Eamonn Walker Returns as Wallace Boden in Tense, Cinematic ‘Chicago Fire’ Episode
Chicago Fire is about to feel a whole lot more like home—at least for one night. Fan-favorite Eamonn Walker returns to Firehouse 51 in the upcoming Chicago Fire Season 13 episode, “Post-Mortem,” airing Wednesday, April 16 on NBC. This marks Walker’s first appearance since the Season 12 finale, when he stepped away as a series regular. Now promoted to deputy commissioner, Boden returns under the most harrowing of circumstances: to investigate a call gone wrong that left one of 51’s own in peril—and could end several careers.
“This One Felt Like a Movie”
Walker describes returning to the Chicago set as an emotional experience, with applause, tears, and a powerful sense of homecoming greeting him on his first day back. But there was little time for nostalgia. Boden arrives at 51 not as a mentor or friend, but as a stern official determined to get to the bottom of a potentially career-ending incident.
“The only reason a deputy commissioner turns up at a firehouse is because it’s bad,” Walker explains. “Every officer is potentially going to be fired by the end of the night.”
The episode, directed by longtime franchise director Reza Tabrizi, is being touted as one of the most intense in Chicago Fire history, shot in a new style that Walker says gives it a cinematic edge. “It’s not a normal episode. It’s a movie,” he adds. “The way it’s written, the way it’s shot—it had me on the edge of my seat when I read it.”
Who’s in Danger? Walker Isn’t Saying
While the promo teases that one of 51’s own has been critically injured, Walker remains tight-lipped on which firefighter is in jeopardy—but he does confirm it’s a “fan favorite.”
“This is why the episode works so well,” he says. “You won’t be able to look away. Everyone’s trying to hold it together while someone they love is fighting for their life.”
The investigation, which begins while the fire is still smoldering, puts every officer under the microscope. That includes Severide (Taylor Kinney), Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), and Herrmann (David Eigenberg), all of whom share difficult scenes with Boden.
“They don’t want to be on the receiving end of his ire,” Walker notes. “But if someone’s at fault, Boden will find out.”
A Crackling Power Struggle with Chief Pascal
In Boden’s absence, Firehouse 51 has operated under the direction of new Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), whose leadership style has sparked tension and doubt. Pascal has openly questioned whether Herrmann is truly committed to being chief—an especially loaded suggestion given Boden once hoped Herrmann would be his successor.
While some have speculated about animosity between Boden and Pascal, Walker clarifies the dynamic is more complex. “There’s a crackle between them,” he says. “They’re similar in some ways, but totally different in others. It’s a one-way street of mistrust.”
And there’s a deeper twist at play: “It’s not an accident Pascal is there,” Walker teases. “Somebody put him there. You have to ask, who do you think that was?”
Old Bonds, New Stakes
Despite the dire situation, Walker says Boden remains proud of the firefighters he helped raise through the ranks. “They didn’t start as officers. I trained them. And I’m proud of who they’ve become,” he reflects. “But pride doesn’t mean protection. If someone made the wrong decision and it costs a life, there will be consequences.”
Still, the emotional toll is evident. “This isn’t easy for Boden. These are his people. But he’ll do what needs to be done.”
Will Boden Be Back Again?
As for the possibility of more appearances beyond this one? Walker leaves the door open: “If they write it, I will come,” he says simply.
But don’t expect to see Boden back in the field too often. “Firefighting is a young man’s game,” he laughs. “I’m just focused on this one right now. It’s special.”
And that legacy—the one built with the help of real-life firefighters like Steve Chikerotis—continues to carry meaning. “We actors walked in from L.A., London, New York with no idea,” Walker recalls. “But Steve put his love of the Chicago Fire Department into us. That never leaves.”
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
