Spoiler Warning: The following article contains spoilers from Chicago Fire season 13, episode 4, “Through the Skin.”
After Chief Dom Pascal fired Jack Damon in Chicago Fire season 13, episode 3, Stella Kidd set out to find his replacement in episode 4, and while it wasn’t easy, the lieutenant eventually found a solution. Unfortunately, while Firehouse 51’s newest firefighters were exciting, their introduction was somewhat bittersweet due to Chief Boden’s departure before Chicago Fire season 13. With Boden gone, the character’s return story wouldn’t reach its full potential in the episodes.
Although Damon has been released from Firehouse 51, NBC has yet to announce that his portrayer, Michael Bradway, will be leaving Chicago Fire, implying that Damon will continue to appear in season 13. In the season 12 finale of Chicago PD, Boden took a new job as Deputy Fire Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department, meaning he will be leaving Firehouse 51. Pascal replaced Boden in Chicago Fire season 13, which was a big adjustment for many. However, changes continued in season 13 when Damon, Kelly Severide’s long-lost half-brother, also left the fire station after Kidd reported him for insubordination. Now, a familiar character (with ties to Boden) from previous seasons will be taking Damon’s place.
Kidd is struggling to find a new firefighter for Truck 81 who will live up to Pascal’s expectations in season 13, episode 4. Her first choice is former Chicago Fire character Kylie Estevez, one of the recruits in Kidd’s Girls on Fire program. However, when Kidd meets Kylie, she shares her hesitation about joining Firehouse 51 because she doesn’t want to continue living in the shadow of the lieutenant. So Kidd is back to square one. Thankfully, Christopher Herrmann has a solution to all their problems. Darren Ritter will transfer to Truck 81, and Kylie will replace him at Engine 51. The Chicago Fire season 12 finale ends on a cliffhanger involving Severide, and the payoff in the season 13 premiere doesn’t live up to expectations.
So it’s a win-win situation for every character involved in Chicago Fire season 13. Kidd finds a worthy successor to Damon in Truck 81 that will make Pascal happy, while Kylie finally gets to join Firehouse 51 without having to worry about being compared to Kidd. However, there is a downside to Kylie’s return to Chicago Fire season 13. Kylie finally becomes part of the Firehouse 51 team shortly after Boden leaves in Chicago Fire season 13. As some may recall, Kylie was Boden’s office assistant before she joined Girls on Fire. The two characters have a connection, and it doesn’t seem right for Kylie to be at a fire station without Boden.
Perhaps Boden could return in a future Chicago Fire season 13 episode to congratulate Kylie on her transfer, but that wouldn’t be the same as seeing the two work together.
Kylie and Boden have worked closely together and their relationship is great, so it’s a shame that viewers won’t get to see them reunite when Kylie officially becomes a part of the Firehouse 51 family. Perhaps Boden could return in a future Chicago Fire season 13 episode to congratulate Kylie on her transfer, but that wouldn’t be the same as seeing the two of them work together.
Chicago Fire follows the lives of the firefighters, rescue squad members, and paramedics of Firehouse 51 in Chicago as they face professional and personal challenges that test their dedication, teamwork, and resilience.
Cast Robyn Coffin, Hanako Greensmith, Anthony Ferraris, Alberto Rosende, Daniel Kyri, Yuriy Sardarov, Randy Flagler, Joe Mioso, Miranda Rae Mayo, Kara Killmer, Christian Stolte, Lauren German, Charlie Barnett, Eamonn Walker, Taylor Kinney, Jesse Spencer, Steven R. McQueen, David Eigenberg, Monica Raymund, Annie Ilonzeh
