10 Biggest Unanswered Questions & Mysteries After The Chicago Fire Season 13 Finale
The Chicago Fire Season 13 finale, “It Had to End This Way,” delivered an explosive mix of emotional peaks and shocking professional shake-ups, leaving Firehouse 51 in a state of high uncertainty. While some long-running arcs were resolved (like Chief Pascal being cleared of attempted murder), the episode served up a fresh batch of mysteries and massive cliffhangers.
From the future of the show’s favorite couple, Stellaride, to the confusing, last-minute exits of beloved firefighters, the list of unanswered questions heading into Season 14 is long. Here are the 10 biggest mysteries and lingering questions that the next season must address.
1. How Will Stellaride Navigate Pregnancy and Firefighting?
The most earth-shattering reveal came in the final moments: Stella Kidd is pregnant! After a tumultuous season of trying for adoption—including the heartbreak of losing their first opportunity and the complicated storyline with Natalie—this is a massive, emotional pivot.
The question isn’t just if they’ll be good parents; it’s how this pregnancy changes their careers.
- Will Stella go on desk duty? Given the inherent danger of her job as a Lieutenant on Truck 81, a high-risk assignment, she will inevitably face pressure to step away from the front lines.
- Will Severide switch roles? Showrunners have teased that the stakes for the couple will “go through the roof” now that they both could potentially die and orphan their child (a fear particularly acute for Kidd, whose parents died tragically). Will this push Severide to permanently accept a position with the Office of Fire Investigation (OFI), a typically safer role, or even to a training role, sacrificing his adrenaline-fueled job on Squad 3?
2. What is the Fate of Car-Vio’s Long-Distance Love?
After a season of intense romantic tension, Sam Carver and Violet Mikami finally confessed their love for each other. “I love you,” said Carver, followed by a passionate kiss. But this beautiful moment was immediately complicated by Carver’s earlier bombshell: he’s applied for a transfer to the Denver Fire Department for a clean slate and to maintain his sobriety.
- Is Carver actually gone for good? With actor Jake Lockett announced as leaving the series, the logical conclusion is yes.
- Can they make it work long-distance? The finale left the door open with that kiss, but logistically, a long-distance romance between an Ambulance Paramedic in Charge and a Denver firefighter is a difficult path, especially on a show that prioritizes firehouse dynamics. Violet has just found happiness; will Season 14 force her to confront another immediate heartbreak?
3. Will Christopher Herrmann Regret His Lieutenant Demotion?
In an act of profound friendship and self-awareness, Herrmann realized he didn’t want the paperwork and politics of a Chief’s role. Even more shockingly, he voluntarily stepped down as Lieutenant of Engine 51 so his lifelong friend Mouch could finally be promoted to the rank he deserves.
- How will the new dynamic affect their friendship? Herrmann is used to being the commanding officer of Engine 51. Relinquishing that authority and watching Mouch lead from the office he personally built is a huge emotional hurdle. Rumors suggest Herrmann will struggle to let go of his old office and his authority, creating tension with his best friend Mouch.
- Will he lose his rank seniority? Stepping down from Lieutenant to Firefighter carries serious implications for his pension and seniority, especially given the CFD budget cuts auditor’s warning about a “shakeup.” Did Herrmann unknowingly put his own career at risk for a selfless act?
4. What is Chief Pascal’s Next Move at Firehouse 51?
After Severide’s excellent investigation cleared his name and got Lieutenant Vale arrested, Chief Dom Pascal is free from the attempted murder charges and his emotional baggage regarding his wife’s death has been addressed.
- Does he stay as Chief? He has the legal clearance to remain, but does he want to? The entire ordeal exposed him and his complicated past to the 51 family.
- How does his relationship with Severide evolve? Severide risked his career to help him. Their bond is now strengthened, suggesting a more collaborative and trusting partnership in the new season.
5. What is the Unexplained Exit Storyline for Darren Ritter?
Despite actor Daniel Kyri confirming his departure from the series, his character Darren Ritter had no meaningful exit in the Season 13 finale. He was barely featured, and there was no setup for a transfer, promotion, or even a hint of a new life.
- How will Ritter be written out? Given the disappointment over his abrupt, non-existent farewell, the new season must dedicate screen time to give Ritter, a seven-season veteran and the house’s only openly LGBTQ+ character, a proper send-off. Will he be another victim of the threatened CFD layoffs?
6. What Was the Point of Jack Damon’s Secret Family Arc?
Jack Damon, Severide’s half-brother, was a late-season addition with a mysterious past and a fascinating familial connection. Yet, like Ritter, actor Michael Bradway’s exit was confirmed post-finale, with no concluding storyline for his character.
- What is Damon’s fate? His story about connecting with his late father’s legacy at 51 feels unfinished. Did he transfer, quit, or will he simply vanish? His story with Severide felt like it was building to something significant, leaving its abrupt end a major mystery.
7. What New Tensions Will the Looming CFD Shakeup Bring?
The auditor who warned about budget cuts and a massive CFD shakeup felt like a classic setup for future conflict. The exits of Ritter, Carver, and Damon already speak to a shrinking roster.
- Who else is on the chopping block? The show needs to follow through on this threat. Will it affect the staffing on Squad or the now-newly-staffed Engine 51? The uncertainty threatens the family unit of Firehouse 51.
8. Will Violet and Carver’s Confession Prompt Violet to Leave Chicago?
If Carver’s exit is truly permanent, Violet will face a devastating choice: stay in the city where she has her career, her family, and her promotion, or follow the man she just admitted to loving.
- Is Violet’s job strong enough to keep her? She is the Paramedic in Charge of Ambulance 61 and a vital leader. Moving would be a huge professional sacrifice. The weight of this decision—staying and losing the love of her life, or leaving Chicago and the CFD—is a major, unexplored emotional mystery.
9. How Will Mouch Handle Being the Lieutenant of Engine 51?
Mouch’s promotion is a long-awaited victory, but it comes with the immediate complication of leading his friend and former Lieutenant, Herrmann. Mouch has always been content as the amiable, low-stress veteran.
- Will Mouch’s leadership style change? Will the responsibility force him to adopt a more authoritarian persona, potentially rubbing the team (and Herrmann) the wrong way? Lieutenant Mouch is an exciting new dynamic, but his adjustment to the role is entirely uncertain.
10. Will Natalie and Her Sister’s Reunion Last?
Stella Kidd played a pivotal role in reuniting the teenager Natalie with her estranged sister, Julia, closing the door on the potential Stellaride adoption arc with Natalie.
- Was the reunion successful long-term? The final moments of the reunion were hopeful, but the sister’s relationship was deeply fractured. Season 14 must reveal if the reunion sticks, or if the complicated family dynamics resurface, potentially bringing Natalie back to Firehouse 51, and perhaps back into Stellaride’s orbit.
