Unlike Carver (played by Jake Lockett) and Damon (played by Michael Bradway), though, Ritter is getting a proper goodbye as Kyri returns in Chicago Fire season 14. The actor will only reprise his role at the beginning of the season. It’s unclear how many episodes Ritter will appear in, and the premiere’s photos don’t provide any clues as to when or how he’ll exit.
Ritter Returns In Chicago Fire Season 14, But With Vasquez Already On The Team
The Season 14 Premiere Introduces Vasquez
Chicago Fire season 14’s first-look images preview Ritter’s return in the first episode. Everything seems normal in the season 14 premiere’s pictures as he joins the rest of the Firehouse 51 squad on a call. However, it might very well be Ritter’s last emergency with his fellow firefighters and paramedics, while it’s undoubtedly Sal Vasquez’s first call with the fire station.
Brandon Larracuente joins the Chicago Fire cast in season 14 as Vasquez, Truck 81’s new firefighter. Given the fact that he can be seen in the aforementioned photos alongside Kyri’s character, it’s safe to say that Vasquez comes on as Carver’s replacement, not Ritter’s. This does make sense since Carver’s exit was all but laid out during the Chicago Fire season 13 finale.
Chicago Fire Season 14’s Images Suggest That Ritter’s Exit Is Abrupt
The Season 13 Finale Also Did Little To Set Up Kyri’s Departure
If Vasquez is Carver’s replacement instead of Ritter’s, perhaps his exit is abrupt in Chicago Fire season 14. If anything, Vasquez’s early presence further confirms that Ritter’s goodbye to Firehouse 51 comes out of left field in the One Chicago TV show. The new firefighter isn’t coming on to take over for Ritter, meaning the crew isn’t prepared for Kyri’s character to leave.
Chicago Fire season 14 will begin with a time jump, and with Carver already gone. So, Vasquez replacing him in the premiere proves that Dermot Mulroney’s Chief Dom Pascal has had time to mull over Carver’s departure and find someone suitable to fill his role on Truck 81. Meanwhile, Ritter’s successor is undisclosed, implying that his exit is more sudden.
Chicago Fire season 14 doesn’t have much time to lay the groundwork for Ritter’s inevitable departure. As far as we know, there’s really no reason for him to leave Firehouse 51 behind. Consequently, the first couple of episodes must set the scene for Ritter’s exit. If they don’t, the audience has very good reason to worry about his fate in the NBC series.
Possible Reasons For Ritter’s Abrupt Chicago Fire Exit
Will Ritter Die?
Given that Chicago Fire hasn’t teased Ritter’s exit in the slightest leading up to season 14, he may leave the procedural drama TV show in a body bag. He certainly wouldn’t be the first important Chicago Fire character to die. However, Ritter’s death would be quite disappointing and completely heartbreaking, especially in the wake of fans responding negatively to his exit.
Despite being the least desirable reasoning behind Ritter’s departure, the Chicago Fire writers have proven time and time again that they aren’t afraid to kill off main characters. It’s a TV series about firefighters running into burning buildings, after all. So, the audience should prepare for the worst-case scenario. Ritter’s exit might be abrupt because he dies while on the job.
Whatever the case, Kyri’s character is leaving the One Chicago universe. Hopefully, the season 14 premiere will reveal more about why Ritter is exiting. Until then, though, fans must wait and see how Chicago Fire decides to write Ritter out of the show in season 14.
