Chicago Fire: Will Gabby Dawson return permanently?

Gabby Dawson is back for the Chicago Fire Season 8 midseason finale. Is this return going to be permanent? Should she be back with Firehouse 51?

Chicago Fire Season 8’s fall finale will see the return of Gabby Dawson. It’s not a spoiler when it’s been major news since October and was included in the promo for the fall finale. What we don’t know is how long the character is back for.

I love Monica Raymund, but I have a love-hate relationship with Gabby Dawson. From the pilot episode, I knew that we’d end up with a will-they-won’t-they cliche storyline between Gabby and Casey. And it didn’t take too long for the show to become all about Gabby for many of the storylines. By Season 5, I admittedly was done with the character and wanted the focus on other parts of Firehouse 51 and back onto the calls.

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But that’s a personal opinion, and I’ll admit that it means I hope Gabby doesn’t return permanently. That is unless the writers are willing to change the focus if she does return. Don’t forget about all the other firefighters and paramedics!

Honestly, though, I don’t think this is going to be a permanent return for our paramedic-turned-firefighter-turned-paramedic again. This is likely more of a way to give Gabby the sendoff she deserved in the first place.

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Derek Haas always admitted that Raymund’s departure from Chicago Fire was less than ideal. He didn’t see it happening and that led to an abrupt exit. Gabby had left to help with charitable aid and she decided to relocate permanently. The next thing we knew, Dawsey was officially no more and had divorced.

CHICAGO FIRE — “Best Friend Magic” Episode 809 — Pictured: (l-r) Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, Alberto Rosende as Blake Gallo, Christian Stolte as Randy “Mouch” McHolland, Monica Raymund as Gabriela Dawson, Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd — (Photo by: Adrian Burrows/NBC) /

So, it seems odd that she’d just waltz back into Casey’s life and expect things to pick up again. Instead, we’re likely to get the goodbye that Haas would have wanted us to have had he been given that chance. And it could be possible that we see Gabby give her blessing for Brett and Casey to date each other. After all, that’s something that held the two back at first.

Gabby doesn’t come back to Chicago Fire purely for Firehouse 51. It’s not just a random visit, but for a charity fundraiser. However, there are some unsaid things and a need for closure.

During an interview with TVLine, Raymund says something that makes me think this isn’t a permanent return.

"“Who knows when Gabby will pop in and out of Chicago? That’s what’s great about the storyline that we set up is we never know.”"

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Do you think Gabby should return to Firehouse 51 permanently? Is this just a temporary return for Chicago Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Chicago Fire‘s fall finale airs on Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.

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