The character is going to struggle mightily over the next few episodes.
Chicago Fire killed off Monica Pascal (KaDee Strickland). It was telegraphed from the promo, which we discussed at length, but the emotional impact of the death still hit hard. A big part of why was the reaction from Monica’s husband, Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney).
The character was absolutely horrified to learn that his estranged wife had perished the very same night they were scheduled to have an anniversary dinner. It was a gut punch to end all gut punches, but it’s something Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman felt was important for the show.
Pascal is traumatized by his wife’s death
Newman discussed the death during a recent interview with TV Insider. She claimed the trauma that Pascal suffers in the wake of his wife’s death will set in motion one of the crucial arcs of season 13. “Seeing Dom Pascal pushed to the edge will be a sight to see,” she stated. “The passion is there, the love is there, but there’s some darkness, too.”
The showrunner was hesitant to share any specific details as to how Pascal’s behavior will shape the back end of the season. She did, however, pose some rhetorical questions that could provide insight into the Chief’s behavior come the end of March. “How will he react,” she asked. “Will this bring Pascal closer to the gang at 51, or will he do something that destroys these relationships he’s been working to build?”
The promo suggests that it will be the latter before it’s the former. Pascal’s behavior gets to be so out of hand, in fact, that peers like Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) have an intense discussion about what should be done with him in the latest promo.
51 is concerned about Pascal’s future
Herrmann and Severide were initially dubious of Pascal, but have come to respect the Chief due to his fairness and level-headed approach in the field. The season 13 newcomer has been as good as they could have hoped for in the Chief role, but things are going to change and Newman is excited to show the fans a different side of the character.
“Grief is a journey,” she told the outlet. “He’s not about to just let them in, but there will be surprising bonds formed along the way.” Pascal will also be forced to deal with the return of his predecessor, the great Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker), which will no doubt lead to some compelling television.
It was sad to see someone like Monica go down, but dramatically speaking, it was crucial for what comes next in the show.
