In the weeks leading up to the Chicago Fire Season 13 finale, the pressure was mounting on Herrmann (David Eigenberg) to take the reins of control at Firehouse 51. With 51 Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) under fire and Commissioner Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) making a return, there was much for Herrmann to handle. Despite the pressure, the Season 13 finale ended with Herrmann deciding against taking on a desk job to remain a firefighter. That decision clears the path for his long-time friend, Mouch (Christian Stolte), to ascend to lieutenant in an emotional sequence of events. Series showrunner Andrea Newman, in a conversation with ScreenRant, discussed the scene between the two, and Herrmann’s decision to sacrifice his position for his friend.

“That’s a fun one. That, again, was one that we knew from the beginning, because the moment he stepped on the stage Dermot was so great,” Herrmann explained to the outlet. “We were like, “What’s this going to look like? Are people going to be rooting for Pascal to stay?” We wanted to build that over the course of the season, and we did obviously culminating in the funeral where Mouch said, “We’re here, we’re your family, that’s why you’re here. We’re here.” The season had a lot of subplots that tied both Mouch, Herrmann, and Pascal. Monica’s death and what that meant for Pascal. Boden’s suggestions for Herrmann to push himself were all neatly tied in. But the buck always stopped with Herrmann and he what he wanted to do. Newman adds, “And from that moment on, Pascal was locked in, I think, and it was no longer a question of, ‘Are we going to kick Pascal out?’ Unless he ends up in jail. But for Herrmann, the journey has been, Boden said, ‘You’re the guy. Mouch needs you to be the guy. Pascal is testing you to see if you can be the guy, but at the end of the day, what do you think? Do you want to be the guy?’”

Firehouse 51 is likely going to look alot different in Season 14. There are some changes likely coming from the CFD which make him take his friend, Mouch, into serious consideration. Newman goes on to add:

“And that’s the question, obviously, he asks himself in the finale, and he decides, partly because of what that auditor said. ‘You guys could be gone any minute. So the clock is ticking. I got the chance to be a lieutenant at the house, I want you to have that because you’re my best friend.’ So it’s such a sweet gesture.”

Mouch Will Have to Deliver as Lieutenant in ‘Chicago Fire’ Season 14

When the show returns for a new season, there will be pressure on a number of characters. Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and her husband, Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), will be dealing with the expectations of having a child. Mulroney’s Dom Pascal will be dealing with the aftermath of Monica’s death and his relationships with other members of the firehouse. Newman goes on to explain that Mouch will also be under pressure to deliver as lieutenant come the new season.

“And for Herrmann, it feels right. It’s a lot of pressure on Mouch now to step up and be a great lieutenant, which he will try to be. And it’s a lot of pressure for Herrmann, who’s now gotten a pay cut, to feed all the children at home. We have lots of stuff to play with going into the next season, and how Pascal manages all that too.”