Chief Dom Pascal is spiraling—and fast—in Season 13 of Chicago Fire. Played by Dermot Mulroney, Pascal is a man caught in the crosshairs of grief and responsibility, struggling to maintain control after the devastating loss of his wife, Monica Pascal (KaDee Strickland). Her tragic death has left deep emotional scars, and the pain only worsens when he discovers that there may be no clear path to justice. That realization triggers a dangerous unraveling, both personally and professionally.
Pascal’s emotional turmoil is no longer something he can compartmentalize. It begins to seep into his role as chief, impairing his decision-making and clouding his leadership. As his judgment falters, those closest to him—and those under his command—start to feel the effects. The tension reaches a boiling point in Episode 18, ominously titled “Post Mortem,” where a high-stakes rescue mission overseen by Pascal ends in disaster. The incident sets off alarms at the top levels of the Chicago Fire Department and prompts immediate scrutiny.
In a dramatic turn of events, Deputy Commissioner Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) returns to Firehouse 51 to conduct a formal investigation into what went wrong. Boden, a pillar of strength and a longtime fan-favorite, had handpicked Pascal as his successor when he accepted his promotion. While their connection exists on paper, the two men don’t share a personal rapport, and their leadership styles couldn’t be more different.
This lack of familiarity sets the stage for an intense and emotionally charged confrontation. Mulroney recently teased that his character’s interaction with Boden is not just a standard professional check-in—it’s a collision between two powerful figures, each carrying the weight of very different experiences and expectations. “They didn’t pull any punches,” Mulroney revealed, hinting that the upcoming showdown is packed with emotional depth and high stakes for both characters.
As Boden digs into the aftermath of the failed rescue and questions begin to pile up, Pascal finds himself cornered—forced to reckon not only with the tragic consequences of his actions but with the very real possibility that his leadership may no longer be tenable. With the foundation cracking beneath him, Pascal’s future hangs in the balance, and Chicago Fire fans should brace for a dramatic escalation that could redefine the power dynamics at Firehouse 51.
