Chicago Fire season 13 debuts its brand new Firehouse 51 Battalion Chief as a replacement for Wallace Boden, and there are so many things to learn about him. One Chicago has come off from its mandatory summer break following a shortened season due to the dual Hollywood strikes of 2023. Despite only having 13 episodes, so much happened in Chicago Fire season 12, which included a string of departures — from show veterans to newcomers. Losing Blake Gallo, Sylvie Brett, and Derrick Gibson all in such a short amount of time was tough, but nothing compared to saying goodbye to Boden.
Procedurals typically consist of ensembles, allowing them to continue for long periods without feeling repetitive and/or burning out their lead stars. Because there are many characters, storylines are varied weekly. Beyond, that, however, it also helps the project move on when inevitable cast changes happen. One Chicago has several non-returning characters in 2024, including some from Chicago Fire. So, as sad as it is seeing Boden bid Firehouse 51 goodbye, it paves the way for a brand new era of storytelling for the first-responder series with the arrival of his replacement —Dom Pascal.
Why Dom Pascal Replaces Wallace Boden As Chief In Chicago Fire
Boden’s Promotion Forced Him To Leave
Over the years, Chicago Fire has lost countless characters for varying reasons and manners. In season 12, however, the departures of Gallo and Brett were announced beforehand, allowing the show to set up their eventual farewells and giving the audience time to prepare for their respective exits. Boden departing, however, wasn’t announced until toward the end of the year. There’s no clear reason why Eammon Walker was leaving, although the Chicago Fire season 12 finale was able to come up with a good reason for his departure.
Unsurprisingly, Boden won to be the 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner, which meant he had to move on from Firehouse 51.
Ahead of Walker’s send-off, Boden had been out of office before the Chicago Fire Department elections. He was supposed to only be a bystander in the political process, but after realizing that it would be better for him to run and potentially win, he did. Unsurprisingly, Boden won to be the 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner, which meant he had to move on from Firehouse 51. Before securing the position, however, Boden chose Christopher Hermann to be his successor, but that didn’t come to fruition.
Boden leaving Chicago Fire and Hermann not being able to secure the requirements to replace him paved the way for the arrival of Dermot Mulroney’s Dom Pascal. The season 13 premiere, “Monster in the Field,” focuses on establishing him as the new leader of Firehouse 51. Considering everything else that is happening with other characters, the information revealed about him is limited thus far. That said, it’s clear that he is no Chief Boden.
What Chicago Fire Has Revealed About Dom Pascal
The Chicago Fire Season 13 Premiere Establishes Pascal As Boden’s Replacement
It has been months since Boden’s election win when Chicago Fire season 13 premiere picks up. Despite this, “Monster in the Field” barely reveals anything about him on a deeper level. Instead, it focuses on establishing the preliminary information about him thanks to a few expository scenes. For starters, he started his career as a firefighter in Chicago but was in Miami for years before coming back to ChiTown. It’s unclear what exactly prompted his move, but based on his tense conversation with his wife, it seems like he was motivated to follow her.
Chicago Fire hasn’t shared why Pascal relocated from Chicago to Miami in the first place, but the visit from his former colleague suggests that he didn’t have the best send-off the first time he left the Windy City. It’s safe to say that this is something that will be revisited moving forward, as One Chicago delves deeper into Mulroney’s new character. For now, however, there’s still so much to learn about Pascal, and it doesn’t help that he doesn’t seem to be personable to the rest of Firehouse 51.
How Chief Pascal Compares To Boden
Pascal’s Differences To Boden Creates Friction In Firehouse 51
While he does express his respect for Boden, the new Battalion Chief is also undoubtedly adamant about establishing himself as Kelly Severide and the rest’s new leader. He has already implemented new rules that have divided the rest of Firehouse 51, including not having their phones out during lunch break, so the squad can bond. Surprisingly, out of everyone, Stella Kidd is having the hardest time coming to terms with Pascal being the new chief now.
Because of the Chicago Fire season 13 premiere’s limited time, the jury is still out about Mulroney’s character’s personality. That said, according to reports, Pascal will have a different leadership style than Boden. Snippets of this have already been shown in “Monster in the Field,” as it creates subtle friction between him and some of Firehouse 51’s most veteran members. Kidd, Severide, and Hermman all have had odd encounters with him. While nothing serious has come out of those interactions, a bigger conflict can break out anytime if this continues moving forward.
Granted that Boden wasn’t exactly chirpy during his time, it’s quite odd to call Pascal “cheery,” especially considering his first few shifts with the team.
Interestingly, however, despite the tension that his presence brings to Firehouse 51, the initial character description for the character says that Pascal has a cheery personality. That has yet to show up in Chicago Fire season 13, however. Granted that Boden wasn’t exactly chirpy during his time, it’s quite odd to call Pascal “cheery,” especially considering his first few shifts with the team. Perhaps that side of him comes out once he’s more settled in Chicago Fire season 13.
Dermot Mulroney’s Movies & TV Shows: Where You Know Him From
Mulroney Has An Extensive Portfolio
While he may be new to One Chicago, Mulroney is a veteran of the industry, having been active in Hollywood since 1986. He has an extensive career both on the small and big screen. Some of his notable films are Long Gone (1987), Point of No Return (1993), The Wedding Date (2005), The Family Stone (2005), Zodiac (2007), and August Osage County (2013). He’s best known for his role as Michael O’Neal in 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding, which also stars Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz. He was recently in 2003’s Anyone But You, with Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney.
On the small screen, Mulroney has appeared in many shows. The list includes Friends as Gavin Mitchell, New Girl as Russell Schiller, American Dad! as Jesse, and Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion as President Ritson. Before joining Chicago Fire as Firehouse 51’s new Battalion Chief, Mulroney played Station 19’s Greg Tanner — a criminal who hid from the police.
