The Chicago Fire season 13 finale leaves viewers confused about what comes next for Jake Lockett’s Sam Carver, but one of his costars might have accidentally spoiled his fate in season 14. NBC’s procedural drama (and its spinoffs) has featured many cast exits over the course of its 13 seasons.
Unfortunately, it appears that One Chicago’s list of departing actors will likely grow heading into the 2025–2026 network TV season, thanks to the unavoidable cast cuts on Chicago Fire, which might include Lockett.
Although NBC made fans believe that two Chicago Fire main characters (including Carver) will leave after season 13, the finale implied otherwise. Carver initially told Violet Mikami that he had requested a transfer to Denver during the episode.
It seemed like the series was setting up his exit. However, the Chicago Fire season 13 finale ended with Carver declaring his love for Violet and kissing her, suggesting that he will stay in the Windy City for her. Consequently, the audience was confused about Carver’s future on the show, but recent comments from one star might have sealed his fate.
Jocelyn Hudon May Have Accidentally Spoiled Carver’s Chicago Fire Season 14 Fate
During an interview with TV Insider following the Chicago Fire season 13 finale, Jocelyn Hudon, who plays Lizzie Novak, discussed her character’s stance on Violet and Carver’s complex relationship. Novak and Violet are not only paramedic partners, but they have also become best friends on the NBC show. So, Novak’s thoughts on her friend’s love life hold a lot of weight. Sadly, Hudon’s comments on the Violet/Carver situation seems to confirm that Carver is saying goodbye to Firehouse 51 in season 14. Hudon said:
“Yeah, I don’t know what’s going to happen when [Carver] leaves, but I think Novak’s entire goal was just to support Violet no matter what. If she wants to date the other guy [Steven Strait’s Flynn], great. If she wants to be with Carver, great. I think you just got to get it out, say it, own it.
Just give him the letter that you wrote for him, let him know how you feel. And once everything’s on the table, then whatever’s meant to be be, will be. So I think no matter which way Violet goes, Novak just wants to truly support her.”
The most interesting part of Hudon’s quote is that she says “when [Carver] leaves” instead of “if” he leaves. So, despite the ambiguity of Carver’s Chicago Fire season 13 ending, he is probably exiting the One Chicago universe, after all.
Some fans, like myself, were holding out hope that Lockett could return in a recurring role in season 14, seeing as the news surrounding his departure just said he would no longer be a series regular. But that doesn’t appear to be the case. The (semi) good news is that Novak will be around to support Violet through this latest heartbreak.
Why Sam Carver’s Firehouse 51 Exit Is Inevitable (Despite His Relationship Status)
A couple of weeks before NBC released the finale, it was announced that Jake Lockett and Daniel Kyri would be leaving Chicago Fire after season 13. The reports revealed that they would no longer be series regulars, due to budget cuts. NBC has been trying to save money in whatever way it can. Unfortunately, Lockett and Kyri were victims of these cost concerns. So, even though Carver’s happy ending in the season 13 finale might have given some hope that he will return in season 14, his exit was inevitable.
Yes, Chicago Fire season 13 concludes with Carver and Violet embracing, kissing, and basking in their love. However, the knowledge of what has been happening behind the scenes trumps what the procedural drama was trying to sell the audience in the finale. Of course, the possibility of Lockett reprising his role as Carver in a future episode or two of Chicago Fire remains, but it’s quite unlikely that NBC will reverse its decision to boot Lockett from the main cast.
Chicago Fire Delaying Carver’s Exit Makes It Worse
The Chicago Fire season 13 finale featured Carver contemplating moving to Denver for a fresh start, laying the groundwork for his exit. However, given that his last scene in the episode entailed him professing his love to Violet instead of saying goodbye to her, the series seemed to suggest that Carver could stay in Chicago.
We know that won’t be the case, though. Based on previous reports and Hudon’s comments, Lockett’s Chicago Fire exit has been confirmed. So, the NBC procedural drama TV show is simply delaying the inevitable.
While Chicago Fire season 13 attempted to set up Carver’s departure, the finale ignored Daniel Kyri’s Darren Ritter altogether. The writers obviously don’t want to say goodbye to Carver and Ritter. Their forced exits were most likely a decision entirely made by the network’s executives. They weren’t creative choices made by the show’s producers, proven by how Carver and Ritter’s character arcs were headed in season 13. So, perhaps the minds behind Chicago Fire were reluctant to write Carver and Ritter out of the story, but their hesitance only makes their exits worse as it gives viewers false hope that they’ll return.
