Chicago Fire Ignites Tension Between Pascal and Herrmann

The last scene of Chicago Fire‘s “Post-Mortem” ended with Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), already of the belief that Commissioner Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) is pushing for Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) to become chief of 51, staring down Herrmann, who looks back and gives a nod. While the series does seem to be pushing toward that happening down the road, that seemed to be set aside in last week’s episode, “Permanent Damage.” That is, until Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte) talks badly about Pascal behind his back and urges Herrmann to take the position, inadvertently – or purposefully – turning up the heat between the chief and his captain.

‘Chicago Fire’s Mouch Rights Things With Pascal, Then Turns On Him

Season 13, Episode 15 of Chicago Fire, “Too Close,” ended with one of the series’ most devastating losses, but before the devastating twist, tensions were already high between Mouch and Pascal. Pascal had encouraged Mouch to put his name in for a lieutenant position at another firehouse, even giving him a glowing recommendation to the chief there. Mouch took an interview with the firehouse chief, but told Pascal, in no uncertain terms, that he had no intention of leaving 51, especially with Herrmann taking the chief test in a couple of months. Pascal countered with the fact that he doesn’t believe Herrmann even wants to be chief, and if Herrmann says otherwise, he’s not being completely honest. Mouch asserted that this was not the case and, to reiterate his point, insists again that he is not leaving 51.

Fast-forward to “Permanent Damage,” where we learn that Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) is attending a training course in Maryland, a course that Mouch is also interested in attending. Only Kidd got the required recommendation from Pascal to go, and despite Mouch’s eagerness to attend, the most he gets from Pascal is a sharp “I’ll think about it.” Pascal can hold a grudge, and the fact that he pulled strings to get Mouch the lieutenant interview, only for Mouch to reject it, left him embarrassed. It doesn’t help matters that Mouch begins his request with, “While I’m waiting for the lieutenant spot to open up here.” Read the room, Mouch.

The negative reaction to his request does push Mouch to work extra hard in the firehouse, intending to show Pascal that he is truly deserving of the opportunity. His efforts aren’t for nothing, and an impressed Pascal recognizes his efforts by putting his name in for the conference. Later at Molly’s, however, Mouch talks badly about Pascal, behind his back, to Herrmann, stressing that when the chief’s test comes up in three weeks, their glorious plan to take on the leadership of 51 will come to fruition.

Mouch’s Turn on Pascal Is Out of Character on ‘Chicago Fire’

Mouch’s two-faced turn on Pascal on Chicago Fire is odd, for a couple of reasons. For starters, he’s the one that called Pascal to deliver the heartbreaking news about his wife’s tragic accident. Given how close he came to losing his own wife, Trudy (Amy Morton), in the epic One Chicago crossover event “In the Trenches,” it seems strangely unsympathetic for him to make plans to push the still-grieving Pascal out for his own purposes.

Secondly, he just put in a great deal of effort to turn Pascal’s frown upside-down when it came to their relationship, which arguably would have worked more in favor of his grand plan, or, at the very least, would have created an environment where an honest conversation could be had. Mouch has confessed that his efforts were nothing more than an opportunity to stick it to Pascal again, and not a true willingness to prove his worth.

Pascal may believe that Boden is pushing him out so that Herrmann can take the chief position at 51, but it’s clear that his perception is misplaced. But as far as his perception regarding Herrmann’s hesitancy at becoming chief, Pascal is pretty spot-on. Slowly but surely, Herrmann, as alluded to earlier, is being groomed to become chief somewhere down the line, but he has been waffling on the idea. And even if he is fully on board, he also knows that there are still lessons to be learned before he gets there.

Mouch Just Put Herrmann and Pascal On a Collision Course on ‘Chicago Fire’

That most recently became evident in the previous episode, “Post-Mortem.” Herrmann is highly critical of Pascal’s decisions regarding the disastrous call that led to Jack Damon’s (Michael Bradway) hospitalization, and makes his criticisms known to Boden, who is investigating the case. Only Boden, far from actively looking at displacing Pascal’s position as chief of 51, tells Herrmann that unless you’re the one making the decisions, ensuring all factors are taken into account, then you can’t place judgment on it, a lesson that gives Herrmann cause to reflect differently on his assertion. Even Pascal himself has been actively teaching Herrmann what it takes to be a chief, being nothing but supportive, even if he believes he’s grooming his successor.

But what Mouch has done with his actions is put Pascal and Herrmann on a collision course. He’s pushing hard for Herrmann to take the chief’s test so that “their” plan can come to pass; a plan which, by the way, is not even guaranteed, but rather an assumption that Boden has all but greenlit the path to the pair being the new leadership at 51. It’s unlikely that Herrmann will not take the test, given his strong friendship with Mouch – even if he doesn’t truly want to be chief – and Pascal already has his belief that Herrmann is penciled in for the position once he does. It’s the perfect storm for a conflict between Herrmann and Pascal, with the former being pushed to take a test for a position he may not even want, and the latter not willing to give up that position without a fight. It also sets up the possibility of the two characters whose relationship is put to the test not being Pascal and Herrmann at all, but rather Mouch and Herrmann, a long-time friendship that comes to a head as truths get disclosed.