Firehouse 51 isn’t as stable as it used to be.
Firehouse 51 has had a wild turnover rate in Chicago Fire’s latest season. We’ve seen several medics and firefighters roll through, in addition to veterans like Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende) and Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer). Stability isn’t what it used to be at the firehouse, which ultimately makes sense given that the show has been on for over a decade and is in the midst of a transitional period.
That being said, the rate at which characters have come and gone suggests that more changes will be taking place in the upcoming season 12 finale. We’d prefer not to lose any more members of the team, but we do have to take the recent trend into account.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of the characters are most likely to leave 51 come the final episode of the season.
Wallace Boden
Let’s get the least likely out of the way. Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) is a Chicago Fire staple, but the show is proving that it can function smoothly without him. The veteran chief has taken a leave of absence, and Severide has been put in charge. This has not only switched up the power dynamic in the show, but given Severide some new responsibilities to play with. It’s suited him.
We want Boden to come back, and we think he will, but this may have been a trial run for the writers to consider what the show looks like with a retired Boden and a Severide running the show from a higher position.
Lyla Novak
Lyla Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) is still getting her feet wet with regards to 51. She’s been part of the team for less than a handful of episodes, and she doesn’t seem to have any ulterior motives working next to Violet (Hanako Greensmith). That being said, Novak is hesitant to commit a long-term residency.
The character was given a chance to become a permanent member of 51 in the episode “The Wrong Guy,” but she balked at the idea. Everything we know about her so far implies that she has issues with commitment, and she may very well decided to walk away come the end of season 12. We hope she doesn’t, given how refreshing her presence on the show has been so far.
Jack Damon
Another newbie! Jack Damon (Michael Bradway) made his series debut in “The Wrong Guy,” and boy was he eager to please. He voiced his admiration for Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), and tried to play the teacher’s pet role with Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) in the field. The thing is, something is a bit off about the guy.
We talked about in here, but Damon had a mysterious phone call in the episode that implied he had a secondary motive for being so nice. “That isn’t the only reason why I’m here,” he said. “No, no, nobody here knows. And I’ll keep it that way for as long as I want.”
Maybe he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, maybe he’s related to Severide. It’s too early to tell. If it’s the former, though, expect Damon to be exiting soon.
Joe Cruz
This would be the worst possible exit. Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) is one of the most beloved characters on Chicago Fire, and has been since day one. He has, however, been through a lot in the last couple seasons. Heck, the last couple episodes. The character was almost extorted for his adopted son, Javi, and his marriage to Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie) has been crumbling.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility for Cruz to step away from 51 and pursue a less intensive career in an effort to focus on repairing his marriage and his home life. Especially on the heels of his earlier issues with Severide. Unlikely, but definitely something to flag as we get closer to the finale.
