Viewers were forced to say goodbye to many characters in Chicago Fire season 12, including Chief Wallace Boden, who has been played by Eamonn Walker since season 1. The NBC procedural drama series, created by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, has been a success for the network since its premiere in October 2012 and revolves around the personal and work lives of the firefighters and paramedics of Firehouse 51. Over the course of its 12-season run, Chicago Fire has lost many actors who portrayed some of the show’s most beloved characters, and now, Walker can be added to that list.
From Lauren German as Leslie Shay in season 3 to Yuri Sardarov as Brian “Otis” Zvonecek in season 8, numerous Chicago Fire actors have exited their roles throughout the show, whether their character died, moved out of Chicago, or a different factor that resulted in them leaving Firehouse 51. Unfortunately, main cast members departing their shows isn’t uncommon in series that run for a long time (like 13 seasons). The Chicago Fire season 1 cast was never going to look like the Chicago Fire season 13 cast, but saying goodbye to characters like Boden is still heartbreaking.
How & Why Boden Left Firehouse 51 In Chicago Fire Season 12’s Finale
Boden Accepted The Deputy Commissioner Job
A couple of weeks before the Chicago Fire season 12 finale, news broke that Eamonn Walker would exit his role as Wallace Boden during the season’s last episode. Of course, the reports of his departure were shocking, given Walker’s veteran status on the NBC procedural drama, but season 12’s ending featured a reasonable explanation for his character’s exit. Chief Boden (who will no longer be called “Chief” going forward), returned to Chicago during the season 12 finale and announced he would be adding his name to the list of candidates in the running for the Chicago Fire Department’s Deputy Commissioner.
Of course, Boden was offered the prestigious position (partly due to Stella Kidd’s recommendation) and accepted. As a result, the entire Firehouse 51 squad gathered toward the end of the hour to bid farewell to their chief. Walker’s last scene was undoubtedly a tearjerker as several firefighters (like Stella, Kelly Severide, Christopher Herrmann, and Joe Cruz) thanked Boden for everything he had done for them to make Firehouse 51 feel like a home and a family. However, the good news is that the Chicago Fire season 12 finale will likely not be the last time the audience sees Boden.
What Boden’s Exit Means For Chicago Fire Season 13
Christopher Herrmann Could Replace Boden At Firehouse 51
Since Boden would be heading the entire Chicago Fire Department following the surprising Chicago Fire season 12 exit, he had to name his replacement as the Battalion Chief of Firehouse 51. Boden pulled Herrmann into his office during the final episode and told the veteran firefighter that he wanted him to assume his position if Boden got the CFD Deputy Commissioner position (which he did). At first, Herrmann was hesitant to accept since he couldn’t see himself living up to Boden’s example, but Boden encouraged him, and it seems as if Herrmann will be the Battalion Chief in season 13.
Only time will tell if Herrmann gains the confidence to take on the Battalion Chief role in Chicago Fire season 13 or if he’ll back out of the promotion and someone new will step in.
However, Herrmann will have to be promoted to captain and pass the Battalion Chief test before he can replace Boden at Firehouse 51. Herrmann must also figure out a way to forge his own path and not repeatedly compare himself to Boden. Only time will tell if Herrmann gains the confidence to take on the Battalion Chief role in Chicago Fire season 13 or if he’ll back out of the promotion and someone new will step in. Meanwhile, Boden will no longer be seen hanging around Firehouse 51, but he won’t be completely absent in the upcoming episodes.
Will Eamonn Walker Return As Boden In Chicago Fire Season 13?
The Actor Is Expected To Reprise His Role In Season 13
Although Boden will no longer be seen working with the firefighters of Firehouse 51 on a regular basis, Eamonn Walker is expected to return in Chicago Fire season 13. According to Deadline, Walker will assume a recurring role for the upcoming season (instead of his status as a series regular for the first 12 seasons). It’s unclear how frequent Boden’s appearances in the future episodes will be, or when fans can expect to see the character again. But, at the very least, it’s comforting to know that Walker will reprise his role as Boden in season 13.
Since the Chicago Fire season 12 finale didn’t kill Boden off and, instead, had him promoted within the CFD, his return in the upcoming episodes is quite manageable. It wouldn’t be strange for the main characters to cross paths with Boden (especially Severide), even after he left Firehouse 51, due to his status as the Deputy Commissioner of the CFD. Ultimately, Walker did unexpectedly leave Chicago Fire after 12 seasons, but only as a series regular, so, viewers can rest easy knowing they will see Boden on their screens again in season 13.
Everyone Who Left Chicago Fire In Season 12
Various Actors Exited The NBC Series During Season 12
As mentioned above, Eamonn Walker was not the only actor to leave Chicago Fire in season 12’s 13 episodes. Alberto Rosende, who played firefighter Blake Gallo, kicked off the numerous goodbyes when his character announced he was leaving Chicago during the season 12 premiere. Gallo decided to move to Michigan to be closer to his aunt and other family members. The next Chicago Fire exit was Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, the Paramedic in Charge who (finally) married Matt Casey in episode 6 and subsequently moved to Oregon to be with him.
Rome Flynn’s Derrick Gibson was introduced during the second episode and served as Gallo’s replacement following his move to Michigan. However, the actor’s time on the NBC show was cut short as Gibson quit and sought treatment for his drug addiction in episode 8. The last Chicago Fire actor exit in season 12 was Walker’s Boden, which, along with Brett, was arguably the toughest goodbye.
