The news that fan-favorites Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) and Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) will not be returning to Chicago Fire after Season 13 sent shockwaves through the One Chicago fandom. These exits, reportedly driven by network-wide budget cuts, were a brutal reminder that no character, no matter how beloved or narratively important, is truly safe.
However, the reality of long-running, budget-constrained television often dictates that when two actors depart, they are rarely the only ones. The narrative scaffolding erected during Season 13, combined with the underlying financial pressures and the contract status of several veteran players, suggests that Chicago Fire is strategically setting the stage for even more departures before the final credits roll.
For viewers, the focus must now shift beyond Ritter and Carver to the precarious positions of other long-standing characters. The atmosphere at Firehouse 51 is not just one of loss, but of structural uncertainty, hinting that the show may be preparing for its largest cast overhaul since its earliest seasons.
The Budget Domino Effect: Veteran Contracts and Decreased Episodes
The primary catalyst for change is the financial squeeze applied to the Dick Wolf universe. Budget cuts often target newer, rising salaries first (like Kyri and Lockett), but they also create ripple effects, particularly for veteran cast members whose multi-year contracts are frequently up for renegotiation.
The Financial Pressure on Veterans
Chicago Fire has successfully retained its core veteran cast, including Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide), Miranda Rae Mayo (Stella Kidd), David Eigenberg (Christopher Herrmann), and Christian Stolte (Randall “Mouch” McHolland). While these characters are foundational to the show’s success, their long tenure means they command the highest salaries.
In the face of budget cuts, networks often present two options to veteran actors:
- Reduced Episode Counts: A familiar strategy where main actors appear in fewer episodes per season (a tactic already implemented across the One Chicago franchise).
- Pay Cuts or Departure: A difficult negotiation that could lead some veteran actors, seeking new creative challenges or unwilling to accept reduced pay, to choose to exit the show entirely.
The very air of budget-driven panic that claimed Ritter and Carver makes any veteran actor’s future feel immediately tenuous, creating a constant sense of “who’s next?” for the audience.
The Narrative Clues: Storylines Pointing Toward the Exit Door
Beyond the money, Chicago Fire has masterfully utilized Season 13 to build clear narrative off-ramps for several other characters, making their departures plausible, if not inevitable.
1. Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg)
Herrmann has been grappling with his career future for some time, particularly after Chief Boden’s exit and the possibility of taking the Chief’s exam.
- The Promotional Arc: Herrmann’s arc has often focused on his anxiety about climbing the professional ladder and leaving the front lines, which is where his heart truly lies. His decision to ultimately demote himself to clear the path for Mouch to become Engine 51’s Lieutenant in the Season 13 finale, while initially surprising, strongly suggests a character resolving his final, major professional hurdle.
- Settled Life: With his family life stable, his bar (Molly’s) thriving, and his professional ambition resolved, Herrmann’s storyline lacks the driving conflict needed for a main character. A quiet, off-screen retirement or transfer to a less demanding role becomes a genuine possibility, allowing the beloved actor to scale back his commitment.
2. Christian Stolte (Randall “Mouch” McHolland)
While Mouch’s promotion to Lieutenant on Engine 51 provides a fresh professional challenge, his character’s narrative has long been laced with mortality scares and near-retirements.
- The Near-Death Scares: Mouch has been at the center of several dramatic, life-threatening injuries over the years. His new leadership role introduces significant new stress and responsibility.
- The Final Chapter: Mouch is the quintessential lovable curmudgeon who represents the heart of the old guard. A logical, emotional arc would see him serve a brief, successful tenure as Lieutenant before deciding to retire peacefully, choosing safety and family (wife Trudy Platt) over the constant danger of Firehouse 51. The promotion could, paradoxically, be the final push toward his exit.
3. Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende) – The Open Door
While Blake Gallo officially left earlier in Season 12 to reconnect with a rediscovered family member, the show left the door wide open for his return. However, the current budget cuts make an expensive cameo unlikely. The failure to bring back a character with such strong ties to the existing crew (especially Kidd) for a proper Season 13 farewell confirms that the writers are prioritizing permanent exits over costly returns. Gallo’s absence remains a palpable void that the show has actively chosen not to fill, reinforcing the idea of a pared-down cast.
The Final Countdown: Why the Season 13 Finale Was Crucial
The Season 13 finale episodes had the weighty task of resolving the fate of both Ritter and Carver while simultaneously setting up the future of the remaining crew. The key takeaways confirm the show’s lean toward further change:
- Severide and Kidd’s Pregnancy: While a joyous event, the news of Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) expecting a baby creates a massive, genuine conflict. It’s highly unusual for both partners in a marriage to remain in the most dangerous, high-risk positions at the same firehouse, especially when a child is involved. This family development increases the dramatic likelihood that one of them may pursue a permanent, safer role—like Severide permanently transferring to the Office of Fire Investigation (OFI), which he often does, or Kidd seeking an administrative promotion. A choice between career and family is a classic, high-stakes exit mechanism.
- Violet’s Isolation: With Ritter gone and Carver moving to Denver, Violet Mikami is left emotionally isolated. Her heartbreak will define the early stages of Season 14. If the writers choose to give her a final “happy ending,” it could involve her deciding to transfer to Denver to be with Carver, resolving the #Carvlet romance off-screen but resulting in yet another major loss for Firehouse 51.
The combination of the budget axe swinging, the definitive closure of some veterans’ arcs, and the creation of compelling life-altering conflicts for the main couples proves that Chicago Fire is in a major period of transition. The departures of Ritter and Carver were the first dominoes; the pressure is now on the remaining actors to negotiate their futures while the writers determine how many more seats in the firehouse will be vacant when the bell rings for Season 14.
