Chicago Fire gods giveth, Chicago Fire gods taketh away, and sometimes… they give back? At least for a little while? In a surprising and yet wholly unsurprising twist, Daniel Kyri has shared that he will return to the show next season, though he did confirm it would be for a ‘limited time.’
The actor made the announcement on Instagram Stories, alongside a photo of himself with his partners in crime, Violet Makami (Hanako Greensmith) and Lizzie Novak (Jocelyn Hudon), looking at the camera and smiling.
Ritter (and Carver) were announced to be leaving the show at the end of Season 13. Despite that, there was no actual storyline to write the two of them out in the Season 13 finale. In fact, at the close of last season, it seemed like both would come back. Ritter just let Novak move in with him, after all. He had more character development in Season 13 than he had in a while. We saw him have a whole relationship, even! It didn’t work, but it happened.
Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman told TV Guide that the plan is for them to come back, particularly Carver. “Carver has a huge decision to make. He’s basically said he doesn’t think he can stay clean and stay in Chicago and be around the people who were part of the triggering experience for him. So, it’s more than just, “Can I be with Violet?” It’s “Can I stay here at all? And can Violet be a part of my life, and I still heal?” So, there’s a lot to work out for those two. But they’ve been able to say how they really feel to each other. And I think for them, that was a huge, huge victory and a huge moment that will only help them each in their own ways.”
Indeed, Carver’s departure is as baffling as Ritter’s, particularly considering he ended the season declaring his love for Violet and then kissing her. Doesn’t really seem like the end, does it?
But somehow, it is. And we’re just going to have to be glad that Ritter seems to be returning just to give the character some closure. We just wish it wasn’t a quick one-and-done, or that he didn’t really have to leave.
