I'm Sorry, But Kelly Severide & Stella Kidd Cannot Save Chicago Fire's Future

Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd are definitely Chicago Fire's true leads, but they can't be the only characters to carry the show.

As the inaugural series in the One Chicago franchise, Chicago Fire remains to be the most popular show in the universe. Like so many other long-running procedurals, Firehouse 51 has gone through so many changes in the past. Being under Dick Wolf's umbrella, it has been able to weather all the cast reshuffles thus far. That said, I'm concerned that doing more changes may not be as easy to navigate this time.

One Chicago has lost so many characters in the past for various reasons. Chicago Fire, in particular, has had to say goodbye to some its legacy characters in the last few years — Chief Wallace Boden and Matt Casey. Amid all of these reshuffles, Severide and Kidd have maintained their roles as the unofficial leaders of Firehouse 51. As great as they are, however, I'm afraid that they won't be enough to keep the show going in the long run. THE

Chicago Fire's Only Substantial Personal Arc Is Severide & Kidd's Relationship

Kidd & Severide Have Been At The Forefront Of Chicago Fire

Romances are a big part of Chicago Fire's storytelling. Unlike other Dick Wolf procedurals that focus on cases, One Chicago tends to put more focus on character relationships. After the marriage and subsequent exit of Casey and Sylvie Brett, Severide and Kidd are left as the only remaining long-term love story that is actively being developed by the show.

There are other marriages in the Chicago Fire, most notably Herrmann and Cindy, as well as Mouch and Trudy. However, those don't get the same interest and attention as Severide and Kidd. After finally tying the knot, there was interest in knowing what was coming next for the pair. Admittedly, things haven't been easy for them, but Chicago Fire season 13 finale ended with the reveal that they are expecting their first kid.

How Chicago Fire's Latest Character Exits Puts So Much More Stress On Severide & Kidd's Story

Severide & Kidd Won't Have Any Downtime

Coming into the new season, it will be an exciting new chapter for Severide and Kidd's love story. Both Taylor Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo are confirmed to return as series regulars in the coming TV cycle, which means that neither one of them will be suddenly written out in the middle of the year. However, there are other characters who are set to leave Chicago Fire season 14 — Sam Carver and Darren Ritter. Admittedly, they aren't as prominent as the aforementioned couple, but their impending exit is also detrimental to Kidd and Severide.

Much has been said about how underutilized Ritter was in the show, that even in his final year, he didn't even get a substantial character arc. Meanwhile, Carver's inevitable departure from Firehouse 51 ruins the next best love story in the series. For a couple of seasons now, Chicago Fire has been working on developing his relationship with Violet. It's a slow-burn but compelling narrative that will ultimately go nowhere. With no other active romance in the show, NBC is forced to put all the pressure on Severide and Kidd to deliver on that front.

Chicago Fire Is Better Off Diversifying Its Storytelling

It's A Way To Future-Proof The Series

Technically, Chicago Fire is an ensemble. That said, having an unofficial lead isn't exactly something surprising for shows like this. While there's nothing wrong to have a face for the project, it's also very important for One Chicago to diversify its storytelling for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it future-proofs the series. While both Kidd and Severide are confirmed to stay throughout Chicago Fire season 14, there's no telling when either Kinney or Mayo will decide to leave. Fans should remember the concerns when Kinney took a leave of absence in the middle of Chicago Fire season 11.

Secondly, Chicago Fire is missing out on telling other compelling stories beyond Severide and Kidd's arc. Carver and Violet's love story has been both interesting and unique, considering their respective backgrounds. Chicago Fire could have also done something intriguing with Ritter, as the only gay member of Firehouse 51. Sadly, with both Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett leaving, the series needs to plant new plot seeds for long-term storylines.