Chicago Fire season 11: Will Jimmy Nicholas return as Evan Hawkins?

Chief Hawkins (Jimmy Nicholas) has a rollercoaster season 10 on Chicago Fire. From being introduced as a stuffy higher-up to proving his worth as a chief and love interest for Violet (Hanako Greensmith), his presence on the show is constantly evolving.

The question, of course, is whether the evolution will continue in season 11. The character’s career seemed to be somewhat shaky in comparison to how it was introduced, and his relationship with Violet is not as strong as it was pre-Emma Jacobs (Caitlin Carver).

Here’s what you need to know.

Is Jimmy Nicholas leaving Chicago Fire?

Evan Hawkins will be back. The character has been folded into the main narrative of the show and will continue to be an interesting foil. The most notable capacity in which he’ll be a foil, of course, is his romance with Violet.

Things got serious between them very quickly, and it seemed as though they were destined to make the jump to legitimate relationship, but the debate over whether to keep things secret, coupled with the aforementioned blackmail situation put on by Jacobs, really put a dent in their dynamic.

By the season 10 finale, Violet made it clear that her feelings for Hawkins were not what they once were, and while not overtly stated, the show implies that she may have rekindled some feelings for Gallo (Alberto Rosende). Gallo proved himself to be a loyal friend during the Jacobs situation, and went out of his way to protect Violet.

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The love triangle between these three characters is set to be at the forefront of Chicago Fire season 11, based on what the showrunners and writers have stated. There’s also the fallout of the blackmail scheme, and the fact that Hawkins did technically keep a workplace romance from his superiors.

The finale made it seem as though he was clear of any lingering punishments for this deception, but it could easily come back to haunt him if the show was looking for something to add further tension. Hawkins getting in trouble could also pull Violet back towards him, perhaps due to her feeling guilty over what happened.

There are lots of potential story directions for the upcoming season, which is scheduled to start filming soon, and while we can’t know which one the show will take, we can say that Hawkins will be involved.

What do you hope to see in the Chicago Fire season 11 premiere? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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