The relationship between Lieutenant Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Lieutenant Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo)—known affectionately as Stellaride—has always been the central, passionate pulse of NBC’s Chicago Fire. They’ve faced house fires, near-death experiences, and even a difficult period of separation. Now, after finally marrying and achieving a rare moment of stability, their marriage is facing a new, unexpected, and intensely human threat: jealousy.
Star Miranda Rae Mayo has been vocal about the subtle, but powerful, shift in the Stellaride dynamic this season, pinpointing the reason Stella is currently feeling a distinct form of professional resentment toward her husband. It all centers on Severide’s deepening commitment to the Office of Fire Investigation (OFI) and the undeniable professional success he has found there.
Mayo explains that Stella is not simply angry; she is “jealous”—a nuanced emotion that speaks volumes about Stella’s own ambitions, insecurities, and her struggle to define her path outside of her husband’s towering legacy at Firehouse 51.
🔥 The OFI Obsession: Why It Burns Stella
Severide’s arc over the past few seasons has seen him develop into an elite, highly effective fire investigator. He frequently splits his time between leading Rescue Squad 3 and assisting the OFI, a role that taps into his sharp instincts and technical knowledge.
The Root of the Jealousy
Mayo clarifies that Stella’s jealousy isn’t rooted in classic romantic insecurity or fear of infidelity; it’s professional and existential.
- The Fear of the Void: When Severide spent an extended time away pursuing fire investigation training, Stella was left to question her place at Firehouse 51. She was tasked with filling the “Severide Void” in leadership, and while she rose to the occasion, the temporary feeling of abandonment was real.
- The Success Factor: Upon his return, Severide excelled. He solved major, high-profile cases, gained the respect of Chief Van Meter, and secured a specialty that makes him irreplaceable and indispensable. Mayo notes that Severide now has a new, exciting professional life that doesn’t include her.
- The Limbo: Stella, meanwhile, has struggled to find her next major professional challenge. Her innovative Girls on Fire program achieved great success, but it has since entered a more administrative phase. She is an exceptional Lieutenant on Engine 51, but the OFI offers Severide a constant stream of new, intellectually stimulating, and highly visible cases.
Mayo suggests that Stella is asking herself: “Where is my bigger, more thrilling purpose?” The jealousy is driven by a genuine frustration that her husband is flourishing professionally in a way she currently is not.
⚔️ A Clash of Ambition: The Firehouse 51 Power Dynamic
The professional jealousy creates a subtle but profound power imbalance in the Stellaride marriage, threatening the equitable partnership they worked so hard to establish.
The Unintentional Comparison
- The Golden Child Syndrome: Severide has always been the golden child of the CFD—the son of a legendary Captain, naturally gifted, and exceptionally brave. Stella, though brilliant and hardworking, has had to fight for every inch of her success, navigating professional sexism and the pressure of dating the Lieutenant everyone reveres. Severide’s effortless excellence in the OFI only reinforces her underlying insecurity that she must work twice as hard for half the recognition.
- The Communication Breakdown: Mayo explains that Stella struggles to articulate this complex jealousy. Instead of saying, “I’m worried about my own ambition,” she lashes out at Severide’s absence or his obsession with the job. This creates tension because Severide, genuinely committed to his work, misinterprets her reaction as a lack of support, leading to arguments.
- “You Don’t See Me”: At its core, Stella feels like Severide’s focus on the OFI means he isn’t seeing her and her own struggles. He sees her as the stable Lieutenant who can handle everything at 51, freeing him to pursue his investigative passion. Stella wants him to see the ambitious woman who needs support and recognition for her own growth.
👩🚒 Stella’s Redemption: Finding Her Own Path
The good news, according to Mayo, is that Stella’s professional jealousy isn’t meant to destroy the marriage; it’s a catalyst for her own growth.
The Next Challenge
Stella’s realization that she is “jealous” forces her to look inward and ask what she truly wants next. The show is setting the stage for her to pursue her own next major step up the CFD ladder:
- Battalion Chief Aspirations: Stella Kidd is a prime candidate for a promotion to Battalion Chief. Her experience running a company, her leadership skills, and her commitment to the CFD make her an ideal fit. The current professional dissatisfaction caused by Severide’s success may finally push her to start studying, applying, and testing for the promotion.
- Revitalizing Girls on Fire: She could also choose to reignite the Girls on Fire program, taking it to a national level, requiring her to travel and build her own legacy outside of Chicago.
Either way, Stella’s professional journey is poised to mirror her husband’s: a pursuit of specialized excellence that grants her identity beyond the walls of Firehouse 51.
✅ The Strength of Stellaride
While the jealousy is painful, the underlying strength of Stellaride remains its foundation. This is not the couple that shuts down and breaks up over professional differences.
- Mature Conflict: Unlike previous seasons, the conflict is mature and rooted in the reality of high-achieving marriages. It’s a conflict about balancing two massive careers, not whether they love each other.
- The Final Conversation: The relationship will likely be saved by a candid conversation where Stella finally confesses her true feelings—not resentment, but fear of being left behind professionally. Severide, always loving and supportive of her ambition, will respond by refocusing his energy on supporting her next big move.
Miranda Rae Mayo’s insight into Stella Kidd’s “jealousy” elevates the current Stellaride arc, making it relatable and grounded. It’s a reminder that even the most stable TV couples must contend with the human pressures of ambition and comparison. Stella’s professional dissatisfaction is simply the dramatic engine required to launch her into the next, highly successful phase of her career, ultimately strengthening her marriage to the equally successful Kelly Severide.
