The future doesn’t look great for Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) at the moment. After a tumultuous Season 13 on Chicago Fire — from messy romances to struggles with alcohol, and finally the choice to step away from duty at Firehouse 51 — it seemed like Carver might be gone for good. Episode 14, “Bar Time,” only reinforced that impression, showing him leaving the station after a tense exchange with Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith).
But all hope isn’t lost. Showrunner Andrea Newman has dropped hints suggesting Carver’s story isn’t finished yet. Speaking to TV Line, Newman teased that Carver and Violet still have unfinished business. “There’s a lot of repercussions that still are playing out from what happened at the end of last season,” she said. “They’re trying to figure out where they’re at and where each of their emotional lives are at and how they can connect — if they can connect.”
While “Bar Time” showcased a failed attempt at connection, Newman emphasized that the emotional arc between Carver and Violet continues to evolve. With Season 13 spanning 22 episodes, there’s plenty of time for Carver to return or at least appear in more key scenes with Violet before the season concludes.
The ending of “Bar Time” — particularly Carver leaving Violet a heartfelt note — suggests that deeper connections are still waiting to be explored. Fans can breathe a small sigh of relief: Carver may have stepped away from Firehouse 51, but his story with Violet is far from over.
