Two big characters are leaving Chicago Fire in Season 14. One series regular is also departing Chicago P.D., and though Chicago Med hasn’t announced any departures, at this point… we wouldn’t be surprised if they were next. Sure, all 3 shows were renewed for another season, but a smaller episode count was always expected. Apparently, that’s not enough.
Of course, the information cycle for the shows isn’t exactly the same, as we already knew who was leaving Chicago Fire since before the season ended, which is how we already know that a new character is coming to the show in Season 14. Brandon Larracuente, who recently appeared in another Dick Wolf show, On Call, is joining the cast as a series regular for the next season.
The news comes after the confirmed departures of Jake Lockett (Sam Carver) and Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter), who will not be returning to the show this fall. How they will be written out remains to be seen, as the show didn’t actually give them an exit in the final episodes of Season 13. In fact, the season ended with Carver and Violet kissing and Novak as Ritter’s new roommate. Doesn’t exactly scream exit.
Larracuente’s addition is not a real surprise, as the show was always going to need someone to fill the void, but this is yet another character Chicago Fire introduces that we are supposed to care about. Considering how that went for us with Carver and Ritter very recently, not to mention Gallo, Matt, Sylvie, and Boden… at this point, we’ll admit it’s getting a bit harder.
After all, we’re not even sure if he’s actually here to stay or if the show will just get rid of him the moment we start to care.
We have been there.
Thankfully, the show does have a core cast that has remained steady for years, which is why we’re still very much invested. But our investment begins and ends, at this point, with Stella, Kelly, Herrmann, Mouch, Cruz, Violet, and Lizzie. In fact, Lizzie Novak has been one of the few newer characters we have actually been able to invest in. Even Damon, we’re still iffy on. Sure, he’s Severide’s brother, but they already sent him away once! And we’re not even bringing the new Chief into this. Because he is staying, and we wouldn’t even have minded if he left.
Chicago P.D.‘s problem is even bigger. The show recently announced the departure of Toya Turner‘s Kiana Cook, with no replacement for her set yet. Turner had joined the show to fill the void left by Tracy Spiridakos, who left a year after Jesse Lee Soffer did. That’s a lot of important departures, even if the show still has the backbone of Voight, Adam, Kim, and Kevin. In fact, just like on Chicago Fire, can we even care for anyone outside of them? Is it worth it?
Right now, it seems like the answer is no.
According to Deadline, the show is currently casting a new female series regular to play an officer on the ATF Task Force with a military background who is described as a “loose cannon.” And hey, that might sound good, if you know, we felt like we could care. Instead, we’re just going to wary and likely not get attached. Things just don’t work out for us in One Chicago land.
So yeah, welcome to Chicago Fire, Brandon. We hope you stick around long enough that we get to care about whoever you’re planning. We’re just not going to hold our breath.
How do you feel about the new addition to Chicago Fire? How are you feeling about this Chicago P.D. departure? Are you in a sit-and-wait mode like us?
