As beloved as they are, the series needs more than one couple to survive.
With the departure of several key characters and a noticeable narrowing of story arcs, Chicago Fire season 14 finds itself at a crossroads. As the foundation of the One Chicago universe, the show has weathered over a decade of twists, turns, and cast reshuffles. But now, as the cast thins and personal stories dwindle, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Severide and Kidd can’t carry this show alone.
💔 A Franchise Facing Fatigue
Once rich with ensemble-driven narratives, Chicago Fire has gradually seen its storytelling tighten around one central pillar — the marriage and ongoing saga of Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo).
Don’t get us wrong — Severide and Kidd are fan favorites for a reason. Their chemistry, struggles, and resilience have made them the emotional heartbeat of Firehouse 51. But with the exits of other vital characters — including Chief Wallace Boden, Matt Casey, and now Sam Carver and Darren Ritter — it’s putting far too much pressure on one couple to sustain the emotional and romantic weight of the show.
💑 Severide & Kidd: Chicago Fire’s Last Love Story Standing
Romance has always been an integral part of Chicago Fire’s DNA — a unique trait that sets it apart from its Dick Wolf siblings like Chicago P.D. or Law & Order. But with Casey and Brett gone and the slow-burn of Carver and Violet unceremoniously ending, Severide and Kidd’s relationship has become the only substantial personal arc left on the table.
Their recent pregnancy reveal in the season 13 finale has sparked excitement, but it also highlights a glaring issue: they are the only active long-term love story left.
Meanwhile, strong but background relationships like Herrmann and Cindy or Mouch and Trudy continue without development, leaving a romance vacuum that the series once filled with rich, evolving love stories.
👋 Exit After Exit: The Domino Effect
The announced departures of Jake Lockett (Carver) and Daniel Kyri (Ritter) don’t just reduce the cast — they erase narrative potential.
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Carver and Violet had been one of the show’s most promising developing romances — a unique, grounded, and emotionally complex pairing.
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Ritter, as the only openly gay member of Firehouse 51, represented an opportunity for the show to lean into deeper, more inclusive storytelling — an opportunity it largely left untapped.
With their exits, the ensemble loses diversity, depth, and narrative flexibility. And more than ever, it corners the writers into doubling down on Severide and Kidd to fill that void — which is unfair to both the characters and the actors.
🌱 Why Chicago Fire Needs to Diversify Again
It’s Time to Future-Proof Firehouse 51
Yes, Severide and Kidd are still signed on as series regulars for season 14. But Chicago Fire fans remember how shaky things got when Kinney took a leave of absence in season 11. No actor stays forever. Without laying narrative groundwork for the next generation, the show risks unraveling.
What Chicago Fire once did well — giving weight to the entire ensemble — now feels like a lost art. And when that storytelling balance is gone, even the strongest couples can start to feel overexposed.
📉 The Lost Arcs That Could Have Thrived
It’s not just about replacing Carver and Ritter — it’s about filling the world with compelling, lived-in characters who can anchor subplots and enrich the core story.
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Violet, who’s gone from love triangle to losing two partners, needs a meaningful arc that’s her own.
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Gallo’s exit left a space for fresh, youthful energy.
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Ritter’s unexplored life outside of work was a missed opportunity for LGBTQ+ representation.
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Carver, a complex and guarded figure, could have brought nuance to masculinity, vulnerability, and trauma recovery.
These were not just side characters — they were seeds of future storytelling.
