Per Deadline, Walker discusses his fan-favorite character’s impending return to Firehouse 51, but this time for less positive reasons. After a two-week break, Chicago Fire season 13, episode 18 is set to air on April 16, and the episode sees now Deputy Commissioner Boden return to investigate a fire in which a firefighter gets left behind. Walker discusses how Boden will come in to investigate and how this puts him at odds with new station chief Pascal, a situation that Boden is familiar with, having had clashes himself during his time at 51. Check out Walker’s comments below:
Walker: Boden lives inside of me. My problem is stopping Boden from popping out. [LAUGHS] It was amazing to go back. It was amazing to put the uniform on. I’d missed everybody terribly, and the welcome that I got was second to none. I feel very privileged as an actor to have a cast, a crew, and a production office step up and welcome you home.
That’s what it was like, and then we went to work. And we went to work in the way that we always work. We knew that there was a very special episode. The writing in this episode is fantastic, and the filming of it is unusual for a Chicago Fire episode. I think you’ve got more of a movie here than an episode.
Deadline: Boden has been gone for a hot minute, and so many things have happened. Boden’s pick to succeed him was Hermann (David Eigenberg), who has now taken the chief exam. Will he be weighing in on any of that?
Walker: With his situation as it stands, none of that stuff matters. You know, the immediacy of somebody possibly dying is what takes precedent, and so he’s come to find out whose fault it is. Whatever relationships, politics, or promotions going on before, this situation right now could change all of that for everyone—none of that matters. And you know, Bowden’s investigating his old favorite house, so he has got to tread very carefully. He’s been a chief who’s been on the line.
We watched more than 15 to 20 episodes where somebody was turning around and giving Bowden a hard time for the way he was doing his job. It’s Pascal’s [Dermot Mulroney] time this time, and I’m the one coming in. In my case, it was always a deputy, a deputy chief, or somebody higher than the chief coming in. There’s only one person above me, and that’s the commissioner. I am the Deputy Commissioner coming in to find out why a firefighter is left behind in the fire. It doesn’t get more intense than that.
What This Means For Chicago Fire Season 13
Boden’s Return Will Be Intense & Not Everyone Will Be Pleased To See Him
Walker teases the cinematic scope of the episode, suggesting that it is more like a movie than an episode of television, praising the writing and the filming process. Walker’s comments suggest that this is going to be a unique episode of Chicago Fire, and one that could influence the direction of the series. Boden’s return will be welcomed by viewers, but, within the context of the episode, in many ways, he is coming in as the enemy. He will be investigating what went wrong with the fire, and, ultimately, who is responsible, which is bound to put him at odds with other characters, in particular Pascal.
Our Take On Boden’s Chicago Fire Return
There’s A Good Chance Boden Could Appear In Future Episodes
It is unclear how many episodes Walker is set to return for, and while the signs suggest it might be a one-and-done arrangement, in the same Deadline interview, the actor revealed that he would always come back (where possible) if more episodes were written for Boden. Whilst Chicago Fire season 14 is yet to be officially renewed, if the show does span another season, there is every chance Boden could be back in more episodes. But even if this is a one-off, Boden will be a welcome return to the Chicago Fire cast, and the fallout of his episode could impact the series in so many ways.
