🚨 From pregnancy shockers to exit confusion, Chicago Fire’s Season 13 finale, “It Had to End This Way,” gave fans a lot to chew on — and even more to fear. While Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide’s baby reveal sparked excitement, the ghosted goodbyes of Carver and Ritter left fans scratching their heads.
As the embers of Season 13 settle, it’s clear — the real explosion is still to come in Season 14. Get ready for the unspoken heartbreak, silent exits, and a firestorm of change just beneath the surface. The full breakdown is just below 👇
👶 STELLARIDE’S SURPRISE BABY NEWS — BUT TROUBLE AHEAD?
Stella Kidd is pregnant! The long-simmering tension between Severide and Kidd seems to have found its moment of peace — but longtime fans know better.
Kidd’s previous resistance to pregnancy makes this reveal all the more intriguing. Her past trauma and hesitation about motherhood were never resolved — so will Season 14 dive into those hidden fears?
“Kidd deserves the chance to voice her doubts. Don’t sweep it under the rug!” one fan wrote online.
This joy-filled moment may be the calm before a very emotional storm — especially if it exposes cracks in their marriage.
❌ CARVER & RITTER: WHERE’S THE EXIT?
Before the finale aired, Chicago Fire fans knew Jake Lockett (Carver) and Daniel Kyri (Ritter) were on their way out — but the episode… didn’t tell us a thing. No goodbye, no sendoff, no closure.
“Did they just pretend we forgot?!” one fan asked on Reddit.
Carver’s relapse arc felt rushed, and his claim that he needs to move to Denver for his sobriety didn’t land. Meanwhile, Ritter — Firehouse 51’s last Black regular after Boden’s exit — was simply sidelined.
If these exits are real, Season 14 has a LOT of explaining to do. And if not… what was the point of this strange limbo?
💔 HERRMANN & MOUCH — THE UNSUNG HEROES
One quiet moment stole the emotional spotlight: Herrmann’s quiet sacrifice to protect Mouch. Their decades-long friendship continues to be the emotional heartbeat of Firehouse 51.
“Herrmann and Mouch are the SOUL of this show. No arguments,” said a fan on Twitter.
While new leadership like Pascal is being positioned, many viewers aren’t ready to let go of the old guard — and frankly, they shouldn’t have to.
🧱 PASCAL’S PLACE STILL SHAKY
Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) got Severide’s blessing — but fans aren’t sold yet. Despite the finale trying to solidify him, there’s still a disconnect between this new figure and the original 51 team dynamic.
“He’s got Severide’s respect, but not ours. Not yet,” wrote one skeptical viewer.
Season 14 will need to work hard to integrate Pascal emotionally, not just professionally, or risk losing the heart of what makes Firehouse 51 so beloved.
🔥 WHAT’S NEXT FOR SEASON 14?
With unconfirmed exits, a surprise pregnancy, and brewing leadership shifts, Chicago Fire left fans with more questions than answers. Expect:
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Delayed heartbreak from Carver and Ritter’s unexplained departure
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Fiery emotional fallout from Kidd’s pregnancy
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Growing pains for Pascal’s leadership arc
But one thing’s for sure — Firehouse 51 still burns bright. And the best (and messiest) is yet to come.
