Chicago Fire Season 13 Makes It Clear That NBC Is Getting Rid Of The Wrong Firehouse 51 Members

While Gaffney Medical and Intelligence have both said goodbye to several personnel in the last couple of years, Firehouse 51 arguably has had more cast changes. Original characters such as Matt Casey and Chief Wallace Boden both left the crew, alongside long-time members, including Blake Gallo and Sylvie Brett. Even newcomers like Roman Flynn were unexpectedly written out of the series. As Chicago Fire season 13 inches closer to its end, Firehouse 51 is once again saying goodbye to two characters, but the series itself proves that this is the wrong move.

Carver & Ritter Are Leaving Chicago Fire At The End Of Season 13

Daniel Kyri & Jake Lockett Have Both Acknowledged It

As reported, Jake Lockett and Daniel Kyri are leaving Chicago Fire as Sam Carver and Ritter. The news came not long after the 2025 One Chicago crossover — the first special event for the Windy City-set franchise where both played a part in. The actors have already confirmed that they will be ending their respective stints by the end of the year, although they remain tightlipped about how they are going to be written out. In relation to that, neither NBC nor Wolf Entertainment has revealed any new information about their final plots either.

Sadly, there hasn't been any kind of set up on how their exits would go. Considering how Chicago Fire season 12 finale wrote out Boden, it's safe to say that the writers would keep things close to the chest until they have no choice but to set the narrative in motion. Eammon Walker's long-time Firehouse 51 chief had a last-minute promotion, paving the way for his departure. For what it's worth, the official synopsis for the Chicago Fire season 13 finale, "It Had To End This Way," doesn't feature any kind of reference to either Ritter or Carver's respective departures.

Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 19 Sets Up The Most Interesting Firehouse 51 Stories

Firehouse 51 Needs Some Changes

In the grand scheme of things, Ritter and Carver are supporting characters to a massive ensemble. The main focus of Chicago Fire remains to be Taylor Kinney and Miranda Mayo's co-worker and lovers, Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd, and aptly so, considering that they are the heart of the show. However, this doesn't mean that Lockett and Kyri's characters don't have their own appeal. Over the years, they have had their personal arcs interlaced with the ongoings at Firehouse 51. Both have also developed close relationships with the rest of Dom Pascal's squad.Regardless of how Chicago Fire writes out Carver and Ritter, the fact that they are getting booted out is a big mistake, and season 13, episode 19, "Birds of Prey" proves that. In the outing, both characters get interesting storylines that have the potential to lead to fun and compelling narrative in the long run. For starters, Ritter has opened up his house to Lizzy Novak. Firehouse 51 hasn't featured a substantial roommate plot since Otis Zvonecek, Joe Cruz, and Brett shared an apartment. Seeing Ritter and Lizzy develop a different relationship outside work would make Chicago Fire more dynamic.

Secondly, as Carver returns, he teams up with Violet Mikami for an unusual follow-up on a call. The pair has been a burgeoning couple for a while now, but the Chicago Fire season 12 finale cut their romance short after a misunderstanding. That push and pull continued in the new year, and it didn't help that Carver was going through his own personal issues with alcohol. After a stint in rehab, it's nice to see him and Violet reconnect, with their plot in "Birds of Prey" organically rebuilding their relationship until they admit their true feelings for each other.

Chicago Fire Cannot Rely On The Same Characters Again & Again

It's An Ensemble Show

Because of how much the cast of Chicago Fire has changed over the years, there's an understandable fondness for characters who have been on the show for a long time. Firehouse 51 members like Mouch McHolland, Christopher Herrmann, Kidd, and Severide have been a staple of the One Chicago franchise, so there's already emotional investment in them, which is arguably the primary motivation of avid viewers. That being said, Chicago Fire also needs to evolve, and they can't do that by relying on the same characters over and over again.

This doesn't mean that it should get rid of the aforementioned actors and replace them with new ones. However, they must also make sure that they are developing brand new players that people can follow. This way, the show can remain fresh while also ensuring that its fan-base isn't only devoted to a small circle of Firehouse 51 members. Ritter and Carver could be a part of that new wave of characters that people can follow in the foreseeable future, and Chicago Fire season 13, episode 19 proves that both still have many stories left to tell.

Can Chicago Fire Still Bring Back Carver And/Or Ritter After Season 13?

That Depends On How They'll Be Written Out

After a relatively long wait, NBC has already renewed One Chicago, which means that Firehouse 51 will definitely be back for Chicago Fire season 14. Sadly, it's highly unlikely that the decision on Carver and Ritter's immediate future will change. Since both actors have not said that they are leaving on their own accord, it's possible that they are being written out of the series as part of the cost-cutting measures that also resulted in cast rotation all throughout the year.

Beyond their upcoming exits, however, it's curious if Chicago Fire can consider bringing back either Ritter or Carver. At this point, seeing them both back and reinstated as series regulars is simply improbable. Chicago Fire doesn't really bring back departing characters unless it's for a guesting stint, which is what happened when Casey returned for his wedding to Brett and Boden to investigate the fire that injured Benny Severide's secret son, Jack Damon. Unless something changes, that's going to be the extent of the pair's future in the show, which is a shame.