Chicago Fire’s Forgotten Fan-Favorite Character Unexpectedly Returns In Season 14 Y01

Chicago Fire season 14 is unexpectedly bringing back a forgotten fan-favorite character. Dick Wolf’s Windy City-based franchise is fresh out of a series of personnel changes, with the challenge now re-establishing the rapport in Firehouse 51. Just this year, it has lost Sam Carver and Darren Ritter, two long-time cast members of the series. In exchange, it welcomed Sam Vasquez.

The One Chicago universe has maintained its core appeal over the years despite consistent cast changes. Prior to this year, Chicago Fire said goodbye to multiple veteran cast members. Some of them were able to have a proper send-off, while others just seemed to disappear into oblivion, with barely any word on what happened to them. Unexpectedly, however, Chicago Fire season 14 is bringing back someone who hasn’t been in the show for a while.

Per Katelynn Shennett on her official Instagram account (via Hello!), she is making an appearance as Kylie Estevez in an upcoming episode of Chicago Fire season 14. The actor shared images of her in her trailer for the series, although she was only dressed in casual clothes and not her firefighting ones. It’s worth remembering that in her last major arc, Kylie officially became a firefighter. Initially, she didn’t want to join Firehouse 51 because she wanted to do things on her own, but after some convincing, she was eventually convinced.

Kylie was last seen in Chicago Fire season 13, episode 12. The idea was for her to help the staff shortages over at Firehouse 51 after Jack Damon was forced out of the team. When NBC reversed the decision and brought back Severide’s half-brother into the fold, there was an understanding that Kylie would be written out of the narrative. She hasn’t appeared in Chicago Fire since then, so it’s great to see her back for season 14.

Engine 51 was Kylie’s last team over at Firehouse 51 — the same squad, albeit now already being led by Mouch, that is now in danger of being decommissioned as hinted by in the season 14 fall finale. Assuming that Kylie’s return allows her to continue filling up for staff shortages, her comeback could be an indication that the Chicago Fire Department backs out of their plan to dissolve Mouch’s quietly reliable group.

Based on the images in Shennett’s post, it seems like her return is only for just 1 episode, which makes it more curious. Chicago Fire didn’t even bring her back for Chief Boden’s departure from Firehouse 51, so whatever motivates her appearance might be something vital, both for her and the team. In any case, it’s always great to see her return.