Chicago Fire Is NBC’s Top-Rated Drama But Season 13 Is Still Secretly Failing

Although Chicago Fire is NBC’s top-rated drama, the firefighter and paramedic-centered series isn’t doing as well as its top rating might suggest. When Chicago Fire first premiered in 2012, it was unique among primetime dramas because of its focus on rescue workers, setting a trend that resulted in other fire-centered shows such as CBS’ Fire Country. However, Chicago Fire season 13 has been a more challenging season, in part because Fire Chief Wallace Bowden (Eamonn Walker) left Firehouse 51, signifying the most major cast change in the series’ history.

Bowden’s exit left room for the new chief, Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) to shake up Firehouse 51. Pascal’s goal is to run a tighter ship than Bowden did, which has led to constant conflicts with Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo). This season has also seen other changes to the Chicago Fire cast such as Damon (Michael Bradway) being transferred out after continually refusing to obey orders at fire scenes. Additionally, fan-favorite Cruz’s (Joe Miñoso) job is in jeopardy after being blackmailed into taking part in a robbery at Firehouse 51 that went sideways.