In case you missed the exciting (well, for some fans) news about Chicago Fire season 15, the upcoming new season added a new series regular cast member. Da'Vinchi joins the cast as new firefight candidate named Marcus Burke, an addition to a series and cast that's welcoming and always introducing some of the best well-rounded characters on the small screen.
One Chicago fans should be used the franchise, and Chicago Fire in particular, adding new characters in most seasons. In season 14, after a few unfortunate cast exits, Brandon Larracuente joined the cast as the series regular character Sal Vasquez. Da'Vinchi's addition as Marcus Burke comes as fans are also bracing for a potential character death and cast exit.
While there's a large number of fans expressing their excitement for Da'Vinchi, who previously appeared in All American and BMF, to star in the series, others aren't particularly thrilled about a new cast member. Their reservations have nothing to do with the actor, though, and everything to do with the show's history of adding and dropping characters left and right.
It's not a surprise that some Chicago Fire fans are feeling a certain kind of way about a new series regular given the way the season 14 finale ended with most of the Firehouse 51 team in serious danger. Just because there's a new character joining the squad doesn't necessarily mean that he will be taking someone's place, but it's still another season with another new character.
Upon the announcement of Da'Vinchi joining the cast, Chicago Fire fans spoke on their frustrations about the cast growing, with some wondering why the series is expanding when there are still plenty of newer characters that could be further developed (namely Vasquez). That's not a critique that's coming out of thin air and runs the risk of repeating history.
Whether it's budget cuts or the series getting older or any other reason that has been provided for cast shuffles in the past, Chicago Fire has seemingly had a difficult time holding onto newer cast members. That's why fans are reacting with sentiments like, "New character on Chicago Fire... Who's surprised?" We've been through this before and the trajectory could be otherwise predictable.
Again, it's not unfounded for Chicago Fire fans to raise their eyebrows at another new character joining the cast, the main cast at that. Even though Fire has the most tenured cast members on its roster, the series has had the hardest time stabilizing its cast. Meanwhile, Med has been without any major cast shakeups (apart from Maggie's abrupt exit) for two seasons and counting.
Chicago Fire fans approaching season 15 warily makes sense, but we should actually be optimistic, especially since we haven't caught wind of any departures. Da'Vinchi's character will add something new to the series, and despite having mixed feelings about the series growing its cast rather than betting on its current lineup, fans should always relish getting to know someone new.
Chicago Fire season 15 premieres Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9/8c on NBC.
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