With 13 seasons under Chicago Fire‘s belt (and heading towards its 14th), starting the series may be intimidating for some. However, the good news is that they only need to watch 10 episodes to stay up to date with the current timeline of the One Chicago universe. New fans could also check out all 13 seasons and 274 episodes ahead of the season 14 premiere to fully comprehend the NBC procedural drama show’s inner workings and dynamics, but that’s not necessary, given how much Chicago Fire has changed over the years.
Throughout Chicago Fire‘s 13 seasons, the cast makeup and overall plot have been drastically altered. The series isn’t the same as it was when it first premiered in October 2012. Now, Chicago Fire is going on 14 seasonsand has spawned two successful spinoffs that have also reached double-digit seasons (and one failed offshoot that NBC canceled after only one season, but we don’t talk about that). It certainly wouldn’t hurt to go back to the beginning — at least, for a little bit — during one’s first watch of Chicago Fire, though.
10 Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 1
“Pilot”
It would be difficult to jump into Chicago Fire without understanding its roots, which is why it would be beneficial to watch the pilot episode, appropriately titled “Pilot.” Chicago Fire season 1, episode 1, will give new viewers the lay of the land and even introduce them to a handful of faces that are still around to this day (Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide, David Eigenberg’s Christopher Herrmann, Joe Miñoso’s Joe Cruz, and Christian Stolte’s Randy “Mouch” McHolland). Unfortunately, everyone else has since left the show. However, that’s the nature of a series with 10-plus seasons.
During the pilot, viewers get their first look at Firehouse 51. The fire station serves as the home base for the firefighters and paramedics who make up the Chicago Fire cast, and it’s one of the show’s mainstays. Without Firehouse 51, Chicago Fire would be nothing, and it’s arguably the most important aspect of the popular NBC series.
9 Chicago Fire Season 10, Episode 22
“The Magnificent City of Chicago”
Since the majority of today’s cast didn’t enter the scene until later on in the series, new fans can jump ahead to Chicago Fire season 10, episode 22, after watching the pilot. Missing almost 10 seasons of episodes might seem dramatic. But, trust me, none of it is all that important to the show’s plot heading into season 14. One very significant event transpires in “The Magnificent City of Chicago,” though, and it’s a huge part of the main couple’s (who still have a major presence in Chicago Fire) story.
Jesse Spencer’s Matt Casey also returns in Chicago Fire season 10, episode 22. However, his last official appearance in the series (at least, for now) comes in season 12, episode 6, which is an important episode in the grand scheme of the show, but isn’t necessary to comprehend what’s happening in season 14.
Severide, who has been around since the pilot, and his longtime love interest, Stella Kidd, get married in the Chicago Fire season 10 finale. Kidd joined Firehouse 51 in season 4, marking the start of her and Severide’s on-and-off relationship. Their journey was tumultuous, to say the least. It was still all worth it once they made it to the end of the aisle. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Chicago Fire wedding if Severide and Kidd didn’t run into some hiccups on their big day, but fans will have to watch the episode to learn more.
8 Chicago Fire Season 12, Episode 13
“Never Say Goodbye”
After season 10’s last episode, viewers can skip ahead to the season 12 finale, “Never Say Goodbye.” Sadly, Eamonn Walker’s Chief Boden leaves Chicago Fire after this episode, which is arguably the show’s biggest exit. Boden had been the chief of Firehouse 51 since the beginning. So, his departure wasn’t only a huge pill to swallow for the characters, but also for the audience, who had loved Boden for many seasons. People always come and go from Firehouse 51, though, and it was time for Boden to depart, paving the way for a new chief.
7 Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 1
“A Monster in the Field”
After Boden’s exit in the season 12 finale, Dermot Mulroney’s Dom Pascal replaces him in the Chicago Fire season 13 premiere. Chief Pascal is nothing like Boden, and his style of leading certainly differs from his predecessor’s methods. Consequently, it’s tough for the other firefighters and paramedics to adjust to Pascal in “A Monster in the Field.”
Their romance is arguably one of the show’s most important stories as of late, and “A Monster in the Field” is essential viewing to understand Violet and Carver as a couple.
Pascal’s introduction isn’t the only important aspect of Chicago Fire season 13, episode 1. The premiere also continues Violet Mikami and Sam Carver’s complicated love story that new fans should’ve gotten a taste of when watching the season 12 finale. Their romance is arguably one of the show’s most important stories as of late, and “A Monster in the Field” is essential viewing to understand Violet and Carver as a couple.
6 Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 8
“Quicksand”
If new fans want to, they can check out every episode in Chicago Fireseason 13 ahead of the season 14 premiere. However, many of them serve as filler and aren’t all that important to the show’s central story. So, we can jump ahead to the midseason finale, “Quicksand.”
One of Chicago Fire season 13’s central stories features Herrmann and Mouch’s attempts to further their careers in the Chicago Fire Department. Boden originally chose Herrmann as his successor, but the veteran firefighter had to pass tests to qualify for the position. Meanwhile, Mouch wanted to become a lieutenant. In episode 8, the two men take their respective tests. Elsewhere during the hour, the audience learns more about Pascal’s past, Darren Ritter’s relationship with his boyfriend, and gets a tease concerning Lizze Novak’s mysterious history.
