Dom Pascal is here, and it seems like no one can quite figure him out. In his debut on the Chicago Fire Season 13 premiere, Dom made it clear that he’s not Boden and will be working differently. Reactions from everyone in the fire department are mixed, but it’s clear that Pascal isn’t Stella’s cup of tea. While most people adjust to the change, Stella struggles to accept the authority of her new leader while dealing with a secret from Severide’s family. The promo for Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 2, “Ride the Blade,” teases a continued shift in Stella’s world as the mystery of Pascal puts everyone on guard. Meanwhile, the official logline below offers more insight into her as Damon comes between her and Severide.
“After Damon disobeys Kidd’s orders on a call, he turns to Severide to defend him. Herrmann searches for the perfect scent to stir things up with Cindy.”
“Nobody really knows Dom Pascal,” Stella says in a voiceover as Dom trains with a punching bag as the commercial opens. The newest Firehouse 51 member fascinated by Pascal’s mystery is Mouch, who watches curiously as the man punches the bag violently. I mean, it’s a punching bag, but still. “You lied to me,” Stella confronts Kelly in another scene. The lie remains unclear, but Damon becomes the subject after that revelation. “Things aren’t right in the house,” Joe says. He’s one of Firehouse 51’s keenest observers, and he’s got his eye on something. In another scene, Stella talks to Pascal. “I feel like we have a core team,” she tells him, hinting that he may be looking to shake up the various teams at the fire station.
Learning that Damon is his half-brother has changed a lot for Severide. Relationships at the fire station are complicated, as most of the characters are connected in some way. With Damon, another connection develops between Stella and Severide. They’ve kept the peace all these years because they’ve kept church and state separate. “That [Damon and Kelly] relationship is going to have a big impact early on this season because it also involves Kidd, because she’s Damon’s boss as his lieutenant,” showrunner Andrea Newman told The Hollywood Reporter of the Kelly-Damon relationship and how it affects Stella.
She previewed a problem in Stella and Damon’s professional relationship. “So there’s the fact that he’s related and then he keeps it a secret. That’s going to be a huge factor in their relationship and create a triad of those three,” Newman said. Pascal stressed that related family members shouldn’t work the same shifts. Damon was walking on thin ice with Stella and then turned her against Severide when he disobeyed. This would certainly create more tension at home and at work.
