Season 12 Made One Thing Clear: Love Alone Isn’t Enough
As much as it pains me to admit, the time has come for Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd to go their separate ways. Chicago Fire season 12 made that painfully clear. Unlike Law & Order, where the emphasis is on weekly cases and the procedural format, One Chicago thrives on the emotional depth and personal journeys of its characters. That’s what keeps fans invested — the evolving relationships that play out over multiple seasons.
Romance, in particular, has always been a central pillar of Chicago Fire, more so than its sister shows, Chicago PD and Chicago Med. Sure, all three have love stories, but Firehouse 51 is where relationships burn brightest — and sometimes crash hardest. While PD’s Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek have dragged their relationship out for years with minimal progress, Fire has allowed its couples to either move forward or flame out. And right now, it seems like it’s time for Severide and Kidd — “Stellaride” — to do the latter.
Stellaride’s Marriage: A Constant State of Emergency
From the very beginning, Severide and Kidd’s post-wedding life has been defined by chaos. After their emotional wedding in the season 10 finale, disaster seemed to follow them at every turn: they were attacked on their honeymoon, Kidd nearly died on a call, Severide disappeared to attend OFI training without warning, and most recently, he vanished again in season 12, episode 11, “Inside Man.”
Yes, they love each other. Yes, they’ve overcome incredible obstacles. But love can’t be the only thing holding a relationship together — especially when one person constantly puts their own needs above the other’s well-being. And unfortunately, that’s become a pattern for Severide.
They Thrive in Chaos — and That’s Not Healthy
Some might argue that surviving all these challenges is a testament to their strength as a couple. But there’s a difference between endurance and toxicity. Over time, it seems like Severide and Kidd only function when something is wrong — when they’re fighting, recovering from a crisis, or in the middle of some high-stakes drama. That’s not stability; it’s dysfunction.
In season 12, following Severide’s disappearance, Kidd tried to assert control to prevent him from ghosting her again — but Severide brushed it off and left for another out-of-town case. Then, without any real resolution or accountability, he simply showed up again for Brett and Casey’s wedding. One grand gesture doesn’t erase the damage done by repeated emotional neglect.
Severide’s Suggestion About Kids Shows Just How Out of Sync They Are
Perhaps the clearest sign of how fractured their relationship has become came in the season 12 finale, “Never Say Goodbye.” As Kidd looked at a photo of Baby Julia — the daughter of Sylvie Brett, now Sylvie Casey — Severide randomly suggested having children. He acknowledged that the burden would fall more heavily on Kidd, but only after he sensed her hesitation.
This wasn’t a thoughtful, vulnerable moment. It was a jarring, inconsiderate way to bring up something life-altering. Considering everything Kidd has been through — from her brush with death to her leadership role in Girls on Fire — Severide should’ve known better than to spring that topic on her out of the blue. Parenthood isn’t just about timing; it’s about trust. And Severide has broken that more than once.
Can Their Marriage Be Saved?
In theory, yes. Anything can be fixed with the right effort, communication, and willingness to change. But in reality — and according to showrunner Andrea Newman — things are only going to get rockier for Stellaride in season 13. At this point, it feels less like growth and more like stagnation.
Watching two characters constantly fight to keep their relationship afloat becomes exhausting, especially when the same issues keep resurfacing. Rather than dragging out their pain for another season, it may be time for the writers to explore new directions for both Severide and Kidd — independently.
A Temporary Split Could Be What They Need
This doesn’t mean their love story has to be over for good. If anything, Brett and Casey are living proof that time apart can heal wounds and offer clarity. But for now, Severide and Kidd need space. Without it, they risk dragging each other down — and dragging the audience along with them.
Ending a relationship doesn’t mean it was a failure. Sometimes, the most loving thing two people can do is let each other go.
