Chicago Fire Season 13 ended in a blaze of emotional revelations. Some were warmly lit, others half-smothered in smoke. While fans celebrated Stella Kidd’s pregnancy and reacted positively to the leadership shift with Herrmann stepping aside for Mouch, there was also a double whammy of exits for fan favorites Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) and Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri).
Or was there?
MORE: We break down Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 22 ‘It Had To End This Way’ in our review.
Despite knowing weeks in advance that neither actor would return as series regulars in Season 14, the finale, “It Had to End This Way,” left fans scrambling for clarity. Ritter’s future absence was barely brought up, while Carver’s leave came wrapped in a kiss and an unfinished love story.
As showrunner Andrea Newman told TVLine, the choices were deliberate: “There’s still so much to be figured out with those two… we want to give them good, surprising moments and goodbyes, and then maybe hellos later down the line.”
In light of that, and the episode itself, let’s unpack what really happened. And what does it mean for the future of Firehouse 51?
Carver and Violet’s Cliffhanger on Chicago Fire Season 13
Sam Carver’s exit storyline was perhaps the more emotionally satisfying of the two, if also the more confusing. After a seasons-long will-they-won’t-they dynamic with Violet (Hanako Greensmith), Carver dropped two bombshells.
First, he confessed to applying for a transfer to Denver to maintain his sobriety. Then, in true Chicago Fire fashion, later in the episode, he turned around and kissed Violet, declaring his love. “I hope you find what you need there,” Violet had previously said, through heartbreak.
But fans were left asking: how does this reconcile with the emotional weight of that kiss? According to Newman, the ambiguity was intentional. Carver’s journey isn’t over, just paused!
Whether his move to Denver is permanent or just the start of a recurring arc remains to be seen, especially since his relationship with Violet has now been established as canon.
Ritter’s Exit Leaves Questions about Budget Cuts
Unlike Carver, Ritter didn’t even get a goodbye scene. Despite Kyri’s confirmed exit, the finale offered no send-off. No farewell, no reason, no closure. The only clue? Previous episodes hinted at CFD budget cuts. But those were thought to mainly affect older firefighters like Mouch and Herrmann, not younger ones like Ritter.
It’s a strange oversight, especially for a character as beloved and integral as Ritter. Newman’s comments to TVLine suggest this was also calculated. “Characters come and go and come back,” she said, leaving the door wide open.
Perhaps Ritter could return if Firehouse 51 needs reinforcements during Kidd’s pregnancy or a future crisis. But for now, it feels like Chicago Fire pulled both punches, giving fans departures that don’t quite land.
Carver and Ritter deserved better, but in true One Chicago fashion, maybe this isn’t the last we’ve seen of them. With Season 14 set to give us more shake-ups, the story of Firehouse 51 isn’t even close to cooling off.
Chicago Fire airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
