When "Chicago Fire" returns, Mills will make a decision in regard to staying at Firehouse 51 or leaving to join the police force.
Executive Producer Matt Olmstead told TVLine that a specific event will influence Mills' (Charlie Barnett) decision. "We're going to keep it as a valid ripcord that he can pull if he needs to go to PD," Olmstead said. "An event happens that really makes him make a choice in terms of, 'Who am I? What do I want to do?'"
On the last episode, a different character left the firehouse. In "A Power Move," Boden (Eamonn Walker) was ostensibly pushed out by Severide's (Taylor Kinney) dad, Benny (Treat Williams), who benefited from Boden's vacancy. Meanwhile, Shay (Lauren German) got promiscuous and Molly's rival bar, Game Day, was destroyed in a blaze.
Executive producers Dick Wolf and Olmstead and series star Taylor Kinney spoke to TVLine about Shay's future, Benny's intentions and the demise of Molly's rival.
Now that Benny accepted McLeod's (Michelle Forbes) offer to replace Boden, fans are wondering if Benny was always after Boden's job. "He's a lot shadier," Kinney admitted. However, "I don't think that was his endgame," he said.
Olmstead said that Benny "played it pretty smartly." "Did he anticipate this might be a scenario and would he go for it? For sure!" Olmstead added. But, he said that Boden shouldn't be counted out. Olmstead said that he "begins to put up a hell of a fight". He also said that the Boden/McLeod conflict will continue throughout the season.
As for Severide's troubled love life, Kinney said that having a baby with Shay may not be the best decision. "I don't think he's in a position to settle down," Kinney explained. "If the outcome would have been different with Renée, there's an opportunity. But it ended kind of disastrously. So to resume the storyline with Shay, it's just too soon."
Wolf said that Shay's storyline will get more complicated in the second half of the season. Kinney added that Dawson (Monica Raymund) is going to try to extend a hand to the troubled Shay. "Right now, they're really butting heads. We're all trying to figure out how best to help her."
Olmstead said that Shay's situation will get worse before it gets better. As "she goes rock bottom," her pal Severide is left to "pull her up," Olmstead said.
He added that the fire at Game Day was "definitely" arson, and that Molly's owners will be implicated. "They're suspected of it because they certainly will benefit from Game Day closing. Does it involve the cop character that Dawson is seeing? Absolutely," he said.
But Dawson and Casey (Jesse Spencer) 'shippers shouldn't give up yet. "They're going to have their opportunity. Whether or not he can seize it remains to be seen," Olmstead said. "That window is going to open up with Dawson," he said. "A big thing is going to happen to him [Casey] in the course of a fire call."
The next episode will air Nov. 12. According to NBC, on the upcoming episode "Joyriding," "Severide attempts a grueling rescue, and Molly's comes under fire." On the next episode, Boden and McLeod will also clash over the future of the firehouse, and Mouch (Christian Stotle) and Greg Sullivan will debate on Otis' (Yuriy Sardarov) podcast.
Watch the preview for "Joyriding" below, which airs Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 10 p.m. on NBC.