Severide needs to get his “armor on” as Hopkins shakes things up at Firehouse 51.
After Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) was torn from his Firehouse 51 on Chicago Fire, the first responders were given little time for adjustments before the explosive arrival of Battalion Chief Andre Hopkins, played by Rob Morgan.
Upon the shocking news of his termination, Pascal was quick to assure the firefighters that while the details were being worked out, Chief Hopkins would be overseeing Firehouse 51. Hopkins is a familiar face around the CFD, but the firefighters commiserated over him having the reputation of being a “real hard-a**” around the station. Hopkins was slated to oversee six firehouses in his position as Deputy Chief, so the 51 firefighters hoped they wouldn’t see much of the CFD higher-up. Meanwhile, Pascal tapped Severide to become the next acting Chief of Firehouse 51, encouraging the Lieutenant to take the Chief exam and get certified for the promotion. As the Firehouse 51 crew prepared for a visit from the Battallion Chief, Severide assumed the squad would be good to go.
Severide couldn’t have been more wrong as Hopkins arrived at Firehouse 51 and soon conjured a lengthy list of complaints after just one tour of the Windy City station.
Why you recognize Chicago Fire star Rob Morgan
Long before stealing the show on Chicago Fire, Robin appeared in two episodes of Law & Order: SVU, first breaking into acting in the early 2000s. Morgan rose to fame as crook Turk Barrett in the hit series Daredevil, later reprising the role in across various Marvel series. Morgan recurred as Councilman Sol Brown on NBC’s This Is Us, and is well known for playing Chief Powell in various episodes of Stranger Things, as well as depicting Magic Johnson’s father, Earvin Johnson Sr., in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
Rovins boasts a prolific film portfolio, as well. He delivered an award-winning performance in the 2017 drama Mudbound, stole hearts as a seasoned bull-rider in the 2019 drama Bull, and tickled audiences in 2021’s Don’t Look Up.
Battalion Chief Hopkins is laying roots at Firehouse 51
While Severide has wasted no time pulling the levers to become Firehouse 51’s new Chief, he was met with turbulence after returning from his exam and immediately butting heads with Deputy Chief Andre Hopkins, the interim commanding officer upon Pascal’s absence. After voicing annoyance with 51’s social politics and the in-house relationship between Severide and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), it seemed like Hopkins couldn’t be pleased.
As Hopkins continued to be relentlessly uncompromising with Severide’s command, he did some digging and discovered the reason for the animosity. Years ago, Hopkins had been temporarily suspended from the CFD by Benny, Severide’s late father. Upon catching wind of the multi-decade grudge, Severide confronted Hopkins, but was still met with resistance. Hopkins felt Benny was a nepotistic “crony,” and Hopkins had built his entire career on ending settling the score.
“I had no experience, no power games. It’s different now with my position and the new CFD restructuring, I have a chance to make things right,” Hopkins explained. “Get rid of the nepotism, the greased palms, the playing favorites. Wipe it all clean. That’s what I intend to do, so I’ve decided this is going to be my permanent home base. I’m going to stay here at 51 where I’m needed most.”
Despite his glimmering results in the Chief exam, Severide’s hands were tied, so he visited his longtime CFD mentor Van Meter (Tim Hopper) to rage over the ordeal. If Hopkins wanted a fight, Severide was happy to give him one. Knowing Pascal had entrusted Severide with the mighty responsibility of taking the reins at Firehouse 51, Van Meter told Severide it was time to put his “armor on.”
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