Towards the end of Chicago Fire season 11, NBC announced that Taylor Kinney was taking a leave of absence from the series. The report claimed that the actor was dealing with a “personal matter.” As a result, from episode 15 until the season 11 finale, Kinney didn’t appear, making episode 14 the last time viewers saw him during the season. To explain Kinney’s absence, Severide was invited to an OFI training camp in Alabama. However, because he didn’t return for the finale, the writers had to further excuse why Severide had been gone for so long.
Without telling Stella, Severide joined an ATF investigation after finishing the OFI training camp. This seemingly indicated that the end was near for the married couple and that Kinney would never return to Chicago Fire. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case as the actor appeared in season 12. However, rumors about Kinney’s potential exit ran rampant and Severide’s obsession with arson investigation continued poking holes in his and Stella’s relationship. Consequently, I (along with many others) was afraid that the writers were setting up Kinney’s eventual departure via a divorce between Severide and Stella.
Perhaps my almost two-year-long worry about Taylor Kinney leaving Chicago Fire can finally end after NBC released a new poster for season 13 on Instagram. In the photo, the firefighters are climbing a firetruck’s ladder. Severide is at the front, while Kidd, Cruz, and Herrmann are following behind him and Violet and Novak are on the ground looking up at them. With Severide at the forefront of the season 13 promotional poster, he’s the main focus. So, it’s safe to assume that Severide is not only staying but will also be the main character of Chicago Fire season 13.
Heading into the Chicago Fire season 13 premiere, everyone should be able to rest easy that Severide is here to stay. It wouldn’t make sense to draw attention to Kinney’s character if he was leaving. Plus, the Chicago Fire season 12 finale set up multiple storylines for Severide.
