Chicago Fire Season 12 Catch Up: Everything You Need to Remember Ahead of Chicago Fire Season 13

Chicago Fire will look more different than ever when it returns this Fall. Chicago Fire Season 13 premieres Wednesday, September 25th, and Firehouse 51 will have someone new leading the team.

To help you prepare for the new season, here’s a look back at some of the most important details from Chicago Fire Season 12.

Herrmann’s Hearing

Early in Season 12, Herrmann was close to an explosion that left a lasting effect on his hearing. He was stubborn about this at first, not wanting to admit it to himself or anyone else.

Thanks to a close call and a push from Ritter, though, he saw a doctor and was able to be fitted for a hearing aid.

That could be the end of the story, but the doctor notes when she sees him that his hearing could worsen further, and if it does, that might signal the end of his firefighting days.

Casey and Brett’s Happily Ever After

Kara Killmer exited the series early in Season 12 with a happily ever after for Sylvie Brett and Matt Casey. Even though they wound up getting married at a fish store instead of a nice aquarium, it was a beautiful wedding that was officiated by Chief Boden.

As far as the audience knows now, the two are living their best lives in Portland with a full family that includes the boys and Brett’s adopted daughter. 

Violet’s New Partner

Of course, Brett’s exit left an opening for Violet to have a new partner. Not only that, she was also promoted to paramedic in charge (PIC).

She was, however, met with immediate conflict in choosing a new partner. Paramedic Chief Robinson, the villain for most of Season 12, made life hard for Violet and stuck her with a partner, Lennox, who was untrustworthy and downright disrespectful. 

That storyline ultimately led to Boden’s promotion, which I’ll get to in a moment. Eventually, that paramedic was replaced by a carefree floater named Lizzie Novak.

Novak had no interest in becoming a permanent fixture at 51, to begin with, but despite their difference in temperaments, Violet realized they could have a great partnership and convinced her to stay. 

Violet and Carver

The romance between Violet and Carver started out as something casual, which was all Violet said she could handle. As the season progressed, however, it was clear there was more to their relationship, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

Unfortunately, Violet’s trauma over losing Chief Hawkins made things complicated, and by the end of the season, Carver admitted that he was in love with her — but that he knew she’d been pushing him away because of what happened with Hawkins.

The season ended with Carver taking furlough and avoiding Violet’s calls.

Severide Suggests he and Stella Start a Family 

For Severide and Stella, much of Season 12 was about Severide earning back Stella’s trust when it comes to his work with OFI.

Van Meter would still like to see Severide work toward a future in OFI permanently one day, but for now, he’s focused on only doing that when it doesn’t take him away from home too long. 

Add a near-death experience when Severide was taken for a ride by thieves who wanted to use Truck 81 as a bomb, and it makes his perspective has shifted a bit. So when Stella shows Severide a photo she gets from Sylvie of baby Julia, Severide suggests they think about starting their own family.

Stella doesn’t really have time to respond because they’re called away. What happened later may throw a wrench in that idea, though.

Jack Damon is Severide’s Brother

The mysterious floater who was obsessed with Severide and seemed untrustworthy really did have something to hide.

Ritter heard him on a call that made him sound suspicious, and there were red flags everywhere that perhaps there was something nefarious going on.

However, after some encouragement from Novak, Jack Damon reveals to Severide on the Chicago Fire Season 12 finale that he’s Benny’s son — and Severide’s brother. 

Firehouse 51 has a New Rig

After the robbery of Truck 81 and explosion that nearly took out Severide, Firehouse 51 went a while without having a truck at all. When they finally received a new one, it naturally felt different.

Unfortunately, the old one had special additions that wouldn’t be allowed now — a problem that had Mouch particularly upset.  

Mouch has Plans to Become a Lieutenant

While Cruz puts his plans of taking the lieutenant exam on the back burner for now, Mouch announces on the finale that he’s going to end his career on a high note.

This came with some encouragement from Casey before they said their goodbyes during the wedding, and Mouch says he’s already been studying. 

Herrmann Could Eventually Be in Charge of 51 

When Boden made the decision to put his hat in the ring for Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department, he told Herrmann that he’d like to see him be the one to lead Firehouse 51 one day.

That can’t happen immediately, of course, but it likely wouldn’t have been a throwaway comment, either.

Boden’s Promotion to Deputy Commissioner

On the Season 12 finale, Boden was promoted to the position of Deputy Commissioner. This was sparked in large part because he wanted to keep Chief Paramedic Robinson from being able to fill the role, but also because he realized he was finished fighting fires. 

Boden’s promotion is well deserved, and he was shocked and honored to receive it. The goodbye he received from everyone at 51 was emotional — though not really a goodbye. We’ll likely still see Boden on occasion, though Eamonn Walker will no longer be a series regular on the show.

When the series returns, Dermot Mulroney will play the new Chief at 51, Dom Pascal.

Chicago Fire returns Wednesday, September 25th at 9/8c on NBC.

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