The firefighting drama has always excelled with steamy subplots.

Chicago Fire has dished out some exciting storylines and established new characters in season 13. The feedback from longtime fans on social media, however, is that the current season isn’t hitting in the way that some of its predecessors did. There’s something missing, something that is failing to generate the sparks of some of Fire‘s finest moments.

We obviously don’t have a way of knowing what the lack of spark is for each viewer, but one thing that has jumped out to us during season 13 is the curious lack of romance. Chicago Fire is a melodramatic show in all the best ways, and part of what powers a melodrama is romantic tension. Historically, the show has always had at one least one couple who are in the midst of breaking up, reuniting, or finding out they have feelings for each other.

Chicago Fire has been light on the love stories

You are probably thinking of your favorite Chicago Fire romances as you read this. There’s Stellaride (Miranda Rae Mayo and Taylor Kinney), there’s Brettsey (Kara Killmer and Jesse Spencer), there’s Cruz (Joe Minoso) and Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie), and there’s Mouch (Christian Stolte) and Trudy Platt (Amy Morton) if we want to count crossovers.

We can ignore the heavy hitters and still find plenty of examples of firehouse flings or brief trysts that didn’t go anywhere, but made for exciting viewing. Violet (Hanako Greensmith) had her tragic romance with the late Evan Hawkins (Jimmy Nicholas). There was also the white hot tension between her and Sam Carver (Jake Lockett), which partially hit a roadblock due to Carver’s feelings for Kidd.

The show has hit a relationship lull in season 13

It’s messy, and it’s entertaining to watch. None of the situations we just listed, however, have taken place in season 13. Violet had been riding solo, and Carver got back with an ex who is bringing out the worst in him. The married couples on the show have been experiencing problems, and the only inkling of a workplace romance has been between Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) and medic Lyla Novak (Joceyln Hudon), which sounds like an HR nightmare.

We’re not saying that everybody needs to be hooking up with everybody, but Chicago Fire has always found a way to interject romance and sexual tension in between the action scenes. It’s part of the fun. Season 13 has had plenty of action, but it’s been notably light on the other elements. Maybe we could use some more of it moving forward.