Another original character was also going to say goodbye to Firehouse 51, but ultimately didn’t, as revealed in the Chicago Fire season 13 premiere. One Chicago has a number of characters and actors who aren’t returning for the current year for various reasons. While all three shows suffered major losses, Chicago Fire had the most departures last season. Blake Gallo, Sylvie Brett, Derrick Gibson, and Chief Wallace Boden all left Firehouse 51, leading to major changes in how Kelly Severide and the rest of the team operate moving forward.
Each of Chicago Fire’s recent departures has contributed to the current state of the fire department. Of those who left, Boden’s departure had the biggest impact, especially after plans to replace him with Christopher Hermann fell through. Boden was instead replaced by Dermot Mulroney’s Dom Pascal. So far, not much is known about the character, as Severide and his tight-knit group are still figuring out what kind of leader he is. However, amid all the turmoil in Chicago Fire’s season 13 premiere, “Monster in the Field,” the show also secretly revealed that they almost lost another original member.
In one of the more low-key moments in Chicago Fire’s season 13 premiere, Mouch McHolland and Joe Cruz talk about the possibility of Hermann getting promoted, which would allow the former to get promoted as well. The conversation comes after they spend time with Pascal, who doesn’t exactly warm to his new subordinate. Additionally, Cruz talks about his previous plans to take the lieutenant exam so he can advance in CFD. However, doing so would require him to transfer out of Firehouse 51 — something he doesn’t want to do.
The idea of wanting a promotion came after Cruz temporarily took over Severide’s position, as Stella Kidd’s husband left town to attend his OFI training camp in Chicago Fire season 11. If he took the said test, he would have no choice but to leave his current team. Otherwise, he would be overqualified for his position. The idea of wanting a promotion came after Cruz temporarily took over Severide’s position, as Stella Kidd’s husband left town to attend his OFI training camp in Chicago Fire season 11. Feeling unappreciated and disrespected by his superiors upon his return, Cruz decided he wanted to be a true loyalist, even if it meant leaving Firehouse 51. However, after the conflict between him and Severide was resolved, he chose to stay.
One Chicago is not a new show with a cast change. While it’s sad to say goodbye to some of the characters that fans have loved over the years, their departures have paved the way for new ones to arrive. This has allowed NBC and Wolf Entertainment to keep the series fresh and interesting after more than a decade on the air. However, Chicago Fire needs stability the most right now. The loss of Boden is huge, and the focus should be on building Pascal into a different but capable leader. The show will have a hard time doing that if it’s constantly on the verge of losing someone.
