I’m Still Hoping This Disappointing Chicago Fire Season 12 Character Will Return for Season 13 Despite His Replacement
Chicago Fire’s Kidd Team lost several cast members in season 12, including one whose replacement was a delight, but I’d still like to see the original cast return for season 13. The NBC procedural drama has been on the air since October 2012, and over the past 12 years, the cast has undergone a number of changes. Of course, not every original Chicago Fire cast member is still with the show, with Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann, Christian Stolte as Randall “Mouch” McHolland, and Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz being the only ones left.
However, a lot of actors have come and gone throughout Chicago Fire’s 12 seasons, regardless of how long they’ve been on the show. During season 12, four stars left the NBC series—Alberto Rosende as Blake Gallo, Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, Rome Flynn as Derrick Gibson, and Eamonn Walker as Chief Wallace Boden. As a result, new characters have or will replace them on Chicago Fire. While there is a lot of potential for an actor to be replaced, I still hope they return in some capacity in Chicago Fire season 13. Rome Flynn’s Derrick Gibson was introduced in Chicago Fire season 12, episode 2, to replace Alberto Rosende’s Blake Gallo after he moved away from Chicago in the premiere. However, just a few episodes later, Flynn left Chicago Fire and Gibson left Firehouse 51. Since the actor was supposed to replace Rosende, Flynn’s departure after season 12, episode 8, was incredibly shocking and disappointing. Gibson has a lot of potential on the NBC procedural drama, and Flynn is a talented actor that Chicago Fire is lucky to have.
Derrick Gibson struggled with prescription drug abuse, which forced him to leave Firehouse 51 and seek treatment in Chicago Fire season 12, episode 8. Gibson was a former mobile firefighter assigned to Truck 46. But after Gallo left Firehouse 51 in Chicago Fire season 12, Gibson joined Stella Kidd and the rest of the Truck 81 crew at Firehouse 51. Gibson was a former amateur boxer with a dark past, and it was later revealed that he accidentally killed his opponent during a fight. Flynn is a complex character, and it seemed like Chicago Fire could explore more about Gibson. However, Flynn left the show before viewers could see the true extent of his character’s story.
After Rome Flynn left Chicago Fire for season 12, the writers had to rush to find a replacement for him, and they found the perfect guy — Michael Bradway as Jack Damon. Damon was introduced in episode 10 as a roving firefighter for Truck 81 in Derrick Gibson’s absence. While I was initially curious about Bradway’s character, nothing could have prepared me for the twist that ended Chicago Fire’s season 12 finale involving Damon. Benny Severide is his father, meaning Damon and Kelly Severide are half-brothers. Damon knew about his connection to Severide from the start but didn’t reveal it until the very end. Of course, this familial connection between Chicago Fire’s newest recruit and one of the show’s original cast members is incredibly intriguing. It also gives me hope for longevity for Taylor Kinney and Severide on Chicago Fire. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to see Flynn reprise his role as Gibson in Chicago Fire season 13, though. Both Damon and Gibson are interesting characters, and there’s room for both of them at Firehouse 51. When it was first announced that Rome Flynn would be leaving Chicago Fire, the explanation for his departure was unclear. Some speculated that this had something to do with his casting as Frank Lucas in Godfather of Harlem season 4. However, Flynn eventually cleared up the rumors of his departure from the NBC drama in an interview with Deadline in August 2024. The actor explained, “They’re completely unrelated. I didn’t leave that show to come to this show. That’s the way things work out. Like you have your people, but you’re not going to be with them all forever and you connect. I love the cast and crew and I miss them so much. But we all have our own journeys and I’m grateful for that opportunity. Now, I’m excited and grateful for this opportunity because it gives me the opportunity to step into a life that I’ve never done before.”
So, Flynn’s departure from Chicago Fire seems to have just happened without any clear explanation. However, with Derrick Gibson’s fate still up in the air after his final episode, the door remains open for Flynn to return. Hopefully, the actor will find time in his schedule to reprise his role on Chicago Fire.a 13, even if it’s just one or two episodes.
