Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) may be a newcomer relative to the rest of the Chicago Fire cast, but he is front and center in the current season 13 storyline. He's had to contend with the death of his wife, Monica (KaDee Strickland), and suffice to say, he's not doing a great job.
The promo for the March 26 episode confirms that Pascal is letting grief get the best of him, and its compromising his ability to lead Firehouse 51. We have even seen characters like Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) voice concern for the longevity of his time at 51. This dilemma reminded us of another 51 character who came and went: Brett Dalton.
Pascal may be facing a transfer like Dalton
Dalton, played by Jason Pelham, was brought in to replace Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) when the latter left Chicago Fire. He proved to be an adept leader, like Pascal, and held down a leadership role in a manner that won over even his most vocal critics. Someone who initially disliked Dalton, like Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende), eventually came to see the character as a mentor.
We're not saying Dalton and Pascal have followed similar emotional trajectories. The former never had to endure to death of a loved one on the job, but we are seeing parallels between their tenures and the impending promotion of firefighters within 51's established ranks.
Dalton eventually transferred to another firehouse so that Kidd could step in to the lieutenant role. It was a considerate move, and he he was rewarded with an identical role nearby. Pascal, meanwhile, is occupying the chief role while Herrmann effectively waits in the wings.
Herrmann is being prepped for a promotion
Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) wanted Herrmann to be his replacement, but the latter simply was not ready at the end of season 12. He's passed exams since, and gotten a better feel for what the job entails, which is a good thing considering Pascal's increasingly compromised state.
We're not saying we want Pascal to be booted off the show. But given Dermot Mulroney's status as a TV powerhouse, we always had a sneaking suspicion that his tenure on the show would be brief. The character of Pascal, while compelling, has felt like a bridge between the Boden era and what we feel is the oncoming Herrmann era.
As such, we can easily see a world in which Pascal goes on leave to properly grieve his loss, and when he returns, he's transferred to another firehouse to resume his career. It'd be wonderful to see him in a cameo capacity down the line, but we'd be shocked if he sticks around for the long haul and blocks the beloved Herrmann from sitting in the big chair.