In the Chicago Fire Season 12 finale, fans saw several key departures from Firehouse 51, including beloved characters Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) and Sam Carver (Jake Lockett). While Boden’s exit was permanent due to a promotion downtown, Carver made a surprising return in the Season 13 premiere—this time, with a twist. He didn’t come back alone but with his high school sweetheart, Tori (Holly Hinchliffe), which sets up a complicated love triangle involving Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith).
Before leaving, Carver confessed his love for Violet, only to be turned down. Fans hoped that Violet would change her mind and express her true feelings, but before she could, Carver returned from Texas with Tori by his side, leaving Violet in a tough spot. Jake Lockett, who portrays Carver, opened up about this new development in his character’s life during an interview with Parade.
Reflecting on Carver’s history with Tori, Lockett said, “We were high school sweethearts, but like most high school relationships, things were dramatic.” He explained that Tori fills a void for Carver, allowing him to avoid confronting deeper emotional issues. During his time in Texas, Carver was supposed to be working on his anger problems, but his return raises the question of whether he truly addressed them or simply enjoyed his time off with Tori.
Lockett acknowledges that while Carver may have made some attempts to work on himself, he hasn’t fully resolved his issues. “There’s some awareness that Band-Aids have been used,” Lockett admits, suggesting that Tori’s presence is a temporary fix for Carver rather than a long-term solution. He adds, “Tori doesn’t push him in different directions, and she’s her own whirlwind. There’s a lot he could still learn.”
The reappearance of Tori complicates Carver’s unresolved feelings for Violet. Despite her initial rejection, Violet still has feelings for him, and she even sent him a drunken text—only for Tori to delete it before Carver could see it. When Violet confronts her, Tori makes her intentions clear, telling Violet, “I lost him once. I’m not going to lose him again.” Meanwhile, Carver remains oblivious to the growing tension between the two women.
Lockett explains that Carver is still dealing with the sting of rejection, saying, “When you put yourself out there and it doesn’t feel reciprocated, you’ve got to deal with that loss.” Despite this emotional baggage, Carver and Violet manage to maintain a professional relationship at Firehouse 51. They put their personal feelings aside when lives are on the line, but outside of work, their situation is far more complicated.
Comparing the situation to high school drama, Lockett remarks, “We don’t really talk about things.” Carver’s reluctance to address his feelings leads to awkward interactions, and in Episode 1 of Season 13, he even suggests they forget the past year altogether. “He’s going to have to talk at some point, but so far, no,” Lockett says.
As for what’s next for Carver, Lockett hopes to see more action and stunts, adding that he enjoys the physical aspects of the role. “I love doing stunts and action, so getting to do even more would be awesome,” he says. Lockett is also excited about the ongoing tension between Carver and Violet. While many fans are eager for the two characters to reunite, Lockett enjoys exploring the complexities of their relationship. “Dealing with the struggle, the difficulty, the discomfort—that’s where I want to keep living,” he says.
As Chicago Fire continues to evolve with a new firehouse chief and more emotional layers to explore, Lockett is looking forward to seeing how Carver’s journey unfolds, both in his personal life and on the front lines of firefighting.
