I’m Still Hoping This Disappointing Chicago Fire Season 12 Character Will Return for Season 13 Even Though He’s Been Replaced on Team Kidd
Chicago Fire lost a lot of its cast members in season 12, including one who was a very funny replacement, 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 gone through a few 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 it’s highly unlikely that an actor will 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 shocking and disappointing. Gibson had a lot of potential in the NBC procedural, and Flynn is a talented actor that Chicago Fire is lucky to have. Gibson was a roving firefighter who was previously 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 in a fight. Flynn was a complex character, and it seemed like Chicago Fire could explore Gibson more. However, Flynn left the show before viewers could see the true extent of his character’s story.
After Rome Flynn left Chicago Fire 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 initially had some curiosity about Bradway’s character, nothing could have prepared me for the twist in the Chicago Fire 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 beginning but didn’t reveal it until the finale.
