Spoiler Warning: The following 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 began looking for a 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.
In the Chicago PD season 12 finale, Boden took a new job as Deputy Fire Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department, meaning he left Firehouse 51. Pascal replaced Boden in Chicago Fire season 13, which was a big adjustment for many. However, changes continued in season 13 when Kelly Severide’s long-lost half-brother Damon also left the fire department after Kidd reported him for insubordination. Now, a familiar character (with ties to Boden) from previous seasons will replace Damon.
Kidd struggled to find a new firefighter for Truck 81 who would meet Pascal’s expectations in season 13, episode 4. Her first choice was former Chicago Fire character Kylie Estevez, one of Kidd’s new recruits in the Girls on Fire program. However, when Kidd met Kylie, she shared her hesitation about joining Firehouse 51 because she didn’t want to continue living under the shadow of the lieutenant. So Kidd was back to square one. Thankfully, Christopher Herrmann has a solution to all their problems — Darren Ritter will move to Truck 81, and Kylie will replace him at Engine 51. So it’s a win-win situation for all the characters involved in Chicago Fire season 13. Kidd gets to find a worthy successor to Damon on Truck 81 who 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 is finally part of the Firehouse 51 team shortly after Boden left 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 in a firehouse 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 of them work together.
Kylie and Boden worked closely together and had a great relationship, so it’s a shame that viewers won’t get to see them reunite when Kylie officially becomes a member 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.
