Chicago Fire Season 13: How Firehouse 51’s New Captain Is Different From Boden, Explains Showrunner
Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman has explained how Firehouse 51’s new Captain has a different leadership style than Boden (Eamonn Walker) did when he was in charge. Chicago Fire season 13 will see Dermot Mulroney join the cast as Captain Dom Pascal, who replaces Boden after he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department. Not much is known about the newcomer yet, other than that he’s a friendly firefighter with years of experience in Miami. However, there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding how his arrival will change the dynamics for the team.
Speaking to TV Insider, Newman clarified how Captain Pascal provides a different leadership style for Chicago Fire’s Firehouse 51 than Boden. The showrunner revealed how he would join the team, saying he would try to learn more about them while they learn about him. This is especially true of Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), who Boden trusts to run the fire station. Newman also teased the conflict between Pascal and his wife Monica (KaDee Strickland). Check out what Newman had to say below: [Chief Dom Pascal] shakes things up. What happened to get him here is revealed in the premiere. He’s a completely different kind of leader than Boden, who was a father when he left home. [He’s] mysterious, he wants to peel back the layers of the firefighters to learn more about them as firefighters and as people because knowledge is power to him. He has an eye for people who are off limits.
All of our guys will have different reactions to him, and there will be surprises about who sticks with Pascal and who doesn’t…. [C]ontinues to be a big drama in Pascal’s marriage.
Although Walker has left Chicago Fire as a main cast member, Newman has revealed that the former Chief will be returning in a recurring role in season 13. While it’s unclear whether he’ll interact with Pascal, the differences between the two characters could be more easily contrasted in the episodes where Boden appears. However, Newman’s quote makes it seem like the new leader will need to prove himself to the team, especially Herrmann, as a worthy successor to the new Deputy Chief.
Since the former Chief has been on the show since season 1, Pascal’s arrival will be a tough act to follow, which could change some of the key relationships between the Firehouse 51 characters. While he was initially seen as Boden’s replacement on Chicago Fire, his previous experience coupled with his focus on family life will make him more well-rounded. This could make him a worthy leader among the established cast, despite the difficulties of growing into his new role.
With the difference in leadership that Mulroney’s character will bring, Chicago Fire will have a very different team dynamic heading into season 13. However, with so many elements already teased to flesh out Chief Pascal, he could be a memorable addition in a short amount of time. While he’ll never be able to fully replace Boden, given his time on the show, he can at least provide a new form of leadership that hasn’t been seen in previous series.
