Chicago Fire's latest episode was a Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) showcase. The character got to develop her relationship with her lawyer boyfriend, and bolster her friendship with Novak (Jocelyn Hudon), but the most interesting aspect of "Born of Fire" was the return of a former foe.
We knew a character from Violet's past would be returning due to the synopsis, but the wording and framing of the character led us to believe that it would be Emma Jacobs (Caitlin Carver). After all, the character had already returned to Chicago Fire once before, and seemed to have the most intense personal history with Violet.
We were wrong. Chicago Fire writers cleverly pivoted away from Jacobs and went with a character who we largely forgot about: Jared Lennox (Wesam Keesh). The character was introduced in season 12, two seasons after Jacobs stirred up trouble at 51.
Jared Lennox was charged with negligent homicide
Lennox was placed on the 51 medic team at the behest of Chief Robinson (Laura Allen). He was positioned as a straight-laced, by the book presence who would do the right thing under pressure, but the more time passed, the more obvious it became that he was there to sabotage Firehouse 51 and jeopardize Violet's job. He botched his mission, however, and was fired.
"Born of Fire" sees the character in hot water once again. Lennox was being charged with negligent homicide, and Violet's boyfriend was representing him. Violet looked into the case a favor to her beau but quickly recoiled when she discovered that Lennox was the medic in question.
Lennox had already proven to be a flawed medic in the field, as he nearly killed a patient by giving them an incorrect dose of a drug. Violet refused to help the disgraced medic, as she believed him to be guilty. Lennox approached Violet, however, and told his side of the story. He claimed he has grown since his 51 dismissal, and didn't do anything wrong this time around. He claimed he was a victim of circumstance.
Violet helped to clear Lennox's name
He pleased with Violet to reconsider helping him, knowing that his shady past will all but doom him in the eyes of a judge. The 51 medic decides to help out, against her better judgement, and it's a good thing too, because Lennox was telling the truth. He was not responsible for the erratic behavior and death of his patient, and the episode ends with him being cleared.
There were glimpses of Lennox's decency the last time we saw him on Chicago Fire. He tried to warn Chief Boden (Eamonn Walker) and the rest of 51 about Chief Robinson's corrupt plan, but this is not a direction we anticipated the show going. It was nice seeing a previously hated character improve, and be rewarded as a result.