Chicago Fire season 12 will return with the impending episode 10 despite an uncommonly long break between episodes. The show is the flagship program of NBC and Dick Wolf’s One Chicago franchise, which includes three spinoffs, two of which are still on the air, and all of which follow various public services in the Windy City. Co-created by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, the original show has been on the air since 2012, continuing Wolf’s habit of creating successful long-running interconnected television franchises, a roster which also includes NBC’s Law & Order and CBS’ FBI.
While Chicago Fire season 13 has already been renewed, the show has not yet officially ended season 12. Nevertheless, the ongoing season is in the middle of an unusually long hiatus, even by the standards of a season for which two-week hiatuses have been something of a norm. The previous episode, season 12, episode 9, “Something About Her,” premiered on April 3, which is more than two weeks before the time of writing. While episode 10, “The Wrong Guy,” is on the way, there will still be a substantial additional wait before it makes its way to the air.
Chicago Fire Season 12, Episode 10 Releases On May 1, 2024
Chicago Fire’s Latest Hiatus Lasts Four Weeks
Chicago Fire season 12, episode 10 is set to premiere on NBC on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. ET. It will be preceded by Chicago Med season 9, episode 10, “You Might Just Find You Get What You Need,” at 8:00 p.m. and followed by Chicago P.D. season 11, episode 10, “Buried Pieces,” at 10:00 p.m. Both of the other shows in the One Chicago universe will also be resuming after monthlong hiatuses.
Why Is Chicago Fire Season 12’s Latest Hiatus So Long?
Multiple Factors Are Likely At Play In The Chicago Fire Delay
There has so far been no official reason given for the delay between episodes 9 and 10 of Chicago Fire season 12. However, there are several factors that are likely playing into this unusually extended hiatus. The first is the fact that the season premiere on January 17, 2024, was delayed from its normal Fall date amid the 2023 strikes, in which first writers and then actors took to the picket lines to fight for fair pay, preventing the 2023-2024 television season from kicking off as usual.
It is possible that the network is staggering the episodes of the shortened season 12 so the finale can run at the usual time in May. However, the delay across the board for the One Chicago shows could be the result of some major casting shakeups that have taken place. For Chicago Fire, this includes the recently announced departures of Rome Flynn as Derrick Gibson, Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, and Alberto Rosende as Blake Gallo.
Taylor Kinney, who has played major character Kelly Severide since season 1, has also had reduced screentime recently, as he left the show for a period during season 11 while handling a personal matter behind the scenes. While Severide has returned, it is possible that the actor’s schedule has also impacted his availability to shoot key scenes in the show. With Kinney’s schedule combined with major cast departures, it is possible that Chicago Fire‘s showrunners requested that this Spring hiatus be slightly extended so they could handle a massively shifting ensemble while both writing and shooting new episodes.
How Many Episodes Chicago Fire Season 12 Has Left
Chicago Fire Season 12 Is Shorter Than Usual
Because of its shortened post-strike schedule, Chicago Fire season 12 only has four episodes remaining, including the upcoming episode 10. The season was shortened to 13 episodes total in the wake of the resolution of the strikes, which did not allow time for a full season. Typical seasons of the show run between 22 and 24 episodes. The only previous season that has been significantly shortened in this way was the 16-episode season 9, which was delayed by pandemic-related shutdowns in 2020.
What To Expect From Chicago Fire Season 12, Episode 10
The Chicago Fire Drama Continues Apace
A promotional clip for the upcoming episode of Chicago Fire has already offered some insight into what viewers can expect from the plot of episode 10. This includes the major incident at the center of the episode being a car that has somehow become wedged through the wall of a building’s upper story. While attempting to rescue the trapped driver, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) will find herself in a precarious position as the car begins to tilt.
Chicago Fire will be putting the relationship between Stella and Severide… to the test.
It also seems that Chicago Fire will be putting the relationship between Stella and Severide, who got married in season 10, to the test. The rift between them as Severide continues to explore being a fire cop becomes manifested externally via Severide watching her helplessly through the glass of the car’s windshield. The windshield could represent the communication gap that has built up between the two characters, though the cracks in the glass could hint at an impending breakthrough.
