How ‘Chicago Fire’ Removed Eamonn Walker’s Chief Boden in the Season 12 Finale — and Revealed a Shocking Surprise
This story contains plotlines from “Never Say Goodbye,” the May 22 season 12 finale of “Chicago Fire.”
It was a goodbye night on “Chicago Fire.” The season 12 finale was Eamonn Walker’s last as Chief Wallace Boden. The actor, who has served as Fire Department 51’s chief since the series premiered in 2012, will no longer appear as a regular cast member on the series starting next season.
After a tough call, Boden decides to run for Deputy Chief, largely because the people in the room (namely Chief Robinson) won’t be able to lead the department in the way it deserves. If he becomes DC, he’ll have to leave 51 forever. After telling the group, he tells Herrmann (David Eigenberg) that on the slim chance of him getting promoted, he wants him to take over his job.
Ultimately, Boden thinks he’s been passed over. However, after learning that Stella (Miranda Rae Mayo) has come to Oakland to sponsor him, proving how he can bring people together, he’s appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department.
Walker, who has appeared in a total of 252 episodes of “Chicago Fire,” is the third main cast member to leave this season, following Alberto Rosende and Kara Killmer, who left in the first half of Season 12. While the season finale seems like it will end with the group hugging Boden goodbye, there’s actually another secret waiting to be revealed. New firefighter Jack Damon (Michael Bradway), who has kept a secret since joining Fire Squad 51, comes clean in the final moments. He reveals to Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) that the last call came to him and he lost his temper because he saw a father mistreat his son. He says it touched his heart, revealing that his father mistreated him – and that father’s name was Benny Severide. Benny, who was played by the late Treat Williams in 16 episodes, was Kelly’s father, who passed away after suffering a stroke in Season 7.
