Sometimes the firefighting drama takes some unexpected turns.
Chicago Fire has a lot going on. There are characters on the cusp of promotion, characters who are still getting acclimated to Firehouse 51, and characters who are being mortally threatened by gang members. Chicago Fire still knows how to thrill viewers, but sometimes a subplot can stretch things too far and confound instead.
There’s lots to like about season 13, but there have also been a few instances in which a storyline has taken an odd turn, or a character acts in a way that’s utterly confusing. These are the moments we’ve chosen to focus on for this list.
Jack Damon’s unceremonious exit
Jack Damon (Michael Bradway) is not a fan favorite or anything, but the revelation that he was the younger half-sibling of Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) made for an interesting season 12 cliffhanger. It was going to be intriguing to see how the two men would co-exist and connect in the shadow of their late father.
We didn’t get that. Damon disobeyed an order, nearly got Severide in trouble, and was let go from the firehouse. All in a few episodes, too. It feels like there was a lot of time dedicated to setting Damon up in season 12, only to dump him ASAP during season 13. It makes the tail end of the previous season feel a bit like a waste.
Dom Pascal and Lyla Novak’s flirting
Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) and Lyla Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) are two of the most recent additions to the Chicago Fire ensemble. They have mostly been accepted by fans, especially Novak, who has forged a popular friendship with Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith). Their inclusion as solo characters makes sense.
It’s the hints at a closer connection that has us confused. Pascal and Novak have shared a few heartfelt moments together, but it seems like the show is planting the seeds for what could be a Firehouse 51 romance. Given that Pascal is Novak’s superior, it just seems like a messy direction to take things.
Sam Carver’s professional struggles
Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) is another character who has achieved popularity over the last few seasons. He’s stepped into the role that Severide used to occupy, which is to say, the charismatic and oftentimes troubled hotshot. The character has always been troubled in his personal life, but it feels as though the struggles are bleeding a bit too far into his professional life.
Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) sent Carver home in the middle of his shift in the episode “Birds of Prey.” He was seemingly distracted and absentminded in the field, which is strange given that he has always proven himself to be an exemplary firefighter (if not an impulsive one). We get it from a story standpoint, but we hope the show doesn’t spend too much on Carver the subpar firefighter.
Severide and Kidd’s relationship woes
We all like Stellaride. Their wedding was a high point of the show, but their marriage has been anything but ideal. They have struggled to be considerate of each other’s feelings, and they have been separated multiple times due to Severide’s desire to pursue arson investigation cases.
There’s also the children angle. Severide has expressed that he wants kids, and Kidd is hesitant to sideline her career since she’s 51’s lieutenant. Drama is the name of the game in a TV series, but the fans are growing increasingly weary of seeing these two disagree at every turn.
