As Chicago Fire gears up for its 13th season, big changes are on the horizon for Firehouse 51. With Chief Boden (Eamonn Walker) gone, a new leader, Dom Pascal (played by Dermot Mulroney), steps in to take the reins. Showrunner Andrea Newman hints that season 13 will have a “haunted” feel, where the characters’ pasts come back to shape their present.
A New Leader Takes Charge
Chief Boden has been a central figure at Firehouse 51, but season 13 sees a new chief stepping in. Dom Pascal will be leading the team, and his arrival brings a wave of reactions from the crew. “It’s like Boden raised them,” Newman says, emphasizing how much Boden’s leadership has influenced the team. Each firefighter will respond differently to Pascal’s leadership, and some reactions will surprise viewers.
Despite Boden’s absence, his presence will continue to loom large over the firehouse. “Boden’s presence is still so much a part of the show,” Newman says. She describes Boden as being formative in creating the close-knit family dynamic within the team, and his influence will still be felt as they navigate life under Pascal’s command.
New Dynamics in the Firehouse
While Boden’s absence may leave a void, it also creates opportunities for fresh dynamics. “Bringing new people in is really a joy just as a writer,” Newman shares. She looks forward to the new relationships and tensions that Pascal’s presence will create among the team. For Newman, it feels similar to a parent stepping back and watching how well their children have been raised. Firehouse 51 has long been a family, and season 13 will explore how that family evolves without its father figure.
Severide Faces Family Drama
One of the biggest cliffhangers from season 12 revolved around Severide (Taylor Kinney) discovering that he has a half-brother, Damon (Michael Bradway). This revelation reopens old wounds for Severide, as it forces him to confront his complicated relationship with his late father, Benny.
“We kept feeling like this is haunted season 13,” Newman explains, alluding to the ghosts of the past coming back to haunt many characters. For Severide, the appearance of his half-brother stirs up unresolved feelings about his father. “He’s worked really hard to put his father in the rearview mirror and become his own firefighter,” Newman says. But with Damon now in his life, Severide is forced to reexamine that part of his past.
Violet and Carver’s Ghosts
Severide isn’t the only one dealing with the past. Violet (Hanako Greensmith) and Carver (Jake Lockett) will also be grappling with their personal demons in season 13. Violet is still haunted by her former relationship with Hawkins (Jimmy Nicholas) and the tragic events surrounding his death. As for Carver, he carries a weight that goes deeper than any single event. “Carver is haunted just as a soul,” Newman explains.
The new season will delve into how Violet and Carver’s past experiences shape their present interactions. “They both bring their own ghosts to the table,” says Newman, hinting at how their shared grief and trauma may influence their relationship going forward.
A Season of Reckoning
With Boden gone and past traumas resurfacing for multiple characters, Chicago Fire season 13 promises to be a season of reckoning for the members of Firehouse 51. As the characters navigate new challenges under Pascal’s leadership, they will also have to confront the emotional baggage they’ve been carrying. From Severide’s complicated family ties to Violet and Carver’s haunted pasts, the season is set to explore how the ghosts of the past continue to shape the future of Firehouse 51.
Season 13 of Chicago Fire is shaping up to be an emotionally charged journey, with characters confronting their personal demons while navigating the ever-changing dynamics of life at Firehouse 51.
