Chicago Fire boss explains why [SPOILER] returned in S11
Chicago Fire left things on a devastating cliffhanger, but the biggest story to come out out of the fall finale may have been return of one Emma Jacobs (Caitlin Carver). The character was one of the biggest antagonists the show had encountered in years, and her departure at the end of season 10 seemed permanent.
Little did we know, Chicago Fire showrunners Derek Haas and Andrea Newman had plans to bring Jacobs back and pose her as a seemingly changed, though still threatening presence, with regards to the 51.
Why did Emma Jacobs leave Chicago Fire?
Haas told TV Line that he and Newman like reviving characters from the show’s past and bringing them back in ways that force to viewer to reconsider their opinions about them. Jacobs drew lots of ire last year for her attempted blackmail of fan favorite couple Violet (Hanako Greensmith) and Evan Hawkins (Jimmy Nicholas), so it wasn’t difficult to root against her.
“[Emma] was so good last year at playing that that bringing Caitlin back just was top of mind”, Haas said, when asked about the reveal. “We didn’t know where or when we would fit her in, but winter finales are always fun for these kinds of [obstacles], and we wanted it to be a big surprise, but not be the end of the episode, because sometimes you want people just going, ‘Oh, God, what else is coming?'”
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Newman went on to say that Jacobs stands out among Chicago Fire antagonists because she sees herself as somewhat of a victim. She never quite clicked with the 51 squad despite early attempts, and she clearly feels as though she was bullied out of a group she wanted to be accepted by.
The differing perspectives will make for some compelling drama moving forward. Jacobs’s brief exchange with Violet was particularly loaded, as it comes on the heels of Hawkins’s death and is therefore a reminder of the pain that she caused him while he was still alive.
We aren’t sure where the character is headed, but it’s clear that Haas and Newman have some big plans for her.
Next. Monica Raymund stages Chicago Fire reunion. dark
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