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What's Going on with Dermot Mulroney's Chief Pascal on Chicago Fire?
"He's kind of a man of mystery," Fire showrunner Andrea Newman told NBC Insider about the new chief.
Chicago Fire's new chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) made quite the splash during the Season 13 premiere.
"As you probably already know, I'm Battalion Chief Dom Pascal. Twenty-seven years on the job," Pascal told Firehouse 51 after arriving for his first day during Season 13, Episode 1. "Some things I want to get out of the way up front: I have the utmost respect for D.C. Wallace Boden (Eammon Walker), and it's truly an honor to be here, at his former seat. But I'm not Chief Boden. I'm not trying to be. I have my own leadership style. I do things my own way, so you should all expect there'll be some changes at Firehouse 51."
RELATED: Dermot Mulroney on the Biggest Difference Between Pascal & Boden on Chicago Fire
So, who is the new leader settling in at the Windy City firehouse? Learn everything we know about Dom Pascal, below.
Who is Dermot Mulroney's Chicago Fire character, Chief Dom Pascal?
Mulroney made his Chicago Fire debut in the Season 13 premiere ("Monster in the Field") as Firehouse 51's new leader following Boden's promotion to Deputy Commissioner. Pascal spent his first 10 years firefighting in Chicago before moving to Miami, only to return to the Windy City.
The entirety of Firehouse 51 was nervous about Pascal's arrival until they saw him in action during a call at a smoke shop. The incident provided the perfect opportunity for Pascal to show the firefighters what he could do. As butane tanks burst and projectiles showered down on the firefighters, Pascal gave clear directives before courageously running into the chaos without a shield to help evacuate civilians. From the get-go, Pascal demonstrated that he isn't a pencil-pusher — he is hands-on and confident in his commanding style.
"I think he's missing the fear gene," Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) exclaimed as she watched Pascal run into the flames.
Chief Pascal introduced some changes at Firehouse 51
Pascal is efficient and direct and thinks the most valuable asset a firefighter can have is knowledge. After introducing a rule that the firefighters need to put their phones in a bucket during mealtimes so that they could connect more, 51 was left annoyed.
"All due respect, Chief, but most of us have known each other for years," Joe Cruz (Joe Miñoso) told him.
"That's where the trouble starts," Pascal warned them. "You stop asking questions, finding out new things. If your life depends on knowing the firefighter on your left and right on every call and what their next move is going to be, there's no such thing as too familiar."
RELATED: Dermot Mulroney's Chicago Fire Character Will Cause "Issues" for [SPOILER]
Pascal wasn't finished with his rule changes, either. He brought Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo, Chris Herrmann (David Eigenberg), and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) into his office to let the lieutenants know that there would be new debriefing meetings following each call.
During his meeting with Severide, Pascal flagged the rule in the CFD handbook that cites that immediate family members can't work in the same station on the same shift. (Meaning him and Stella, who are married, are technically breaking the rules.) The conflict of interest could be dangerous, and Boden neglected that rule for years.
"Seems to me you both figured out a way to manage it, considering how long you've worked together," Pascal commented to Severide about him and Stella.
"Yes, sir," Severide assured him. "We have it handled."
"OK, just be aware that's something I'll be keeping an eye on," Pascal cautioned.
Chief Pascal's dark past in Miami came back to haunt him
During his first day at Firehouse 51, Pascal received a visit from an old CFD colleague. While the pop-in began joyfully, the conversation took a turn after his friend brought up Pascal's past in Miami.
"Listen, I don't want to overstep, but we were close back in the day," his friend began. "I heard about what happened in Miami. You OK?"
Pascal's entire demeanor changed with the line of questioning. "Absolutely," Pascal choked out. "All good."
"You sure?" the friend asked. "Because I heard-"
"Most the CFD doesn't even know I'm here yet," Pascal interrupted. "You must keep your ear really close to the ground, huh?"
Pascal quickly shut down the conversation to get back to work, leaving Chi-Hards mystified. What happened in Miami that inspired that war-torn look on Pascal's face?
Chief Dom Pascal's family life is rocky
At the end of "Monster in the Field," viewers watched Pascal arrive home from work only to discover he'd been locked out.
Shocked and disgruntled, Pascal shouted for his wife, Monica (KaDee Strickland), to open the door. Monica opened a window to speak with her husband.
"I'm not happy, Dom," Monica told him. "I think you should go stay somewhere else."
"Yeah, well, first of all, it's my name on the lease," Pascal reminded her.
"Then I can go," Monica agreed.
"No, I want you to here," Pascal clarified. "I wanna work on this."
"It seems like all you really wanna do is just work," Monica snapped. "Night and day, like always."
"I told you the hours are gonna be crazy at first," Pascal said.
"You should have stayed in Miami," Monica snapped. After Pascal reminded her that he moved to Chicago to be with her and refused to give up on their marriage, Monica started to come around.
"Monica, you're gonna need me to keep you warm when that Chicago winter hits," Pascal reasoned. "You got weak in Miami."
At this, Monica seemed to thaw. "Open the door," Pascal urged her. Finally, Monica came around.
"You're a lucky man," Monica said after finally unlocking the front door.
"I know it," Pascal said before she swooped in for a passionate kiss.
Find out what happens to Pascal next by watching Season 13 of Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
