A new trailer for the season 12 finale of Chicago Fire has been released, revealing an emotional ending is coming for one of the series’ original cast members. Chicago Fire season 12 has featured several high-profile departures, including Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett and Alberto Rosende as Blake Gallo. While the cast of the show is still a large ensemble, the emotional goodbyes for many of its characters have made this season in particular stand out.
Now, NBC (via TV Promos) has released a trailer for the final episode of Chicago Fire season 12, teasing “an emotional farewell” episode for Eamonn Walker as Wallace Boden.
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The trailer shows a variety of characters gathering to say goodbye to him, the teaser revealing how much the episode will focus on his leading Firehouse 51. Since he’s been on the series since the beginning, his departure might be one of the most emotional since Jesse Spencer’s Matthew Casey in season 10.
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Boden has not been on the show as much in season 12, with Casey stepping up to take on a leadership position in his absence. Not much is known about why he hasn’t been as active within the Firehouse, but it seems to have been because of something in his family. This may also be why he decides to leave, his general absence throughout the season already serving as a transition to the show continuing without him. It sets up an emotional ending, but also a mystery that won’t be clarified until the finale.
Unlike the Chicago Fire season 11 finale, which featured plenty of different storylines being focused on simultaneously, season 12 seems like it will be paying tribute to the long-running character as a whole. This departure is such an important one not only because of this focus, but because it leaves just four characters introduced in season 1. As time goes on, more regular cast members could also depart. Boden leaving is a reminder of just how long the show’s been going on for, and how it may impact the cast lineup in years to come.
However, Boden’s absence isn’t the end of his story, as he’ll be coming back to Chicago Fire season 13 in a recurring capacity. While this means he won’t be showing up much for future episodes, it does indicate he won’t be dying or moving out of Chicago by the end of season 12. Yet that still makes his decision to leave a mystery, something that will be explored in more detail during the finale. Despite a future appearance guarenteed, it doesn’t change how emotional this next finale of the series will be.
Chicago Fire’s season 12 finale will air May 22 on NBC, and stream the next day on Peacock.
Part of executive producer Dick Wolfe’s Chicago franchise, a series of TV shows exploring the lives and careers of different public service employees in Chicago, Illinois, Chicago Fire follows the members of the fictional Firehouse 51. The series focuses on Firehouse 51’s firefighters and paramedic teams, with an ensemble cast that includes Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney, Monica Raymund, and Eamonn Walker.
