We know who’s leaving Chicago Fire in the upcoming season. Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) and Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) have been shown the door, even though there are a few episodes left in the current season. We’re not here to talk about them, though. We’re here to discuss the characters who are essential to the show’s make up.
Ritter and Carver are going to be major losses, but the show will survive without them. The four characters we’ve selected below are exceptions to this rule. It would be hard to imagine Chicago Fire without them, and as such, we’re confident they will stick around for season 14. At least we hope. My goodness, can you imagine?
Christopher Herrmann
Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) may be doing increasingly less as a firefighter, given his hearing-related injury in season 12, but he remains vital as ever to Firehouse 51. He was the one that Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) earmarked to become the new chief, and his reluctance to do so has led to some intriguing moments of self-reflection.
Herrmann is representative of the old guard at 51. Moreso than even Mouch (Christian Stolte), who would also be a colossal loss, Herrmann’s grizzled approach and overall presence makes him one of Chicago Fire‘s indispensable characters.
Stella Kidd
The notion of writing Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) off Chicago Fire boggles the mind. Her absence would not only compromise the way that Firehouse 51 operates, but it would destroy the arc that her husband, Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) has build alongside her for several seasons.