When Chicago Fire season 14 came to a close, there were two shocking cliffhangers that left fans on the edge of their seats.
The bigger cliffhanger came in the final moments of the fall finale when Severide and Van Meter found themselves trapped in the apartment of the principal being targeted by a pupil. Flames were engulfing the building as the fall finale ended, but we have a feeling that the trio will make it out of the building with Severide and Van Meter’s quick thinking. There is always a chance that the premiere could bring about a death, but what sadly seems more likely is that a potential exit could be coming via the second cliffhanger from the fall finale.
Before the fire in the apartment broke out, we watched as Chief Pascal learned that the CFD was asked to pull together a list of rigs that could be permanently decommissioned. On the list was Engine Company 51 with the mayor’s Chief of Staff revealing that Engine 51’s Lieutenant Randall McHolland was on the chopping block.
We have to accept there’s a chance Mouch could leave 51 when season 14 resumes
Given that Engine Company 51 is on the list of rigs to be permanently decommissioned, we have to accept that there is a very realistic possibility that Mouch could be leaving 51. The CFD has made it clear they need to trim the budget, and these budget cuts have impacted the team at 51 in many ways already. The one way they have not been impacted is by losing anyone at the firehouse due to cuts.
Yes, hours have been cut and Chief Pascal has been splitting his time at other firehouses, but Firehouse 51 hasn’t been impacted by layoffs like its fellow houses. If the show is looking to hit home the impact of these budget cuts, following through with the decommissioning of Engine 51 would really show the gravity of the situation. That said, there is another way they can explore the fallout of this announcement without it resulting in a layoff.
Annette didn’t exactly say that the decommissioning of Engine 51 would result in Mouch’s career in the CFD coming to an end. If Engine 51 is decommissioned, this could result in Mouch having to leave 51 in order to retain his rank as a lieutenant in the CFD. This would keep him on the show, but force him to leave 51 in order to retain his current title. Going this route would shake things up and also challenge Mouch in new ways by having to hold his own outside the firehouse.
While we’d hate to see Mouch go, this would make more sense than Mouch having to take a step back in his journey by getting a demotion to remain at 51. We saw Mouch go on such a journey in season 13 to further his career and become a lieutenant, and to see that undone would be a major miss.
Our hope is that perhaps Pascal can find a way to prevent Engine 51 from being decommissioned, but we’re going to begin preparing ourselves for the chance that there’s nothing he can do and that Mouch’s time at 51 could be coming to an end.
Chicago Fire season 14 returns on Wednesday, January 7 at 9/8c on NBC.