Chicago Fire: Monica Raymund to return for season 8 midseason finale

Monica Raymund, who portrayed Gabriela Dawson on Chicago Fire for 6 years, will reprise her role in the midseason finale this fall.

Chicago Fire fans who were heartbroken over Monica Raymund’s departure from the One Chicago franchise in 2018 will now have something to celebrate in the season 8 fall finale.

The actress who portrayed fan favorite firefighter/paramedic Gabriela “Gabby” Dawson will reprise her role in the midseason finale, which is scheduled to air in November.

Deadline reports that Gabby’s return to the One Chicago universe will be for work, as she comes back to Chicago to assist with fundraising efforts for her aid organization. Of course, it wouldn’t be Chicago Fire if Dawson didn’t stop by the place she used to call home: Firehouse 51.

She will drop in on her old stomping grounds, where she will also run into her old co-workers, friends, and yes, even her ex-husband, Captain Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer). Raymund told EW, which first reported her casting, that fans will see sparks fly between the former couple, because they will always have “an unbreakable bond.”

This is major news for Dawsey fans, as their ship essentially sank when half of its couple left the show. Gabby was last seen in the season 7 premiere, having returned from her mission work in Puerto Rico to say her goodbyes to Matt. She had asked her then-husband to move with her, but Matt declared himself a “Chicago guy,” and Gabby decided to carve her own path. Her departure left a major hole in the One Chicago universe, but it ultimately impacted the ones closest to her, most of all being Casey.

The two began their long-term romance in season 2’s “Rhymes with Shout,” and were engaged by early season 3. Though fans would wait until Chicago Fire‘s 100th episode in season 5, aptly titled “One Hundred,” for Matthew Casey and Gabriela Dawson to officially become husband and wife.

They were one of the longest running couples in Chicago Fire‘s history, and quickly became the most popular within the show for their authenticity and normalcy. They weren’t flashy or boring, almost a fascinating kind of simple – relatable, if you had to coin a term.

Things were different back then though, and in the current season of Chicago Fire, it will be interesting to see how Gabby’s return impacts Matt’s life. Not even solely in a romantic sense, but also within his professional life too.

He’s made captain, he’s taken new recruit Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende) under his wing, as well as overseen Christopher Hermann’s (David Eigenberg) rise to Lieutenant. In the romance department, he briefly dated reporter Naomi Graham (Kate Villanova) last season; and may have a blossoming relationship with Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) to consider.

Although, so far in season 8, we have kind of seen Matt Casey turn a little into Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) pre-Stellaride. As in, he seems to get a lot of ladies, and not keep them for very long. Not that there’s anything wrong with getting around, but the Matt Casey fans have grown to know and love isn’t much of a serial dater. It’s just not his style.

Would the return of Gabby Dawson make him remember that? Or would it only ascertain his current notions of romance and the workplace? Only time will tell, and fans will get to find out that answer on November 20, when Chicago Fire‘s midseason finale is scheduled to air.

For the latest Chicago Fire season 8 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.