Chicago Fire Season 11 Ending Explained
The Chicago Fire season 11 finale juggles multiple storylines and leaves several loose plot threads. It’s an understatement to say that Firehouse 51 has gone through a lot in the past year — both professionally and personally. While Chief Boden’s crew is able to expertly deal with every crisis that they have been called for, doing their jobs hasn’t exactly been easy as they also deal with their respective issues. In the Chicago Fire season 11 finale, “Red Waterfall,” NBC and Wolf Entertainment culminate some of its biggest ongoing arcs, while also introducing new ones.
Chicago Fire is already confirmed to return for season 12. Whether it actually sticks to its regular fall season premiere is uncertain at this point due to the ongoing Writers Guild Strike of 2023. Its small screen return isn’t the only thing uncertain for the show as it enters its mandatory summer hiatus. After an intense and quite busy Chicago Fire season 11 finale, it opts to keep viewers hanging for months with some of its plot lines.
In early 2023, news broke out that Taylor Kinney was taking an unexpected leave of absence in the middle of Chicago Fire season 11. After the initial dread, it was then confirmed that his departure would only be temporary, which means that Kelly Severide will eventually be back at Firehouse 51. NBC and Wolf Entertainment were able to explain his sudden departure. Apparently, Severide was sent to a last-minute, once-in-a-lifetime OFI training camp. That being said, it has been months since he took that unexpected job offer. It doesn’t help that he supposedly has had a change in plans without consulting his wife, Stella Kidd, first.
After trying to keep their marriage intact amid this tricky period of long distance, Kidd is starting to have major doubts about the status of their relationship. In the Chicago Fire season 11 finale, she seeks advice from those closest to her, including Chief Boden. Firehouse 51’s leader assures her that Severide won’t just abandon her, but it doesn’t quell her fears. At the end of the outing, she decides to take a couple of shifts off to bring her husband home. However, it’s curious if Severide would even be willing to come home, especially if he’s really enjoying his time working away from his crew.
