It’s hard to imagine a time when Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide wasn’t the seasoned detective fans know and love today on Chicago Fire. But like every star within the One Chicago universe, his long-running tenure began with a single line. And for Severide, those first words instantly showcased his grit.
The cast of Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. came together in a February 2021 YouTube video to revisit their very first lines, leading to some throwback delights for the One Chicago stars. The compilation soon sent viewers into a nostalgic spiral, with many Chi-Hards reminded of their first impressions of these fan favorites. While some of the One Chicago stars had lines based on the madness in front of them — Brian Tee’s first line as the brilliant Dr. Ethan Choi was frantically requesting an X-ray — others underscore how much these Chicago first responders have grown.
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Severide’s opening moments in Chicago Fire instantly captured the firefighter’s cool confidence that would soon become his hallmark.
Taylor Kinney’s first line on Chicago Fire was a playful dig
Severide’s first line on Chicago Fire was a toss-away joke about his late best friend Andy Darden, who tragically died in the line of duty later in the pilot episode. In truth, Severide’s first scene is a moment before disaster.
“Andy makes Squad the day I no longer am in charge,” Severide teases with his fellow firefighters in the scene, getting a chuckle from his Firehouse 51 buddies.
While rewatching the scene in 2021, Kinney couldn’t help but note the passage of time — most relatably, its impact on his joints.
“Things hurt a little longer than they used to when that [line] was first uttered,” Kinney teased as another Season 1 clip showed the firefighter heartthrob with no shirt on.
Kinney’s first line was fairly simple, but it established him as someone worth paying attention to as the firefighters zoomed toward the ill-fated call.
