Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 1 Review: Why Did Any of This Happen?

Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 1 ‘Kicking Down Doors’ is one of the most frustrating episodes of Chicago Fire I’ve watched in 14 seasons. It’s a gut punch, and not for the reasons I expected it to be. Sure, the show is writing out three separate characters, one with a throwaway line (Damon), one with a longer but still kinda lame excuse (Carver), and one with a more thought-out storyline that still requires him to do a complete 180 on everything he’d said before (Ritter). And yet, even all those objectively bad things are nothing compared to what this episode does to Stella Kidd.

Because what was the point of ending the season that way? What was the point of giving us pregnant Stella for 0.2 seconds, only to then take it away in the first few seconds of the season premiere? We didn’t even get to enjoy it for a minute. The characters didn’t get to learn anything from it or explore any new emotions because of it. And of course, Miranda Rae Mayo and Taylor Kinney were fantastic in playing the pain and the anger, the loss and the hurt. But we already knew they would be. This is not a revelation.

Plus, we’ve seen this storyline before. We’ve seen this storyline so many times in One Chicago that, at this point, it would actually be much more revolutionary to see a happy pregnancy come to fruition. Miscarriage is old news in One Chicago. We’re tired of it. We know how this is handled. We deserved the other side of the coin. Stella and Kelly deserved the other side of the coin.

MORE: If you need a refresher, here’s our review of the Season 13 finale

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

I’ll start with the most infuriating part of Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1 ‘Kicking Down Doors’ and go down the list. The Stella and Kelly of this episode is good, because Stella and Kelly are always good together, and Miranda and Taylor are very attuned to their characters. So, in the middle of a frustrating storyline, their characters react like we would want them to react. There’s Stella, trying to apologize for something that isn’t her fault at all, and Kelly comforting her like he should, and telling her that they are in this together. Putting her first. Providing the comfort and the care that she needs. He’s not putting any pressure on her, and he’s letting her set the pace for what they do next, because he loves her first and foremost.

This is huge, because yes, Kelly wants a family. But above all, Kelly loves Stella, and Chicago Fire has always made this clear. Stella isn’t a vessel for the family he wants; she’s Kelly’s wife, his partner. He was fine with adopting, because what he wants is a family with Stella. And that takes us to the end of this episode, to a storyline that I would have probably been fine with had it come some other way, but that now feels like a cheap way to solve the logistical problem of having Stella pregnant and what that means for the firehouse and for the show.

And honestly, I would have rather they’d done a huge time jump. Or not show Stella getting pregnant in the first place. If I’m feeling cheated right now, it’s because the show put us in this position, because they dangled something in front of us that they were not going to deliver.

As someone who has always wanted to adopt more than have a baby, adoption storylines always get to me. They do. But in this particular instance, it also feels like a slap in the face, storytelling-wise. Because they’re probably going to say yes, and they’re probably going to be great parents. That part we knew. But this wasn’t the way they were meant to. That wasn’t what fans wanted for them. It wasn’t what Stella had dreamed of. It wasn’t what was promised. And it was very, very cruel to end Season 13 with one thing and open Season 14 by ripping that promise from fans, even if the show intends to give them a family some other way.

MORE: There were a lot of cast changes in One Chicago this year

A BUNCH OF BAD GOODBYES

To add insult to injury, Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 1 ‘Kicking Down Doors’ doesn’t really do a good job with any of the goodbyes, either. To be fair to the show, its hands were kinda tied here. Damon disappeared because Michael Bradway was cast elsewhere, so they didn’t have him back to tie off his storyline, and since he’s Severide’s brother, the easiest thing to do was to pretend he’s fine somewhere else. But after setting him up as a big player, not just in the firehouse but also in Severide’s life, it stings. We’re not gonna lie.

Of course, the Carver thing is worse, and though it kinda makes sense for his sobriety to have a clean break, the excuse still feels a bit flimsy. Andrea Newman promised in interviews that we might see him again, and that might make the sting a bit more manageable, but for now, it’s hard to feel good about his departure. And then, there’s Ritter, who hasn’t even left yet but whose exit storyline is very clearly laid out here.

Look, I know life and death situations tend to shift perspective. But this is the same Ritter who was absolutely sure he didn’t want to move in with this guy. The one who didn’t even seem to be that broken up about the breakup? So now, he’s going to give up his life, his job, and his privacy for him? Just like that? I’m sorry, but it feels like it came out of left field. It’s a better ending than Damon and Carver are getting, without a doubt, but it’s still a pretty rushed one that leaves a bad aftertaste, all things considered.

MORE: Remember the last One Chicago crossover? Here’s our review!

HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE SAL VASQUEZ?

The new kid on the block after all these departures is Brandon Larracuente’s Sal Vasquez, and though we don’t get the full story on him, it seems like he might be a nepo baby? This “last shot” thing and Pascal depending on Stella to straighten him out is as weird as Pascal’s attitude with Stella, which continues to be the most annoying thing about the show. Well, perhaps second to Vasquez, who I just can’t get a read on, truly.

But the fact that now there are two annoying men taking screen time away from the amazing women in this show isn’t one of my favorite things. Sure, Vasquez might grow on me, like Carver did. Or he might not, like Pascal hasn’t. I’ll defer to Stella on this. If Stella ends up liking him, I’ll give him a break. If she doesn’t, then I guess I’ll just have to continue side-eying him. For now, as charming as the actor is, we’re just going to continue to wait and see. One episode is far too early to decide if we like him. Far too early.

Things I think I think:

• I hate this.
• I hate it so much.
• The rage I feel.
• Miranda might be killing this, but this is the worst storyline this show has ever done.
• “We’re in this together, every step of the way.”
• Have I mentioned I hate it?
• Sal Vasquez is already getting on my nerves.
• As is Herrmann. My dude, you cannot make this decision halfway. I understand it’s a hard decision. It’s a huge decision. I get it, truly. Props to you. Mad props. But if you’re really gonna make it, you kinda have to make it.
• You are not as good as Carver, dude. Full stop.
• Why is Herrmann on Truck?
• Stella throwing herself over Violet to protect her from the bullets? So badass. Cannot even think from how badass she is. She’s not a cop, she’s a firefighter. And she didn’t even THINK.
• An agreement to give each other the space to move on? Ooookay. That’s a copout.
• Is Ritter really going to leave for Dwayne?
• His Spanish isn’t all that good. AT LEAST MAKE THE SPANISH GOOD, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.
• Mouch is right. Why get attached?
• Violet’s “I know that tone, and she is not happy” is hilarious.
• Supportive Kelly is my favorite Kelly, and that’s default Kelly, so.
• I hate how Pascal treats Stella. I repeat, I hate how Pascal treats Stella.
• There’s just been no explanation! Like, why does he treat her like she’s a problematic woman?
• I’ve seen men treat women like this! What’s his deal? He doesn’t treat anyone else like this. Not even other women!
• Like, he treats Violet with respect.
• He just keeps making everything Stella’s problem when it’s not. It’s personal, I swear.
• Anyway, Herrmann is on my nerves, part 2.
• And Sal Vasquez as well.
• But I love Stella and Violet.
• And Violet being useful is beautiful.
• At least they didn’t kill Dwayne.
• The sharing the office thing is… eh.
• Pascal’s speech could use some work, honestly.
• Why is this Vasquez’s last hope, and why should I care?
• Nepo baby, right?
• Oh, Terry. I knew it.
• A teenager? Like, how old?
• I hate this storyline with the passion of a thousand suns.
• If it had happened the other way around, like with NCIS: LA, I might love it. But here we are.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 1 ‘Kicking Down Doors’? Share with us in the comments below!

Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays on NBC.