Chicago Fire season 12’s latest character exit is so disappointing amid a couple of departures earlier in the year. Firehouse 51 is no stranger to losing members. While it has some long-running staff that have been part of Chief Boden’s unit since One Chicago began, it has also bid farewell to countless players in its more than a decade on the screen. Rotating ensembles are the norm for procedurals, as not all actors can’t commit to years working on a single project. It’s also the writers’ way of keeping things fresh and unique by introducing new characters.
Unlike its fellow Wolf Entertainment NBC franchise, Law & Order, One Chicago leans more on drama for its procedural storytelling. While cases are important, they are anchored by the personal stories of the people working in the Windy City. Aside from Hank Voight’s Intelligence in Chicago PD, Chief Boden’s Firehouse 51 of Chicago Fire has arguably one of the most dangerous jobs in the franchise. Deaths have been used to write out characters, but for the majority of its run, its exits are less tragic. Still, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t tough pills to swallow, like its latest one.
Rome Flynn Leaving Chicago Fire Continues A Disappointing Trend
Chicago Fire Already Lost Blake Gallo And Sylvie Brett.
While One Chicago has time and again proven that it can survive ensemble changes, as it has done multiple times over the years, Chief Boden’s team has faced some big departures in such a short period. Ahead of the Chicago Fire season 12 premiere, it was confirmed that Alberto Rosende was leaving as Blake Gallo, which happened in the very first episode of the year. Subsequently, and as set up by her engagement to Matt Casey in the Chicago Fire season 11 finale, Kara Killmer’s Sylvie Brett moved to Portland, Oregon on the heels of their emotional wedding.
Just when one thought that Firehouse 51 would be able to maintain its unit, at least until the end of the year, it lost another member. Confirming it on his official Instagram, Rome Flynn announced the end of his stint as Derrick Gibsonin Chicago Fire season 12. This came as a shock, considering that the character had just been on One Chicago for a total of six episodes. Previously, there wasn’t any indication that his involvement in Firehouse 51 would be temporary, especially after Gibson and Sam Carver seemingly developed a burgeoning friendship amid the chaos in the firehouse.
Rome Flynn’s Gibson Has Unrealized Potential In Chicago Fire Season 12
Gibson Could Have Played A Big Role In One Chicago.
Gibson’s arrival in Chicago Fire season 12 was prompted by Stella Kidd’s attempt to fill the vacant spot that Gallo left in Truck 81. He was previously in another house working with Kylie Estevez, and his chance encounter with Firehouse 51 paved the way for Kidd to recruit him to Chief Boden’s unit. Despite his obvious skills, Gibson struggled to get comfortable at Firehouse 51, as with many newcomers to the tight-knit group. He wasn’t comfortable with the team’s dynamic, especially since Chief Boden’s unit is extremely tight-knit. Knowing what that felt like, Carver took it upon himself to help.
Had Flynn’s Gibson stayed, he would have been Chicago Fire ‘s first Black core cast member since Charlie Barnett’s Peter Mills.
Just when Gibson seemed like he was settling in, he realized that there were some personal matters that he needed to sort out first, forcing him to leave Firehouse 51. While Kidd and Carver appear to still holding out hope that he would return in time to claim his spot in Truck 81, there are no plans for his return anytime soon. This is particularly disappointing because there’s so much potential in the character. Had Flynn’s Gibson stayed, he would have been Chicago Fire’s first Black core cast member since Charlie Barnett’s Peter Mills.
Beyond that, his dynamic with Kylie was also unique and adorable. They have a brother-sister relationship — something that Chicago Fire hasn’t really had in recent seasons. If Kylie moves to Firehouse 51, it would have been great to see more of that. Finally, Gibson and Carver were poised to be the new Kelly Severide and Casey, but this exit effectively pulled the plug on that.
Chicago Fire Cannot Afford To Keep Losing Cast Members
Firehouse 51 Needs Some Stability.
Flynn has insinuated that it wasn’t his decision to leave Chicago Fire season 12, making his abrupt exit more peculiar. It’s still uncertain why he was let go from One Chicago, especially this late in its shortened year. At the very least, the show could have held onto him until the finale so as not keep some kind of stability in an already tumultuous season. Moving forward, however, Chicago Fire needs to be more mindful when it comes to cast changes. While it has found ways to move on from departures, it can’t keep on changing players this frequently.
