Numerous firehouse chiefs have proven that a firehouse is as good as its captain. Boden Wallace was the epitome of this, leading the charge in making Firehouse 51 the best it could be. When Chicago Fire Season 13 premieres later this month, the firehouse will be under someone new. Chief Pascal takes over from Boden, shaking up how the firehouse does things by introducing new methods. The season premiere images have been released, and the episode titled “A Monster In the Field” finds the team dealing with a huge fire at a smoke shop. The team sees the new chief in his natural habitat.
It’s only natural that the season premiere introduces the chief, and the images show him in various situations. From an emergency to the common room and his office, the new chief appears to have settled in quite well. One image shows the team at a meeting as the new chief addresses them. Mouch, Severide, and Hermann are seen standing at the far end of the room, appearing to engage in small talk as they listen. Showrunner Andrea Newman revealed that his tenure would differ from Boden’s, and the new chief “makes it clear right from the start that he is not Chief Boden.”
The Age of Chief Dom Pascal Begins in ‘Chicago Fire’ Season 13
His leadership will be received differently by different people, and he will likely butt heads with some Firehouse 51 members. Some images show him and Hermann conversing in his office, and it doesn’t look like the conversation is going particularly well. Herrmann seemed like Boden’s natural replacement, so he might not be happy with being passed over. Will he pivot to another leadership position? Newman previewed “lots of drama” between Herrmann and Mouch as they climb the professional ladder.
The images also show Chief Pascal in the field as the Firehouse responds to a grisly fire in a tobacco shop. While Dom might be different from Boden, they will both do what needs to be done in an emergency, as he is seen helping a victim get to safety. A sneak peek shows him during the crisis, and his behavior is odd, piquing Severide’s interest. The episode’s title teases someone who goes wild in the field, and the best candidate seems to be the new chief.
The images feature several familiar faces who will also have personal arcs in the upcoming season. Jake Lockett is now a series regular, so expect more Sam Carver stories, especially with Violet. Newman teases ghosts from the past for these characters as they deal with unresolved trauma. “Violet’s haunted by Hawkins and what happened with Hawkins and that relationship. And Carver is haunted just as a soul,” she told Entertainment Weekly. Meanwhile, things heat up between Damon and Novak, but will they be able to keep up with the other person?
