NBC teased a major character death heading into Episode 15 of Chicago Fire Season 13, and fans braced themselves for the worst. With promos placing several characters in peril — including Jack Damon (Michael Bradway) lost in smoke and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) diving into oncoming traffic — the tension was white-hot. But when the dust settled, the loss didn’t land with the impact the show clearly hoped for.
The victim? Monica Pascal (KaDee Strickland), wife of newly introduced firehouse veteran Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney). Her sudden, nearly off-screen death in a car accident stunned viewers — but not for the right reasons.
🕯️ Monica’s Death Was a Letdown, Not a Shock
The moment that gave it away came not in the fire or the chaos but in a solemn walk through the halls of Chicago Med. Dom Pascal, dressed in his date-night best, enters the hospital and is greeted by a weeping Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith). Moments later, Chicago Med’s Dr. Dean Archer (Steven Weber) crosses over to break the devastating news: Monica didn’t survive the accident.
It was meant to be heartbreaking. But instead of catharsis, fans were left confused and underwhelmed. The biggest issue? Monica never had time to matter.
Sure, she and Dom had just reconciled after a rocky patch filled with infidelity and resentment. Sure, they had an anniversary dinner planned. But Monica had only appeared in a handful of episodes, and most of her screentime was spent arguing with Dom or being mentioned in passing. Her death didn’t feel like a gut punch — it felt like a plot device.
🗣️ Fans Speak Out: “Why Should We Care?”
Reactions from longtime viewers were mixed, if not outright frustrated. On Reddit, user u/camy_23 summed up the heartbreak from Dom’s perspective, writing: “That’s devastating to see Pascal waiting for Monica knowing she’s not coming.” But many more pointed out that the writers failed to build up enough emotional stakes
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u/keepingitreal-84 criticized the move outright: “The writers’ decision to bring such tragedy into Pascal’s life in this manner is truly bewildering and calls into question their sense of empathy.”
And then there was the pacing. Rather than building toward Monica’s accident with suspense or emotional groundwork, her death is dumped in the final moments of the episode, with zero time for resolution or reflection. As u/Vero_IPD put it: “The last 2 minutes they just… rushed it.”
Even fans who had braced themselves weren’t impressed. u/januarysdaughter offered a grim chuckle: “Guest star: Steven Weber. Uh oh.”
🎭 A Missed Opportunity for a Powerful Arc
To be fair, there was potential. Monica and Dom’s reconciliation could have offered rich, dramatic material — two flawed people rediscovering love and stability after weathering storms. But instead of developing that relationship, Chicago Fire sacrificed Monica to generate grief for Dom. And since Dom himself is still relatively new to Firehouse 51, the ripple effect didn’t quite hit home either.
The result? A stunt death that lacked stakes, history, or emotional punch — one many are calling the worst death in the show’s history.
🔥 What Comes Next for Dom Pascal?
There’s no doubt that the fallout will be felt — or at least seen — when Chicago Fire returns from its brief hiatus. Will Dom spiral? Will he rally? Will this grief reshape his place in the firehouse?
One thing is certain: the show has some work to do rebuilding viewer trust after this jarring misstep. Sometimes, less is more — but in this case, less felt like too little, too late.
