“A Relationship on the Rocks”: Chicago Fire Department Reacts to Ominous Warning About New Fire Chief
Chicago Andrea Newman has revealed ahead of the ominous warning how Firehouse 51 will react to their new chief, Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), revealing how his presence will change the show moving forward. Pascal will replace Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) as the department’s new chief, after their former captain was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the entire Chicago Fire Department. The new chief is described as a friendly firefighter who works well under pressure, with years of experience after working in Miami for a while.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, however, Newman ominously teased how the team members will have different reactions to Pascal’s arrival in Chicago Fire season 13. However, the showrunner said Boden’s presence will still be felt because of the time he’s spent with the team. She also teased the new dynamic of essentially writing a season “without the father of this family,” hinting at how the season will approach its characters. Check out what Newman had to say below: It’s like Boden raised them. When a new leader comes in, people will react differently. And some of the reactions are surprising. Boden’s presence is still a huge part of the show, and it always will be, because he’s shaped how he brings this team together and how he raises this family.
There’s still such a core group there and they really do feel like a family and they always have. Bringing in new people is really fun as a writer. You get to see new dynamics, you get to see how some people change, how their relationships get a little bit messed up when this new person comes in. The idea of sitting down and trying to write without the father of this family, honestly, feels like how you feel as a father when you hope you’ve raised your kids right. Pascal joining Firehouse 51 will be a big change for Chicago Fire season 13, the new leaders will forever change the dynamics of the entire team. This is especially true for veteran members of the team like Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), whose long tenures on the team may make them wary of new leaders coming from across the country. However, others may be more open to Boden’s replacement once they get to know him better, even if their interactions won’t be the same.
With Pascal’s new presence, his arrival and the team’s dynamic could be a major focus of the first few episodes of season 13. Meanwhile, Newman’s interview was accompanied by images from Chicago Fire season 13, one of which shows the new Chief helping someone after an apparent explosion. It’s possible that his behavior during his first practice mission with the team will bring them all closer together, making even those who were initially skeptical believe in his leadership abilities.
While Pascal will prove to be committed to his new position, Newman’s comments suggest that not everyone will immediately accept him as their new Chief. This could lead to some conflict that could see Boden briefly return to the story, as he’ll be appearing in a recurring role in the new season. Regardless of how the transition of power plays out, it seems like the Chicago Fire’s big change won’t be something his team will be able to accept right away.
