Chicago Fire season 13 may have stealthily written out a fan-favorite character after a major Firehouse 51 update. It would be an understatement to say that the first-responder procedural has gone through so many changes in the last several years. One Chicago has seen several recent exits, but Firehouse 51 has been the most affected by the losses. Luckily, the Chicago Fire season 13 cast has somehow stabilized, although ensemble rotations for cost-cutting mean that some characters are missing certain episodes. Beyond that, the series hasn’t really experienced any major shake-ups, which is a relief.
That being said, changing personnel is inevitable in procedurals. Some of the longest-running ones have either totally changed its major cast (NCIS) or have lost original characters throughout the years (Law & Order: SVU). Chicago Fire season 13’s latest death, Monica Pascal, the wife of Chief Dom Pascal may not be as hard-hitting as losing Leslie Shay or Otis Zvonecek, but it still moves the show forward. That said, the first-responder procedural may have lost a valuable member of Firehouse 51 after an unexpected plot twist that brings back Jack Damon with the crew.
Jack Damon’s Return To Firehouse 51 Writes Out Kylie In Chicago Fire
Kylie No Longer Has A Saved Spot In Herrmann’s Team
After he is forced out of his latest firehouse, Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd find a way to help Benny Severide’s secret son, Damon, by convincing Chief Pascal to take him back in. For context, Chicago Fire season 13 started with the brothers both working under Firehouse 51, but Damon’s eagerness to prove himself to Severide caused him to make some bad decisions that led to his firing. He seems like a changed man now, and has even made amends with his sister-in-law, whom he tried sabotaging before.
That being said, Damon coming back as part of Engine 51 means that someone will be replaced, and that ends up being Kylie Estevez. She debuted in Chicago Fire season 8, and has recently joined Christopher Herrmann’s team, although it’s confusing why she isn’t always available for their shifts. Regardless, Chief Pascal’s decision to bring Damon back to Firehouse 51 leaves Kylie with virtually no spot. Unless something comes up again with any of the permanent members of the group, this development means there’s no more need for the character to return.
Why Chicago Fire Chooses Damon Over Kylie
Not That It Was A Direct Competition
While the situation really isn’t pitting Damon against Kylie, ultimately deciding to keep the former makes sense in the bigger picture for Chicago Fire. Kylie has been in One Chicago for quite a while now, but she has mainly been a recurring character. It’s unclear why the show won’t bring her in as a series regular, even when she was still working directly under Chief Boden. Because of that, she barely has any personal storyline in the series that demands urgent focus from NBC and Wolf Entertainment.
Aside from being Severide’s brother, a dynamic that is very fresh to tackle for the procedural, Damon also has a burgeoning romance with Lizzie Novak.
Meanwhile, he brings a ton of storytelling opportunities for Chicago Fire season 13. Aside from being Severide’s brother, a dynamic that is very fresh to tackle for the procedural, Damon also has a burgeoning romance with Lizzie Novak. Given those, it’s understandable that Chicago Fire would want to keep him around more frequently.
