The Real Reason Everyone Except Severide Seems to Get Promoted on Chicago Fire, According to Showrunner
Over the course of 12 seasons, Chicago Fire has seen actors come and go, some staying longer than others. Many of the cast members have had different jobs and positions as they have risen through the ranks of the CFD. However, Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide has been a stalwart since the NBC drama began, but there’s a reason for that.
When Casey was promoted to captain in Season 6, many began to wonder when Severide would meet the same fate. Additionally, before he left, Eamonn Walker’s Chief of Police Wallace Boden even recommended Herrmann for a promotion to replace him. Severide’s wife, Stella Kidd, was also promoted to lieutenant a few seasons ago. While one might think that Severide not getting promoted is a concern, showrunner Andrea Newman explained to TVLine why promotion is the last thing on his mind: He’s focused on what he’s obsessed with, which is arson and OFI, besides the team, which he loves. The higher you go, the more politics you have, and Severide’s not interested in that. He’s a hands-on guy. So arson is still at the forefront of his mind, the possibility of moving to OFI is always at the forefront of his mind, and all of that comes up. He’s dealing with all of that this season.
On Chicago Fire, the arson investigation has been at the forefront of Severide’s mind for the past few seasons, and he’s been doing more of it. When Kinney abruptly left the series in Season 11 for personal reasons, the series explained that Severide was in an arson training program that he couldn’t miss. Even when he returned, he would still go to work a case every now and then. It doesn’t seem like that’s going to stop, especially if he’s eyeing a transfer to OFI in the near future.
If and when Severide does eventually transfer to OFI, it’s possible that he’ll be able to advance there, but there’s no guarantee that will happen. At the very least, he’s got quite a bit of growing up to do at 51, even as a lieutenant. While it would be great to see Captain Kelly Severide in the future, it seems like there’s still a lot to look forward to from him in the upcoming season.
It might be a good thing that Severide won’t be getting promoted anytime soon, as OFI isn’t the only thing he’ll be focusing on in Season 13. The Season 12 finale dropped a bombshell for Severide, revealing that his late father, Benny, had another secret child, 51’s newest recruit, Damon. Severide has a lot going on, so it’s no surprise to hear that promotion isn’t a priority.
The One Chicago shows are gearing up for their return, and fans will want to tune in when the show debuts on the 2024 television schedule on Wednesday, September 25 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC to see what happens to Severide on Chicago Fire.
