Gabby Dawson's Best Storyline On Chicago Fire

While some characters on "Chicago Fire," like Chris Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker), are considered fan favorites, other cast members of the NBC series, like Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) of Truck 81, have earned more of a mixed reception. Dawson cares deeply about her job, but her temper and strong will often get her in trouble over the course of the series. Fans liked the character's passion but felt her storylines, especially her relationship with Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer), would often become repetitive.

At the end of Season 6, Raymund left the show (via Chicago Tribune), and so did the character. At the start of Season 7, Dawson ends her marriage to Casey, quitting the department and the city so she can help with the recovery of Puerto Rico. The character had many ups and downs over the course of the series, including her often difficult romantic relationships, but this is still the best storyline on "Chicago Fire" that focused specifically on Dawson.

A big subplot of the Season 2 finale, "Real Never Waits," was about Gabby Dawson's qualifications. The paramedic passes her exam this episode, but she is further tested when she's assigned to House 105 and to station leader Welch (Kenny Johnson), who dismisses her advancement as "token." However, Dawson refuses to be broken by Welch's treatment and stays on at the house. The fledgling firefighter's determination and ability eventually earn the respect of Welch and the rest of the crew. It's one of Dawson's finest hours on the show, as she proves herself to be as professional and dedicated as anyone else in the fire department.

The other crucial moment for Dawson in this episode is the cliffhanger, when Casey shockingly proposes to her after Boden (Eamonn Walker) and Donna's (Melissa Ponzio) wedding. However, before she can reply, the team has to answer a call about a building fire that becomes catastrophic in the final minutes of the season. Unfortunately, fans had to wait for Season 3 to get the resolution to the cliffhanger, but it was clear Dawson went through some serious changes during "Real Never Waits." Monica Raymund commented in a ScreenSlam interview that after this episode, "Dawson is going to be even more ambitious and unapologetic about what she does and about her career."