Chicago Fire has officially added the star behind one of Grey’s Anatomy’s most polarizing characters to its cast in a role that we’re certain is going to ruffle some feathers.
Brooke Smith has joined the cast of NBC’s long-running drama in the role of Captain Williams, a character who is primed to play a pivotal role in Chief Hopkins’ fight to push Severide out of the Chicago Fire Department.
Smith made her debut in Chicago Fire season 14, episode 17, “Sway,” which established Captain Williams as one of Chief Hopkins’ closest confidants and friends within the CFD. It seems that Captain Williams and Chief Hopkins both worked together back in the day as they were rising through the ranks of the CFD, and their careers were both impacted by Benny Severide’s actions.
After summoning Captain Williams to 51, Hopkins seemed to suggest that it was a bad idea for him to come to 51, where he’d be working with Benny’s son, as it would just dredge up the events of the past. She tried to reason with Hopkins that Benny was dead and he should just drop this; however, Hopkins made it clear that what happened with Benny can’t be dredged up because it was never buried, not for either of them, as he pointed out how it’s a miracle they managed to work their way up the ranks after what Benny put them through.
Captain Williams pointed out that while she has rank, she’s a glorified desk jockey without any real power; though that might not prove to be true. Hopkins' reason for bringing her in to speak was to seek her help, but the show has kept fans in the dark as to what role Williams might end up playing in Hopkins’ plans for Severide.
Knowing that Williams described herself as a “glorified desk jockey,” we have to wonder if perhaps she works in administration at the headquarters and will play a role in the internal affairs investigation into Severide that Hopkins has set into motion. After all, what better way to ensure that the internal affairs investigation goes his way than by enlisting help from a friend in the department to lead the investigation into Severide?
Should Captain Williams indeed play a direct role in Hopkins’ ploy to push Severide out of the CFD, the character could take Smith on a journey very similar to the one Grey’s Anatomy took her character Dr. Erica Hahn on during her stint on the show.
Much like Captain Williams, Dr. Hahn didn’t immediately warrant dislike from fans, but she quickly became a controversial and polarizing character due in large part to the show pitting her against a fan-favorite character. Dr. Hahn quickly formed tension with Cristina Yang, and her strict teaching style made the character incredibly hard to root for. It often felt as though Hahn had it out for Yang, and her harsh and often blunt approach earned her few fans during her time on Grey’s.
Fans were thrilled when the show finally wrote Hahn out of the show, and we get a sense that this is a feeling Chicago Fire fans will soon feel for Captain Williams. If she does indeed become part of Hopkins’ crusade against Severide, we’re certain fans will not take kindly to the character and will be happy when her arc comes to an end on the show. It almost seems perfect if the plan is to turn Hopkins into a controversial character, as Smith does a phenomenal job of playing characters that get under your skin via their actions.
We’ll have to see where the writers take Williams’ story as season 14 continues, but we’re certainly prepared for Smith to deliver an incredible performance in the role!