this character as a great moral ground for the show, since he has such a genuine heart for almost everyone he meets.

Pelham may become a more recurring role as time progresses too. Brett Dalton is doing a great job as this struggling lieutenant trying to fight his way back into the firefighting command.

What did you think of tonight’s episode? Leave a comment below!