The One Chicago franchise has a history of giving fans what they want, but it also has an equally long history of delivering heartbreak. As Chicago Fire rolls into its transformative Season 14, one major romantic couple is set to be torn apart, not by choice or dramatic tension, but by the unavoidable reality of a cast exit. That couple is the long-awaited pairing of Paramedic Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) and Firefighter Sam Carver (Jake Lockett).
After a season-long “will-they/won’t-they” dance, the Season 13 finale finally delivered the moment fans had been clamoring for: a passionate kiss and the admission of deep feelings between Violet and Carver. It was a hopeful capstone to an otherwise turbulent season. However, that joy was immediately tempered by the pre-season news that Jake Lockett (Carver) would not be returning as a series regular for Season 14.
This forced departure creates a narrative imperative: the romantic relationship between Violet and Carver must end, and based on the franchise’s track record with long-distance romances, it’s a split that promises to be both frustrating and sad for the dedicated Chi-Hards who rooted for them.
The Curse of the Long-Distance One Chicago Couple
The biggest indicator that the Violet and Carver romance is doomed is the Dick Wolf Universe’s near-perfect track record of failing long-distance relationships. For a franchise built on the idea of the firehouse, police unit, or hospital being a tight-knit family, proximity is paramount.
We have seen this narrative curse play out repeatedly:
- Casey and Brett (“Bretsey”): Despite a beautiful wedding, Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) and Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) ultimately broke up via a phone call because the distance between Chicago and Oregon proved too much for Brett to handle, forcing her to choose between her work and her marriage. They eventually found their way back, but the initial break was brutal.
- Halstead and Upton (“Upstead”): Over on Chicago P.D., the departure of Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) led to one of the most infamously unsatisfying breakups in the franchise. Halstead’s decision to remain deployed overseas and his subsequent “ghosting” of Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) led her to serve him divorce papers off-screen. It was a cruel and frustrating end for a couple fans had heavily invested in.
The showrunners simply do not seem interested in writing a successful, sustained long-distance relationship. The exit of Sam Carver, whose character had previously put in a request to transfer to Denver for a fresh start and his sobriety journey, leaves the writers with only one logical path for the couple: they will try, and they will fail.
The show will likely use a brief time jump to address the relationship’s status, confirming that Carver went through with his transfer and that the separation proved unsustainable for Violet.
The Frustration of the Off-Screen End
The most painful aspect of the inevitable breakup is that it comes right after the pair finally achieved their romantic peak. Carver and Violet spent over a season playing out a classic will-they/won’t-they dynamic:
- Carver’s Confession: Carver fell in love with Violet, only for her to hold him at arm’s length, still grappling with the tragic death of her former love, Evan Hawkins.
- The Timing Mismatch: When Violet was finally ready to admit her feelings, Carver had moved on with someone else, only for the attraction and emotional bond to linger.
- The Finale Triumph: The Season 13 finale finally saw the two characters emotionally break down their walls, leading to the long-awaited kiss and the promise of a future.
To have all that buildup—all that intentional, slow-burn emotional investment—negated by a behind-the-scenes contract decision feels deeply unsatisfying. It essentially nullifies a season’s worth of romantic development. Fans are left feeling that the happy ending they fought for was merely a temporary illusion designed to serve as a high-stakes cliffhanger, only to be immediately walked back in the Season 14 premiere.
As the show prepares to introduce the new firefighter on Truck 81, Sal Vasquez (Brandon Larracuente), the creative team has signaled a shift. Hanako Greensmith herself has mentioned that Violet is entering a “new phase of her life” and is back in the “dating pool,” strongly implying that the Carver chapter is closed.
What the Breakup Means for Violet Mikami
No character in the One Chicago universe has endured more romantic loss than Violet Mikami. The breakup with Carver adds another layer to her already tragic romantic history:
- Evan Hawkins’ Death: Her most devastating loss was the death of her boyfriend, Chief Evan Hawkins, who was tragically killed in the line of duty right in front of her. This trauma fueled her reluctance to fully commit to another first responder.
- Blake Gallo’s Departure: Her close friend and former flame, Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende), also left Firehouse 51, dissolving the beloved “Three Musketeers” trio.
- Darren Ritter’s Exit: With Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) also departing in Season 14, Violet loses her final remaining “Musketeer,” deepening her sense of isolation.
The loss of Carver, coming right after she finally risked her heart and let down her guard, reinforces the idea that Violet is cursed in love. The show risks making her narrative arc perpetually focused on romantic disappointment, which can become creatively tiresome for a character who is otherwise one of the show’s strongest, most capable first responders.
The hope is that this new “single girl season” for Violet will allow her to focus on her career as a paramedic in charge of Ambulance 61 and forge new, compelling dynamics within Firehouse 51, perhaps stepping into a mentorship role for the new recruits or forming a deeper friendship with Lieutenant Kidd or Lieutenant Herrmann.
The New Dynamic: Herrmann and Mouch’s Friendship Test
While Violet and Carver are the romantic casualties of Season 14, another beloved, non-romantic relationship is also set to face its biggest test: the friendship between Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Lieutenant Randy “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte).
The Season 13 finale saw a massive switch in the power structure of Engine 51, where Herrmann stepped down as Lieutenant so Mouch could take over the officer position. Showrunners have confirmed that this change will create “some of the biggest challenges to that friendship” in Season 14.
Herrmann will struggle with the demotion, working under his best friend, and Mouch will face the difficult task of leading his long-time partner. While this dynamic shift introduces fresh conflict, the strength of the Mouch and Herrmann bond, built over decades of history at Firehouse 51, makes a permanent “breakup” of their friendship highly unlikely.
The Violet and Carver split is a sad necessity driven by casting logistics, but the Herrmann and Mouch challenge is an exciting, character-driven test of one of the show’s most secure relationships. It’s a necessary trade-off: the predictable and heartbreaking end of one couple to fuel a new, compelling dynamic for the firehouse’s core veterans.
Ultimately, fans will have to mourn the end of “CarViolet” and accept that, in the world of One Chicago, an actor’s exit often means a character’s relationship simply can’t survive the distance.
