TV

5 Seasons Later, Chicago Fire Still Robs Its Best Character and Team of Screen Time

5 Seasons Later, Chicago Fire Still Robs Its Best Character and Team of Screen Time
Image credit: NBC

Dear Chicago Fire showrunners, please, stop putting your most beloved firefighter and his entire team on the sidelines of every rescue. Is that too much to ask?

Summary:

  • Between Engine, Truck, and Squad teams, Chicago Fire often ignores the former and puts all focus on the other two.
  • Engine is essential when putting out fires, and its lieutenant Herrmann is most fans’ favorite character in Chicago Fire.
  • Despite that, Herrmann himself and the Engine team as a whole gets tragically overlooked all the time, getting little action and screen time.

Chicago Fire has many characters and teams in Firehouse 51 to cover, so it has to choose its favorites to follow them more closely. Unfortunately, the showrunners’ view on this matter doesn’t always fall in line with the fans’ who, believe it or not, would have loved for their beloved OGs to have more screen time than next to none.

Wild, right?

Engine Is Not Getting Enough Love on Chicago Fire

While many Chicago Fire viewers can’t say they 100% understand the difference between Engine, Truck, and Squad, one thing is clear: the former is not getting enough love in the series. While Truck and Squad bask in attention and screen time, Engine is always sitting on the sidelines, even during the calls where it’s essential.

5 Seasons Later, Chicago Fire Still Robs Its Best Character and Team of Screen Time - image 1

It’s especially obvious during car fire accidents: Squad uses its weak dry chemical extinguishers; Truck pulls the car out to rescue the people inside… And when all’s virtually done, there comes Engine, always late to the call, and lazily puts some water on the already-immense fire — after Boden commands them to do so.

That’s not how firefighting works, and that’s not how Engine works!

Herrmann and His Team Deserve More Screen Time

Seeing how Herrmann is one of the very few OGs that still stay on Chicago Fire, it doesn’t make sense that he gets so little screen time. For many fans, he’s their favorite character; he’s an amazing person; and he’s a great professional. He’s the Engine lieutenant, too, making him one of the most important people all around!

5 Seasons Later, Chicago Fire Still Robs Its Best Character and Team of Screen Time - image 2

But somehow, Engine is always on the sidelines, and so is Herrmann. This doesn’t make sense from the plot and common sense perspectives alike; is not ignoring everyone’s favorite character who also commands a crucial firefighting team too much to ask? Pull yourself together, Chicago Fire, and give us more Herrmann action.

Should Herrmann have become the new Truck lieutenant instead of Stella?