If there is one thing a TV show needs, it’s character development, and Chicago Fire has certainly given us that with the likes of Severide, Kidd, Violet, and even Ritter, but the same can’t be said for one particular character: Christopher Herrmann.
I know my title is going to be an unpopular opinion.
There are plenty of Chicago Fire fans out there who would love to see more Herrmann, and they may not be able to see the show without him.
To be honest, I was like that with Boden, and while I enjoy Pascal, he’s just not the same as Boden.
When it comes to Herrmann, he is one of the least developed characters going, and Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1 has proven that.
As I think about the budget cuts coming up in the show and the threat of firefighters losing their jobs, I’ve started to think that it’s time for Christopher Herrmann to retire.
Herrmann Is a Selfish Man
When it comes to his children and wife, Herrmann is one of the most giving people.
From the beginning of Chicago Fire, we’ve watched this man look for ways to support his family, even going to great lengths to bring in extra money for them.
He has been there through thick and thin, both in family and personal matters.
Just look at his dedication to Cindy as she went through her cancer battle.
Yet, when it comes to anyone else, he ends up being a rather selfish person.
Yes, there are times that he can be a good captain, but I can’t help but feel like this is just his pride in his job.
Did he really help Ritter on the stairs because he saw Ritter as a great firefighter, or was it because he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t stop?
Was it all for him?
The Chicago Fire Season 14 premiere has continued to remind us that he is a selfish person, and it all comes down to the office space.
Herrmann Didn’t Care About Mouch
It’s been a month since he gave up his bugles for Mouch.
In a way, this should be seen as a selfless act, but like when stopping for Ritter, there was an element of selfishness to it.
Herrmann didn’t want to become Chief, but he also didn’t want Mouch to go to another firehouse, and he needed to take drastic action.
Becoming the martyr for Mouch puts the attention on him, rather than on Mouch, as he becomes a lieutenant at Firehouse 51.
Now, we have this Chicago Fire Season 14 arc where he wouldn’t even give up his office.
I could see the initial regret of the decision as he realized it would mean moving out of the office.
That quiet space allowed him to break away from the others after calls, and it offered him the peace needed to write his reports, but this doesn’t mean it has to become a huge storyline that hasn’t even come to a close.
It’s clear that this arc of the premiere was supposed to be the comedic plot, but it was frustrating to watch Herrmann attempt to manipulate his friend to keep the office.
Mouch did it right back, as he makes it clear that he isn’t the dumb man that many could view him as, but Herrmann didn’t even give up the office in full by the end of the episode.
The idea of making the office like a timeshare is absolutely ridiculous.
Why should Herrmann get to keep any of that space when he gave up his bugels?
As Cruz said, it’s no longer his office; it’s Mouch’s office.
Nobody Stands Up to Herrmann
On top of all this, nobody really stands up to Herrmann.
Cruz stuck his head in and called Herrmann out a couple of times, but this would have worked better if he had had everyone teaming up to get Mouch out of the office.
Instead, I had to wonder why Cruz was making it his mission to get Mouch the space.
Okay, I get it that it came from Mouch using the Squad table as his makeshift office, but then why didn’t Capp and Tony help Cruz with the push to get Herrmann out?
It’s like nobody really wants to stand up to him because they know it’s going to be a waste of time.
There is no changing Herrmann.
He’s the main character with the least growth, and Chicago Fire either needs to address this or consider retiring him as budget cuts worsen.
There are numerous younger characters who come and go, and at this point, it’s becoming frustrating to see them start to gain growth only to have it halted because the One Chicago universe seems unable to let go of Herrmann.
So, Chicago Fire, do you dare to take a risk?
It’s like yelling into the void sometimes — so if you’re out there, holler back.
Comments, shares, and good vibes all keep this little ship afloat. Thanks for reading, and let’s chat in the comments!
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The post I’m Sorry, but It’s Time for Chicago Fire’s Herrmann to Retire appeared first on TV Fanatic.