After being absent for large stretches in recent seasons, Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) is about to plunge headfirst into a brand new kind of danger in the next Chicago Fire episode, promising to be a pulse-pounding hour. Following the administrative duties he handled in “The Wrong Guy” while filling in for Chief Boden, Severide will face an unexpected crisis that could also pull another firefighter’s closely guarded secret into the open.
The promo for the upcoming episode, titled “Inside Man,” teases an intense plotline that will put Severide in the hot seat – or more accurately, in a stolen truck. In a brief but thrilling clip, we see Severide refueling Truck 81 when, out of nowhere, someone hijacks the vehicle—with him still inside. Chaos quickly unfolds, including glimpses of an explosion, injuries, and what looks like a battered Truck 81. It seems Severide will wish he was back at Firehouse 51 doing Boden’s paperwork instead.
Adding to the suspense is the potential reveal of Ritter’s secret. According to NBC’s episode description:
“Severide goes for an unexpected ride on Truck 81. Ritter’s worlds collide when his secret cop boyfriend helps 51 track down Severide and the missing rig.”
Earlier in Season 12, Ritter revealed he was dating a cop, which he kept private from his colleagues. Although the moment was initially humorous—with a coworker thinking he was hiding his sexuality rather than his partner’s profession—Ritter had valid concerns about sharing his relationship details with the rest of Firehouse 51. This crisis involving Severide, however, may force Ritter’s secret into the spotlight as his boyfriend steps in to help.
It seems unlikely that anyone at Firehouse 51 would judge Ritter for his relationship, but Ritter’s discomfort is understandable, given the complexities of his personal life and his reasons for keeping it under wraps. It will be interesting to see how this storyline plays out and how it affects Ritter’s relationship with his team.
Other recent plots from “The Wrong Guy” seemed like they might carry over for the rest of Season 12 but wrapped up quicker than expected, clearing the way for what could be an intense episode focused on Severide. Viewers saw Cruz deal with an attempted extortion involving his adopted son, Javi, and Stella face the potential shutdown of Girls on Fire. Both issues resolved by the episode’s end, including a sting operation Cruz set up to catch the extortionist.
It looks like Chicago Fire is setting up for a dramatic episode with Severide’s perilous ride, Ritter’s personal life possibly coming to light, and the usual high-stakes action that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. Tune in Wednesday, May 8, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC to see how these storylines unfold, and catch earlier Season 12 episodes on Peacock Premium. All three shows in the One Chicago lineup have been renewed for the 2024-2025 season, so there’s more action, drama, and emotion to come.
