Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 17 recap: Violet solves the case of the gym guys and Pascal acts up

Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 17, "A Beast Like This," premiered on April 2, 2025. It depicted Chief Pascal still grappling with the tragedy of losing his wife, while Violet solved a curious case involving the gym bros. The episode also illuminated the relationship between Novack and Damon as they realize they should not continue; the prospect of ending it does not make Damon happy.

The official synopsis of the episode, as per Rotten Tomatoes, reads,

“Kidd connects with a troubled teen interested in Girls on Fire; Cruz, Capp and Tony eagerly wait to try out Squad's new saw; Violet and Novak are stumped by a bodybuilder who passed out at the gym.”

Let us explore what happened in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 17.

Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers.

---

Chief Pascal struggles with maintaining his composure in Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 17

Dom Pascal is vulnerable in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 17, after tragically losing his wife in episode 15. Struggling to accept her accidental death, he gradually comes to terms with his loss. His grief impacts his job performance, particularly during the first call of episode 17 involving a car accident at a mall, which reminds him of Monica's incident.

He discovers a little girl trapped under the car. He loses his composure and reacts with anger due to the situation's severity, as the girl could have been seriously injured. Novak steps in to assist him, and the situation improves.

The episode also depicts Pascal packing his wife's belongings, keeping only a few mementos, highlighting his grief and adding emotional depth to the storyline.

---

Violet figures out what is wrong with the gym guys in Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 17

The case of gym members falling sick is a key plot in this episode. It begins when Novak and Violet are called to a gym where a stand has fallen on a man. Violet discovers he was dizzy before the accident and refused help, leading her to suspect an opioid overdose.

Her theory fails when the guy doesn't respond to overdose treatment despite being low on oxygen. Another case comes in with a victim in severe pain at his flat. Violet notices an injection mark on his leg that may indicate an infection.

The roommate confirms the man followed a strict diet without substances. However, it is eventually revealed that he had vet sedatives in his system, which were also found in the body of the first gym guy. This led to the discovery that the gym owner mixed vet sedatives with steroids, causing illness in users.

The police then arrive, and the gym owner is arrested. In addition to solving this case like a detective, Violet also makes progress in her personal life by deciding to go on a date with Flynn after she ghosted him in the last episode.

Chicago Fire can be streamed on Peacock.

---

Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more updates on shows!