Chicago Fire is about to be down a series regular for an extended period as we enter the final stretch of season 14.
Dermot Mulroney is indeed leaving Chicago Fire, at least temporarily, with his final appearance as Chief Dom Pascal coming in season 14, episode 14, “Hit and Run.” News of Mulroney’s exit first broke in January when it was revealed that he would be taking what was described as a “hiatus” from the show. At the time, little information was available other than that Mulroney’s final appearance would come in episode 14 and lead to an extended absence from the show.
The good news is that this is not a permanent cast exit, and the expectation is that Pascal will be back, but it has not yet been confirmed as to whether Mulroney will return before the season 14 finale. When breaking the news, Deadline revealed that scripts for the final episodes were still being finalized and that there was a chance Pascal would return before the season finale.
With Mulroney taking a step back from the show, Rob Morgan has been cast as Battalion Chief Hopkins, who will be stepping in to oversee Firehouse 51. Chief Hopkins is sure to ruffle some feathers, as the character is described as being someone who likes to assert their authority with a history of overseeing several firehouses over the years.
What happened to Pascal on Chicago Fire?
When it was announced that Dermot Mulroney was going to be heading on a hiatus from Chicago Fire, the details regarding how the show was set to address his absence were revealed. It was simply teased that his hiatus would be part of Pascal’s ongoing storyline and that viewers would understand more about the exit as the story played out. This was indeed the case, as Pascal’s exit storyline was tied to the actions he took during the One Chicago crossover.
During the One Chicago crossover, Pascal took matters into his own hands when it became evident that time was not on their side, as those exposed to the chemical attack at the heart of the crossover could die if an antidote was not found. The FBI and Intelligence Unit had gotten a lead that took them to the home of the man behind the attack, but upon entering his residence, it went up in flames, as he had rigged the place in an attempt to destroy evidence. There was just one problem: rather than allowing the CFD to enter the building to try to recover some of the evidence, David Conway, the Weapons of Mass Destruction coordinator for the FBI’s Chicago field office, refused to let Voight or Pascal enter the scene.
Knowing time was running out, Pascal entered the apartment to search for evidence, and when he exited the building, he was placed under arrest for obstructing the investigation. His actions landed him behind bars, but it led to the discovery of a hard drive. This hard drive contained details about the chemicals and the motive of the attack that ultimately gave them the break in the case they needed, which helped Cruz, Novak, Capp, and others exposed to the toxin to get the treatment needed to save their lives.
As the crossover drew to a close, Pascal was released from custody, but as he checked his phone when leaving, he noticed a missed call from Annette David and a text telling him to call her when he’s out. While he might have helped save the day, it seems that his actions will have consequences.
In Chicago Fire season 14, episode 14, the consequences of Pascal’s actions came to light as he went before the CFD board. Following his arrest, the board came down harder than expected. They wanted to make an example out of him. He’s terminated for conduct unbecoming and relieved of duty effective immediately.
The episode follows Pascal as he finishes his work in what will be his final shift at 51, and the exit certainly feels like a permanent one. Pascal meets with all of his senior officers one-on-one, bestowing some final words of wisdom on his way out the door. By the episode’s end, he’s cleared out his office and leaves it to Severide, his last parting gift being a study guide for Severide to take the next step in his journey in the CFD by becoming a captain.
As for Pascal? With his time in the CFD over, at least for now, he reaches out to a former colleague who is a DDC in Phoenix who has been trying to recruit him. While Pascal was at first going to step away from his work as a firefighter, Mouch inspired him not to give up on his calling. The episode ended with Pascal reaching out to his friend, suggesting Pascal will be taking the job in Phoenix.
Given how final this episode seemed to be, it’s going to be interesting to see if this turns out to be a brief hiatus, as has been reported, or if this becomes a permanent exit for Mulroney. At this time, there has been no report that he’s exiting the show with his exit being described as a hiatus; however, we’ve seen how things can change quickly so only time will truly tell whether Pascal will be back, and when his return will come.