The character’s path toward promotion is going to be messy.
We’re all pretty invested in the idea of Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) becoming the 51 Firehouse Chief. He has the experience, he cares about the people he works with, and he’s good at his job. The previous Chief, Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker), wanted it to be him, and current Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) is trying to mentor him. So what’s the hold up?
Well, according to Mulroney, it’s Herrmann himself. The character has all the skills needed, but he told TV Insider that he suspects there’s something internal the firefighter is dealing with. “Herrmann’s like hot and cold,” he explained. “He’s so unpredictable.” He also explained how the relationship between Pascal and Herrmann is going to get increasingly complicated as season 13 progresses.
Herrmann’s faith in Pascal will be shaken
There has been some camaraderie between the two men, and a clear effort on Pascal’s side to try and show Herrmann the ropes (the crossover event being a crucial example), but Herrmann has had a bad habit of shirking these responsibilities and going with his gut. It’s why we love him, but it’s also making it difficult for those higher up to give him the bump.
Pascal is going to be spiraling after the death of his wife, Monica (KaDee Strickland), and Herrmann’s confidence in his Chief is going to be shaken. The promo for the March 26 episode saw Herrmann go as far as to ask what should be done if Pascal is unable to pull himself together. Mulroney has been candid about his character’s pending struggles, but the bit that was most intriguing in relation to Herrmann was the shifting of Pascal’s goals.
Pascal may be looking to stay at 51
Originally, the actor noted, he did not expect to enjoy it much at 51. He was fine filling a role for a brief time and then handing it off to someone who was more passionate about this particular location. The death of his wife has changed things, and it could directly impact Herrmann’s future.
“You see so reliably that Pascal respects somebody who does the job right, that measures up to his high standard,” he explained. “[But] he should probably immerse himself in work as a way to cope and just stay there and make sure nobody takes his seat. I feel like he’s verging on that, that it’s a better fit than he thought it was going to be at the start of the season.”
The impending return of Boden is only going to complicate this Chief triangle, and we’re excited to see how these characters navigate what is sure to be an emotionally fraught environment.
