Is “Chicago Fire” Getting Too Real? Season 14 Pushes the Boundaries of Drama and Reality md11

Chicago Fire hasn’t prided itself on its realism, but in season 14, the show is starting to mirror reality, and that surprisingly isn’t a positive. Perhaps some viewers have wanted the NBC procedural drama to be more realistic in its storytelling. Meanwhile, others have clamored for more impractical (yet entertaining) plots. What we’re getting now is more true to life than ever, though.

The One Chicago universe is a fictional universe, meaning that it’s bound to stretch the truth for the sake of entertainment. The majority of what happens in Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med is improbable, but if it weren’t, the franchise wouldn’t be as successful as it is. Unfortunately, Chicago Fire season 14 is turning the tide with its realistic major conflict.

Chicago Fire Season 14’s “Big Bad” Is The CFD’s Brownouts

Firehouse 51 Is Directly Suffering Because Of The Budget Cuts

Chicago Fire‘s seasons don’t often introduce a “Big Bad” because it’s a show about firefighting, not one that always has a clear-cut villain like Chicago PD does as a police procedural. However, it has a main antagonist in season 14 — the Chicago Fire Department’s brownouts. The CFD is reducing the number of rigs and dispatchers and intends to lay off several first responders.

Essentially, the CFD is being forced to make budget cuts, which loom over Chicago Fire season 14 and Firehouse 51. Violet Mikami and Lizzie Novak have to work harder to make up for the reduced number of ambulances, while the fire station is losing rigs during certain shifts. For example, Firehouse 51 went without Mouch and Engine 51 in season 14, episode 3.

Now, the CFD plans on laying off battalion chiefs. Chief Pascal is in the clear at the moment (but that might change with his refusal to go on a date with the mayor’s chief of staff). Ultimately, the Chicago Fire characters are facing a period of uncertainty in season 14, which is similar to what the cast and crew are experiencing in real life.

The NBC Series Is A Victim Of Budget Cuts Itself

Chicago Fire Has Lost 2 Important Cast Members In 2025

The brownouts in Chicago Fire season 14 are reminiscent of NBC’s own recent cost-cutting measures. As many will recall, said budget cuts resulted in the exits of Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett, who played Darren Ritter and Sam Carver, respectively, in 2025. Carver left after the season 13 finale, while Ritter said goodbye to the procedural drama in season 14’s second episode.

The writers are taking inspiration from real life to build Chicago Fire season 14’s story. However, it’s only a reminder of how much the show has lost. Ritter and Carver’s departures were heartbreaking, and the brownouts keep that disappointment at the forefront of the audience’s minds. Chicago Fire season 14’s conflict is simply hitting too close to home, making it difficult to watch.

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