The show radically shifted directions at the start of season 13.
Chicago Fire is always good for a cliffhanger. If you ask fans what their favorite season finale, you’d likely get several different answers, which is a testament to the show’s ability to keep fans guessing. The season 12 finale was no different. In the finale’s closing moments, Fire revealed that Severide (Taylor Kinney) has a younger brother named Jack Damon (Michael Bradway).
It was a twist that not only explained some of Damon’s odd behavior in the previous episodes, but set up a fascinating new dynamic for Severide. The man who struggled to live down the legacy of his dad, Benny (Treat Williams) was being faced with a half sibling who was struggling to live up to his legacy as a firefighter.
Jack Damon was quickly written off the show
There was storytelling symmetry and there was a sense that the writers were transitioning Severide from being the cool, hot-heated young man of the early Chicago Fire seasons to a more experienced, contemplative firefighter. Plus, there was talks of Severide starting a family with his wife, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo). What better time to have a new half sibling?
Well, all that went out the window in the season 13 episode “All Kinds of Crazy.” Damon disobeyed an order from Kidd in the field, and Severide’s desire to cover up for him nearly landed both men in hot water. Damon was booted from Firehouse 51 by his sister-in-law, Kidd, and forced to relocate to the nearby Firehouse 20.
The subsequent season 13 episodes provided information on Damon, and his tenure with the new firehouse. Evidently, Severide’s little brother was faring much better over there, and Severide even said that Damon would be offered a full time position as a firefighter. It’s good news, but it also leads the viewer to question the purpose of Damon’s introduction in the first place.
The show failed to capitalize on Damon’s potential
Damon posed an interesting opportunity for Severide to become a mentor, and the sort of good familial influence that his father could never be. It made complete sense, and yet, Damon was axed from the show before any of these overarching themes could be explored. Severide almost lost his job trying to cover up for Damon, and then the latter was simply gone.
It’s likely that Chicago Fire simply changed their mind about Damon, and decided to reduce his importance within the show come the new season, but it sort of undermines the time that was spent developing his character in season 12. There was a lot of intrigue surrounding his true motive, and the fact that the season ended with his identity being revealed suggested that he was going to be crucial to what came next.
Chicago Fire squandered its potential with Damon, and as such, we feel the season 12 finale a bit weaker than when it initially aired.
