Which One Chicago season should you most look forward to?

CHICAGO FRANCHISE -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: (l-r) "Chicago P.D." top row; Marina Squerciati as Officer Kim Burgess, Brian Geraghty as Officer Sean Roman, Jesse Lee Soffer as Detective Jay Halstead, LaRoyce Hawkins as Detective Kevin Atwater, Elias Koteas as Detective Alvin Olinsky, Amy Morton as Desk Sgt. Trudy Platt, Patrick John Flueger as Officer Adam Ruzek bottom row; Jon Seda as Detective Antonio Dawson, Jason Beghe as Sergeant Hank Voight, Sophia Bush as Detective Erin Lindsay; "Chicago Fire", Yuri Sardarov as Brian ?"Otis"? Zvonecek, Jesse Spencer as Matthew Casey, Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Eamonn Walker as Chief Wallace Boden, Dora Madison Burge as Jessica ?Chill? Clinton, Monica Raymund as Gabriela Dawson, Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz, Christian Stolte as Randy ?Mouch? McHolland, David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann; "Chicago Med" top row: S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin, Nick Gehlfuss as Dr. Will Halstead, Brian Tee as Ethan, Torrey DeVitto as Dr. Lily Manning, Oliver Platt as Dr. Daniel Charles, Colin Donnell as Connor Bradhaw; seated: Yaya DaCosta as Nurse April Sexton, Rachel DiPillo as Dr. Sarah Reese (Photo by: Mark Seliger/NBC) /

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CHICAGO FIRE — Season: 6 — Pictured: (l-r) Monica Raymund as Gabriela Dawson, Yuri Sardarov as Brian Zvonecek ?Otis?, Jesse Spencer as Matthew Casey, Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Eamonn Walker as Wallace Boden, David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann, Christian Stolte as Mouch, Kara Kilmer as Sylvie Brett, Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz, Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd — (Photo by: John Tsiavis/NBC) /

Chicago Fire season 7

There’s one big question mark hanging over the next season of Chicago Fire, and that’s how the show will proceed without Gabriela Dawson, following Monica Raymund‘s decision not to renew her contract. It’s something One Chicago viewers should watch closely, because how Fire handles her character could have an effect on the entire show going forward.

The series left Dawson’s fate as another cliffhanger (reportedly because the producers were aware of the possibility that Raymund might not return), but it was a cliffhanger that didn’t quite work. Chicago Fire has to either send Dawson to Puerto Rico or have her stay in Chicago, and then on top of that, explain why she’s not at Firehouse 51 anymore. That’s two separate explanations and both will affect multiple characters—especially her husband Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer), who’s still here.

Chicago Fire has already cast a new paramedic to replace Dawson, either temporarily or possibly permanently.

It’s also added another recurring character who’ll be another white shirt to cause a headache for the team, presumably connected to the ongoing story of Carl Grissom (recurring guest star Gary Cole) becoming Fire Commissioner at the end of last season.

But One Chicago audiences have seen Firehouse 51 battle various bureaucrats, bosses and other outside figures for years now. The real hook for Chicago Fire season 7 is how the characters, and the writers, will adjust to a post-Dawson world. And given how much she’s meant to the entire fandom, that’s one of the most exciting (and scary) things to look forward to this season.

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