There was unexpected drama in the Chicago fire after Chief Boden left, but now I completely understand why

Chicago Fire entered a new era in the fall TV schedule for 2024 Season 13 was the drama’s first without Eamonn Walker as Chief Boden. Instead, Fire Station 51 operates under the leadership of Chief Dom Pascal, played by One Chicago new arrival Dermot Mulroney. When the firefighters and paramedics first faced the new chief, some controversy was to be expected, but some of Mulroney’s comments shed what I thought was new light on the 51-year-old status quo as the season continued.

Honestly, when the news first broke this Fire appointed Dermot Mulroney as new leader Instead of respecting Boden’s wishes for Herrmann to succeed him, part of me assumed that Mulroney’s time would be limited by how long it took for Herrmann to be promoted in Season 13. Brett Dalton’s Lieutenant Pelham temporarily occupied the position. on “Truck” until Stella Kidd was ready to become a lieutenant in season 10, it seemed like Pascal wasn’t going to stick around. (You can return to streaming the Pelham/Kidd arc via Peacock subscription.)

I’m reconsidering my opinion in light of what Mulroney said. TV Insider when asked whether Pascal would give way to Herrmann if the latter passed the necessary tests. He said:

I feel like Pascal has found himself right in Herrmann’s path due to the remnants of season 12 and the departure of Boden (Eamonn Walker). I think he was sort of appointed, as far as I understand, the heir apparent to the seat at the chief’s table. Well, sorry, Pascal is here, and I don’t think he’s going anywhere. So the authors will have to figure that out.

Well, if Herrmann is going to take over the top spot at Firehouse 51, maybe something will go wrong with Pascal, since it looks like the new chief definitely doesn’t see his position as temporary! Showrunner Andrea Newman described Pascal’s arrival as causing an “earthquake” at 51 as she explained why Dermot Mulroney was perfect to play this character, and he shook up the firehouse pretty quickly.

Having confronted Stella about the change of trucks and pointing out that the marriage of the lieutenants of the truck and the detachment was not entirely protocol, this did not endear him to 51 (or Fire fans) en masse, not least because Stellaride already faces a challenging journey without Pascal as an additional variable. After I supported the idea “fresh blood” comes to Chicago Fire Last season, maybe it was time for me to start thinking of Pascal as a permanent member of the firehouse rather than a Herrmann placeholder!

At this point I’m really wondering if/when/how Chicago Fire plans to bring Boden back in season 13. When Eamonn Walker’s departure announced Ahead of the season 12 spring finale, the door was opened for him to return as his longtime character without returning as a series regular. Boden is still part of CFD; could he show up and add a few wrinkles to Pascal’s situation at 51?

At this point only time will tell, but at least Chicago Fire did not write out Walker, sending Boden away from the Windy City, as in the case of Dawson’s departure in season 7 and then Casey in season 10. New episodes Chicago Fire with Dermot Mulroney’s Dom Pascal as the helmer, 51 will continue to air Wednesdays at 9:00 pm ET on NBC, between Chicago Med at 8:00 pm ET and Chicago PD at 10:00 pm ET. You can also catch up on past episodes of all three shows on Peacock.