It’s become a normal part of Chicago Fire to see a team member missing now and then. We’ve had Severide and Kidd missing here and there, but the latest missing member was Mouch.
Caution: This post contains minor SPOILERS from Chicago Fire season 13, episode 12.
Cruz was the one missing from the One Chicago crossover event. That was easily explained as we learned in the previous episode that he was being suspended for his actions with the Junior mess. Well, he was back in the episode, and it was Mouch’s turn to be missing.
Where was Mouch in Chicago Fire?
This was quickly explained in the way the show has done so many times. We learned Mouch was taking some time off after the events of the crossover event. That’s not surprising considering Trudy was almost killed in that crossover.
Trudy will need some help around the house after that near-death experience. She’ll need help recovering, and who better to help her than Mouch? Plus, with the fact that he was in the dog house for forgetting her birthday, he kind of owes it to her to be there.
Why is Christian Stolte really missing from Chicago Fire?
The good news is this is just a one-episode absence. Christian Stolte will be back next week, and we’ll get to see more of the hilarious antics that Mouch gets up to.
Stolte is only MIA due to filming needs. Over the last few years, Chicago Fire and the rest of the shows have tried to find ways to cut costs. The best way is to have actors not in some episodes. It’s Mouch’s turn for that right now.
By having the actors take turns, it means that they can still earn roughly the same amount as before. They all end up taking a hit rather than just the same actors over and over again.
It’s not just the Chicago shows that are doing this. We’re seeing the same with FBI and FBI: Most Wanted and we have often seen it with Grey’s Anatomy due to the large ensemble cast. There’s no doubt that we’ll see more of it in shows as finances get harder.
Chicago Fire airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC. Catch up the following day on Hulu.
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