Chicago Fire Plot Twist: How Boden’s Exit Sets the Stage For *Two* Major Character Shakeups
As the latest season of Chicago Fire nears its final flame, anticipation is building for the newly renewed Season 13. When does the firefighter drama return, and who’s in the cast next season? Keep reading to learn everything we know about Chicago Fire Season 13, including the two major plot twists one character’s exit introduced.
Chicago Fire is NBC’s drama series following the personal and professional lives of firefighters, paramedics, and other rescue personnel at the Chicago Fire Department’s fictional Firehouse 51. The series — which premiered in 2012 and was created by Dick Wolf, the same mind behind the Law & Order and FBI franchises — is the first show in NBC’s One Chicago franchise, which also includes Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med.
In March, NBC renewed Chicago Fire along with its other two Chicago-set dramas. At the time of the renewal news, One Chicago ranked among the top three shows of the night this season in total viewers. Fire averaged 12.6 million viewers (+86%) and was +236% in the demo, according to Deadline. NBC will start production on Season 13 of Chicago Fire in mid-July, less than two months after the Season 12 finale, Screen Magazine reported on May 15, 2024.
Chi-Hards had to endure a lot of cast shakeups this season. Kelly Severide was missing for part of the season, while Killmer took her final bow as paramedic Sylvie Brett during Episode 6, leaving a spot open on Ambulance 61. Jared Lennox (played by Wesam Keesh) briefly filled her spot for two episodes but was quickly fired for being insubordinate. In Episode 9, Lyla Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) joined Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) on the ambulance, and they recently clashed in Episode 12, “Under Pressure.”
Thankfully, there’s much to look forward to in Chicago Fire Season 13, which promises to move Firehouse 51 in a new direction. Read on for what we know about Chicago Fire Season 13, including the return date, cast, and plot.
Who’s in the Chicago Fire Season 13 cast?
The Season 13 cast has not officially been announced, but most of the Season 12 characters are expected to return, except a few. Characters like Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende), and Rome Flynn (Derrick Gibson) all exited the procedural in Season 12. In recent bittersweet news, Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) also said goodbye to Firehouse 51 as a series regular in the Season 12 finale, though it’s been confirmed that he will remain on the series in Season 13 in a recurring role.
This means that only four original firefighters will remain on the procedural, including Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Solte), and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney). Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith), Sam Carver (Jake Lockett), and Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) are also likely to return. Newcomer Jack Damon (Michael Bradway) and Lizzie Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) may also be back for the next installment, but nothing’s been confirmed.
Chicago Fire sparked speculation that Boden was leaving in Season 12, Episode 8, “All the Dark,” in which the chief learned that Deputy Fire Commissioner Gloria Hill was retiring and that her position would soon be available. Boden also discovered that his name, along with Paramedic Field Chief Robinson, were on the shortlist to replace Hill.
In the end, Bode took the Deputy Fire Commissioner job in the Season 12 finale, which made sense as a way for Chicago Fire to write him off as a series regular, while still allowing him to continue on the series in a recurring role. Along with his role as the Chicago Fire Department’s new DC, Bode also offered the role of chief of Firehouse 51 to Herrmann, who hesitantly accepted it. Mouch also revealed in the Season 12 finale that he was studying for the lieutenant test with the help of his wife, Sergeant Trudy Platt from Chicago P.D.
Before the Season 12 finale, fans predicted that the effect of Boden’s new role would trickle down to different members of Firehouse 51, with many fans speculating that Severide would replace him as Chief of Firehouse 51. The reasoning was that Severide was the interim chief while Boden was away for personal reasons in the last few episodes of Chicago Fire Season 12 before the finale.
With Severide taking on the role of chief, fans also speculated that Joe Cruz would replace him as lieutenant, given that Cruz was a temporary lieutenant while Severide was at an arson investigation training program in the second half of Season 11.
What will happen in Chicago Fire Season 13?
What will happen in Chicago Fire Season 13? According to NBC Insider, viewers should expect to see a “new era” of Firehouse 51. “Chi-Hards can prepare for more high-stakes rescue missions and explosive Firehouse 51 drama,” the site wrote, following multiple big cast exits in Season 12.
