The Delightful Goofiness Behind the Bravado: My First Look at Taylor Kinney Filming Chicago Fire Season 14
The roar of the engine reverberated through the crisp Chicago air, a primal scream swallowed by the towering skyscrapers. Smoke billowed, painting the sky in shades of grey and orange, mimicking the controlled chaos that was about to unfold. This was it: my first time witnessing the controlled pandemonium of a Chicago Fire filming day, and more specifically, my first glimpse of Taylor Kinney, the stoic, brooding Lieutenant Kelly Severide, in action for Season 14. What I expected was grim determination and steely gazes. What I got was… delightfully goofy.
Before the cameras rolled, before the meticulously crafted inferno roared to life, there was Taylor Kinney, not the hardened firefighter, but a man stretching his limbs with an exaggerated groan, pulling a series of ridiculous faces that would have made a mime blush. He wasn’t staring intensely at some imaginary blaze; he was playfully swatting at a stray fly with his fire helmet, his chiseled jaw softening into a mischievous grin. The seriousness I had attributed to him based on his portrayal of Severide was nowhere to be found.
This was a shock. The character Kinney has sculpted over thirteen seasons is a man weighed down by responsibility, by the inherent danger of his profession, and by a past riddled with loss. Severide is a man of few words, his emotions simmering beneath a surface of quiet competence. Yet, here was Kinney, the actor, disrupting that carefully constructed image with a levity that felt strangely comforting.
The transformation, however, was immediate and impressive. As soon as the director yelled “Action!”, the goofiness vanished. The playful swatting became a focused adjustment of his helmet, the mischievous grin hardened into a mask of resolve. The engine roared again, and Severide was born anew. He moved with a deliberate grace, his eyes scanning the simulated disaster with the calculating precision that defines his character. The goofy actor was gone, replaced by the hero, the leader, the man willing to risk everything for strangers.
Between takes, though, the goofiness would creep back in, a welcome contrast to the intensity of the scene. He’d crack jokes with his co-stars, mimicking the director’s instructions in a ridiculous falsetto. He’d even attempt a wobbly handstand against the side of the fire truck, drawing laughter from the crew. It was clear that this levity wasn’t a lack of professionalism; it was a release, a vital way to decompress from the emotional weight of the role and the physical demands of the performance.
This duality, this stark contrast between the character and the actor, highlighted the artistry of Kinney’s portrayal. He wasn’t just playing Severide; he was inhabiting him, fully embodying the weight of the character while simultaneously recognizing the need for lightness and humor in the real world. It was a reminder that even the most stoic heroes are, at their core, human beings.
Witnessing this firsthand, the delightful goofiness interspersed with the intense dedication, gave me a new appreciation for the artistry of acting and the complexity of bringing a beloved character to life. It was a powerful reminder that behind the bravado and the fiery explosions, there’s a human being, capable of both incredible seriousness and infectious laughter. My first look at Taylor Kinney filming Chicago Fire Season 14 wasn’t just about seeing the actor in action; it was about understanding the magic behind the performance, the human element that makes Severide, and Kinney, so compelling. It was about realizing that sometimes, the most heroic thing you can do is to let your goofiness shine.
