Chicago Fire: Bravery Ignites in the Windy City

Chicago Fire is shaking things up on Ambulance 61 — at least for now. Who is Jared Lennox, who plays the new paramedic on the NBC show, and most importantly, is Lennox sticking around? Ever since Kara Killmer’s departure as Sylvie Brett was announced, One Chicago fans have been on the edge of their seats waiting to see who would join the show in her place. Season 12, Episode 7, “Red Flag” might have given them the answer… albeit not a great one.

In “Red Flag,” Brett’s former partner Violet Mikami (played by Hanako Greensmith) tackles her first shift as Firehouse 51’s Paramedic in Charge. Having been told by Paramedic Chief Robinson that she’ll be assigned a new partner, Violet meets Jared Lennox. However, their time together gets off to an incredibly rocky start, as their personalities clash almost immediately. And with Violet suspecting that there’s more to Lennox than meets the eye, Chicago Fire fans are clamoring to know more about the character as well as the actor who portrays him.

Jared Lennox is the new paramedic assigned to Ambulance 61 after Brett’s departure and Violet’s promotion to Paramedic in Charge. In a conversation with Chief Wallace Boden, Paramedic Chief Robinson (recurring guest star Laura Allen, most recognizable for starring in USA’s original, unresolved version of The 4400) confirms that she “handpicked” Lennox to transfer to Firehouse 51. She discusses his impressive service record and mentions that he’s never had any complaints. Unfortunately, though Lennox seems genial, it doesn’t take very long for him to butt heads with Violet.

When Ambulance 61 responds to a house fire, Lennox questions Violet’s treatment plan for the woman they rescue, suggesting a different approach. Though he quickly concedes, the conversation bothers Violet enough that when they’re leaving Chicago Med, she reminds him that being Paramedic in Charge means just that: she’s his boss. Lennox apologizes, saying that his previous PIC was more open to his “input.” Since his old partner was a man named Danny, Violet and Stella Kidd wonder if Lennox is sexist and has a problem with taking orders from a woman.

Later in the episode, Violet and Lennox treat a man who has a spider stuck in his mouth. As they work to extricate it, the man’s wife overhears Lennox mentioning that Violet is the “new PIC” and in a panic, assumes that means Violet is unqualified to help her husband. Once again, the situation is diffused, but Violet believes Lennox is undermining her on purpose. A frustrated Lennox vents about his day to Sam Carver — not knowing that Carver is close to Violet — and declares that “I get the feeling I’m never gonna fit in at 51, which might be fine by me.” His actions soon back up his words: Boden tells Violet (with Carver sitting nearby) that Lennox has filed multiple complaints, and Violet realizes that Lennox isn’t just antagonizing her… he’s “coming after all of 51.”