‘Chicago Fire’ Needs to Get Back to Basics with Carver
Chicago Fire’s Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) has had one of the most compelling character arcs in the series so far. Since his introduction in Chicago Fire Season 11, he has established himself as a part of Firehouse 51. It’s been exciting to see him establish himself within the team and build a family that his peers have chosen for him. Lockett’s promotion to series regular in Season 13 is welcome news because it signals that Carver will have more story arcs and opportunities to prove what a great character he is.
Unfortunately, since the beginning of Chicago Fire Season 13, Carver has been plagued with trouble for no reason, especially when it comes to his romantic relationships. This is unfair, as Carver has always had a lot to offer. Carver is a more interesting character because he is more reserved when it comes to sharing everything about his personal life. This allows his colleagues to understand him naturally. However, at this point, Carver is in an uncertain position. In order for him to get back on his game, he needs to reconnect with his roots as the season continues.
Since his introduction, one thing that has made Carver such an interesting character is his relationship with Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) as they are rivals at the fire academy. Whether or not Carver fits in at Firehouse 51, let alone fits into the team, is a question that adds to the dynamic of his character. His unique and sometimes daring approach to cases also makes him a fascinating character to watch. Lately, this uniqueness has been tempered by the fact that Chicago Fire has only portrayed Carver in romantic relationships. There is an opportunity for the series to move beyond this and recapture the character’s uniqueness.
Additionally, Carver has come a long way since his first introduction. He has had to deal with his traumatic past, especially when he had an abusive father. This past, along with the fact that he has always been a private person, could have provided a good foundation for some interesting character stories. Furthermore, Carver has developed an intriguing relationship with Violet (Hanako Greensmith), which has had its fair share of interesting and unexpected moments. This will-they-won’t-they relationship has developed into one of the most interesting storylines in recent seasons of Chicago Fire.
As Chicago Fire has gone through a change of pace recently, characters like Carver are important. His lack of commitment to playing his best at the start of the season is a troubling choice that could have negative repercussions in the near future. The fact that Carver continues to be so focused on himself makes him a less effective member of the team. This selfishness and self-destructive behavior is completely un-Carver and seems to stem from his most recent relationship. It’s clear that Carver reconnecting with an old flame has caused a lot of this unnecessary drama.
Carver’s relationship with Tori (Holly Hinchliffe) was toxic from the start and he has struggled since the beginning of Season 13. This relationship in particular has caused Carver to become the worst version of himself. Carver is playing a dangerous game, being distracted in a job that requires intense focus. His coworkers continue to note that he is going through something personal. The stress he endured after reconnecting with Tori clearly became too much for Carver to handle.
While Carver’s relationships are important to his character development, there’s no meaningful reason to keep him attached to Tori. This relationship serves no purpose other than to create a rift between Carver and Violet. Chicago Fire isn’t served by a firefighter who isn’t so focused on his job that he might as well not be there. Hopefully, now that this relationship is over, at least for the time being, Carver will be able to focus fully on his job.
Chicago Fire needs to get back to basics when it comes to Carver, as the character has proven how much there is to explore with him. Whether or not Carver and Violet end up together, Carver needs to act now rather than later. Ultimately, the longer Carver is at this crossroads for no reason, the harder it is to invest in him as a character. Chicago Fire introduced a talented firefighter who was slowly embraced by Firehouse 51. It’s time for the series to return to that version of Sam Carver.
