The Season 13 finale of Chicago Fire, titled “It Had to End This Way,” served as an emotional and professional pivot point for Firehouse 51. The episode was tasked with resolving several season-long arcs—namely the future of Chief Dom Pascal, the promotions of Herrmann and Mouch, and the personal lives of Stellaride—while simultaneously setting the stage for a new era without the towering presence of former Chief Wallace Boden.
In classic Chicago Fire fashion, the finale delivered high-stakes rescues, tear-jerking conversations, and more than one seismic shift. Yet, the question remains: for all the emotional weight and dramatic urgency, did it truly have to end this way?
👨🚒 The Engine 51 Sacrifice: A Noble Mistake?
The most consequential decision of the finale belonged to Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg). After a season of mentoring under Chief Pascal and intense pressure from Boden to step up, Herrmann was faced with the ultimate choice: take the Chief’s exam or remain a Lieutenant. His journey led him to the poignant realization that the desk-job life of a Chief was not his true calling—his heart belonged on the Engine, fighting fires with his family at 51.
However, the complication arose when Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte) successfully passed his Lieutenant’s exam. With two lieutenants on Engine 51 and only one spot for the commanding officer, Herrmann made a staggering move: he voluntarily stepped down, demoting himself back to a firefighter to allow his best friend, Mouch, to take the rank and bugles of Engine Lieutenant.
The Emotional Argument
On a purely emotional level, this was one of the most heartwarming moments in the show’s history. It was a profound act of selfless friendship, a gesture that highlighted the unbreakable bond between the two veterans and the depth of their commitment to one another. Herrmann’s sacrifice affirmed that his found family at 51—especially Mouch—was more important than rank, authority, or prestige. It felt right for Herrmann’s character, who values personal connection over professional hierarchy.
The Professional and Practical Dilemma
This is where the title’s premise—”It Had to End This Way”—comes under scrutiny.
- Financial Reality: Herrmann has a wife, Cindy, and five children. A demotion comes with a significant pay cut and affects his retirement eligibility. For a character defined by his struggle to provide for his family (running Molly’s, previous side hustles), this decision seems practically reckless. Mouch, whose wife is a high-ranking Sergeant with wealth, is financially secure. Many fans argue that the logical and responsible outcome would have been for Herrmann to remain Lieutenant, leaving Mouch to seek a Lieutenant position at another house—which would still be a promotion.
- The Power Dynamic: The setup creates an immediate and undeniable tension for Season 14. Herrmann, the more experienced officer and the natural leader of the two, is now professionally subordinate to the laid-back, newly minted Lieutenant Mouch. This deliberate choice by the writers to generate conflict—two “cranky, grumpy types” now on opposing sides of the chain of command—feels more like a narrative contrivance than a natural conclusion to Herrmann’s growth arc.
While the reason for the decision was sound—Herrmann preferring the Engine floor to the Chief’s desk—the way it was executed, by a self-demotion, is a storytelling gamble that risks undermining his character’s established life struggles for the sake of Season 14 drama.
🤰 Stellaride’s Surprise: Joy and Heartbreak
The Season 13 finale also delivered a pivotal moment for Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney). After deciding to pursue adoption—a complex, season-long arc that followed an earlier miscarriage and Stella’s fears stemming from her own childhood—the couple received confirmation that they were approved to become adoptive parents.
However, the episode wasn’t done with the emotional rollercoaster. In a stunning twist, just moments after their adoption approval, Stella learned that she was unexpectedly pregnant—a development that overturns their carefully constructed adoption plans.
- The Joy and Complexity: This moment is pure, unexpected joy for the couple, who have become the show’s foundational pair since the departure of “Dawsey” and “Brettsey.” The pregnancy opens up a rich, emotional storyline centered on Kelly’s protective instincts and Stella’s career balance, particularly in light of her earlier conversation with Boden about the risk of their jobs.
- The Narrative “Cruelty”: Yet, many viewers found the timing of the pregnancy twist to be narratively “cruel.” To put the couple through a difficult, emotional adoption vetting process only to reveal a surprise pregnancy at the last moment effectively wipes the slate clean on their adoption arc. It diminishes the profound significance of their decision to adopt and replaces a unique storyline with a more conventional pregnancy plot, repeating a major trope used several times throughout the One Chicago universe. While the surprise was thrilling, it cheapened the emotional investment in their adoption journey.
🚒 Chief Pascal and the Future of 51
The finale effectively secured the future of Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) at Firehouse 51. After a season marked by questions about his leadership, his past in Miami, and the tragedy surrounding his wife Monica’s death, Pascal received a massive vote of confidence from his crew. The firehouse’s show of family support culminated in a funeral for Monica, ultimately proving that 51, and its new Chief, were family.
This development establishes a stable, if sometimes tense, new command structure for Season 14. With Severide and Kidd running Truck and Squad, Mouch on Engine, and Pascal in the big chair, Firehouse 51 is fully under new leadership, firmly moving past the era of Chief Boden.
✅ Final Verdict: A Mixed Bag of Heart and Head
The Chicago Fire Season 13 finale, “It Had to End This Way,” was undeniably a powerful episode. It excelled in delivering the high emotion and profound relational moments the series is known for.
- The Heart: Herrmann’s sacrifice for Mouch was a beautiful, genuine expression of friendship, and Stellaride’s pregnancy news was a shocking moment of pure joy.
- The Head: Both major twists relied heavily on narrative shock and conflict-generation rather than practical reality. Herrmann’s demotion creates an artificial drama (the “cranky, grumpy types” feud) at the expense of his family’s stability, and the Stellaride pregnancy negates the emotional investment in the adoption storyline.
Ultimately, the finale successfully closed the door on a major chapter—the Boden era—while throwing open several new ones guaranteed to bring drama in Season 14. Did the writers choose the most logical, respectful, or sustainable path for these characters? Probably not. But they certainly chose the most dramatically compelling one.
