Why I’m Already Bored with Kidd & Severide’s Chicago Fire Season 13 Baby Story (Before It Even Starts)
As a long-time fan of Chicago Fire, it’s safe to say that I’ve seen it all when it comes to high-stakes drama, heart-wrenching moments, and jaw-dropping plot twists. However, as Chicago Fire moves into its 13th season, one storyline is already giving me a sense of déjà vu: the expected baby storyline for Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd.
Before the storyline even begins, I find myself wondering, Why is this happening? The couple, whose romance has been a significant part of the show, is now on the verge of entering a new chapter of their lives as parents. While many viewers are excited to see what this dynamic will bring, I can’t help but feel that the baby storyline is more of a tired plot device than an engaging narrative.
In this article, we’ll explore why Kidd & Severide’s baby plotline feels like an overused trope, and how it fails to bring something fresh to the series.
H2: The Overuse of Parenthood Tropes in TV Shows
One of the reasons why the baby storyline feels uninspired is the overuse of parenthood tropes in TV dramas, especially in long-running series like Chicago Fire. Parenthood stories have been a staple in many shows for decades, but when done repeatedly, they can quickly become predictable and lack the emotional punch they once had.
When a couple gets pregnant on-screen, the audience can generally anticipate a few things: the nervous excitement, the overprotectiveness, the inevitable childbirth drama, and the adjustment to a new family dynamic. These elements are familiar, yes, but they also make the storyline feel formulaic and uninspired.
Take, for instance, other popular TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill, or The Vampire Diaries. Many characters in these shows have gone through the same emotional beats regarding parenthood: a surprise pregnancy, a difficult birth, and the transition into a new phase of life. The problem here is that the magic of parenthood on screen tends to lose its appeal after it’s been done over and over again.
Chicago Fire is no stranger to this. The show has already explored major life events for its characters, including marriage, death, and career changes. Adding a baby storyline to the mix only feels like a way to generate drama without introducing anything that feels truly new or unique.
H2: Kidd & Severide: A Relationship Already Overused?
When Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide got together, it was one of the most anticipated romantic arcs of the show. Fans had been rooting for their relationship for seasons, and when they finally became a couple, it felt like a long-awaited payoff. But now, with the possibility of a baby, there’s a feeling that the relationship has been stretched to its limits.
Their love story was full of ups and downs, with plenty of emotional moments that kept fans invested. However, now that they’ve reached the “baby” chapter, I can’t help but feel like it’s a tired trope being recycled from other couples on the show. Severide’s past relationships, including his tumultuous engagement to Hallie, and Kidd’s ups and downs with her own love life, have both explored similar emotional ground. It almost seems like adding a baby is simply a way to rehash old themes instead of introducing a new challenge or emotional journey for the characters.
This makes me wonder: Are Kidd and Severide truly evolving as a couple, or are they just going through the motions for the sake of a predictable storyline? It feels like the show is opting for safe and familiar territory instead of taking risks that could make their relationship even more compelling.
H2: The Predictability of Parenthood Drama
Let’s talk about the predictability of the whole baby storyline. We’ve already seen the expecting parents trope play out in various forms on Chicago Fire. From the moment a character is pregnant, it’s only a matter of time before we see all the standard drama unfold. Will the parents be ready? Will the pregnancy be smooth? What about the tension around the birth? These are all questions that come up with every pregnancy storyline in TV history.
For Severide and Kidd, the predictable nature of this storyline feels particularly underwhelming. Sure, their relationship has had plenty of emotional moments already, but a baby is not necessarily the best tool for advancing their arc. Instead of introducing an entirely new dynamic to their partnership, it feels like this storyline is recycling ideas from previous seasons. And let’s face it: we’re all familiar with the nervous father and emotional mother archetypes that will probably take center stage.
The question remains: How will this storyline evolve past these clichés? At this point, it’s hard to imagine anything truly shocking or groundbreaking happening with Severide and Kidd’s impending parenthood. Instead of breaking new ground in terms of character development, the baby plotline is simply ticking off boxes, and that lack of surprise can be disappointing for viewers who are used to the show’s more dramatic and high-stakes moments.
H3: Why This Baby Storyline Feels Like a Marketing Gimmick
One of the biggest reasons why I’m already bored with Kidd & Severide’s baby storyline is the sense that it’s a marketing gimmick more than a narrative choice.
Shows often rely on big life events like marriages, births, and deaths to capture the audience’s attention, especially in long-running series. These events are designed to spark discussion and generate buzz on social media. The idea of a beloved couple having a baby is a surefire way to get fans excited, but it doesn’t always lead to an engaging storyline.
In the case of Severide and Kidd, the baby storyline feels like a convenient plot device to keep the couple relevant without actually diving deep into their characters. Instead of focusing on the emotional complexities of becoming parents, we’re likely to see a formulaic approach that relies on clichés and surface-level drama. This marketing tactic is fine in small doses, but when it’s overused, it can leave fans feeling more exhausted than excited.
H4: Can Chicago Fire Do Better Than This?
The most frustrating part of all this is that Chicago Fire has proven that it is capable of much more than predictable tropes and recycled storylines. Throughout the seasons, the show has excelled at exploring real-world issues like PTSD, addiction, and the dangers of first responders. It’s a show that thrives on authenticity and character-driven drama.
So why does the baby storyline for Severide and Kidd feel so uninspired? It’s disappointing because the show has the potential to tackle parenthood in a unique way that challenges the characters in new and meaningful ways. Instead of resorting to the same old formulas, Chicago Fire could take risks by diving into the nuances of becoming parents while still balancing their demanding careers.
There are many aspects of parenthood that could make for compelling drama, such as the challenges of balancing work-life dynamics, the impact of being a first responder on a growing family, or the emotional toll of a pregnancy complicated by trauma. But if the show continues to rely on tired clichés, it risks losing what makes Chicago Fire stand out.
H2: Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity?
In the end, it’s not that I don’t care about Kidd and Severide becoming parents. It’s that the way this storyline is unfolding feels like a missed opportunity. Instead of delving into the complexity of their lives and relationship as parents, the show is opting for a safe, predictable route that doesn’t feel fresh or exciting.
At this point, I’m already bored with the baby storyline in Chicago Fire Season 13—before it’s even started. If the show doesn’t take risks and push the boundaries of this plotline, it could end up being just another forgettable arc in a show that has the potential to do so much more.
For now, I’ll remain cautiously optimistic. Hopefully, Chicago Fire will find a way to make this baby plotline worth the investment. But until that happens, I’ll be waiting for something truly new and exciting to come along.
