🔥 Is Chief Dom Pascal hiding something—or being set up for the fall of the year? NBC’s Chicago Fire is no stranger to jaw-dropping cliffhangers, but Season 13’s penultimate episode, “The Bad Guy,” may be its most morally complex yet. And at the center of the blaze is Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), whose grief-fueled spiral could cost him everything.
🚨 From Tragedy to Turmoil
When Monica Pascal (KaDee Strickland) died in a fatal car accident earlier this season, the 51 Chief unraveled before our eyes. Dom’s pain bled into his leadership, his field judgment, and even his relationships at Firehouse 51. Viewers watched as a respected veteran transformed into a man chasing ghosts—and maybe vengeance.
But just as fans believed Pascal had turned a corner, the latest promo ignites a firestorm. The man involved in the crash that killed Monica is caught in another mysterious accident—one that seems a little too convenient.
🧪 Sabotage or Setup?
The clue that shatters any illusion of coincidence? A fuel line deliberately cut. Even more damning: a firefighting tool bearing the unmistakable “Chicago Fire Department” logo, lodged in the wreckage—one linked directly to Firehouse 51.
Lieutenant Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) uncovers the evidence in the promo, and the implications are impossible to ignore. While Pascal isn’t officially charged, he quickly becomes the prime suspect in what may be attempted murder. The episode title—“The Bad Guy”—suddenly hits harder than expected.
😤 A Public Meltdown Still Echoes
Fans may recall the explosive moment in “In the Rubble” when Pascal publicly confronted the man he blames for Monica’s death. His fury, his accusation of murder—it was a raw, unfiltered display of grief and rage. It also marked Pascal’s lowest emotional point of the season. Until now.
Could this breakdown have been foreshadowing? Or was it too obvious to be anything but misdirection?
🧩 The Redemption That Almost Was
In recent episodes, Pascal showed remarkable growth. In “Post Mortem,” he placed his career on the line to shield Severide and Herrmann, proving he still carried the weight of duty. His decisions not only salvaged his standing at 51 but even earned begrudging respect from Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker).
So the question becomes: Would a man who fought so hard to do the right thing throw it all away in a fit of vengeance? Or is someone manipulating the grief-stricken chief’s past behavior to make him the perfect fall guy?
🔎 Is Chief Pascal Being Framed?
The biggest clue that something is off? The carelessness of the crime. Leaving behind a CFD-marked tool feels almost too sloppy for someone of Pascal’s experience and meticulousness. He’s been in the fire service for decades. Would he really risk leaving such an obvious trail? Not likely.
Whether it’s a setup orchestrated by someone within the fire department or a narrative sleight of hand by the writers, Chicago Fire is forcing viewers to second-guess everything we know about Dom Pascal.
📆 All Eyes on May 14
As the promo teases chaos, fans are bracing for a finale packed with revelations, reversals, and potential exits. Theories abound:
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Is Pascal being pushed out of the CFD permanently?
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Will Firehouse 51 unite to protect their embattled chief?
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Could Monica’s death tie into a deeper conspiracy?
No matter the answer, it’s clear Chicago Fire is ending Season 13 on a high-octane note—and Chief Pascal may never be the same.
💬 Is Pascal guilty—or the victim of a frame job? Sound off at @OneChicagoWeekly and tune in May 14 for what could be the franchise’s most shocking finale yet.
