Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) has always been a complicated character. Between him and Casey (Jesse Spencer), the show’s de facto co-lead, Severide has always been the more impulsive and troubled. It’s part of what makes him such a fascinating character to watch on Chicago Fire, and part of the appeal of his return in season 12.
Severide has been through a lot over the past few seasons, but he’s also made some choices that we re dubious of, especially once he decided to enter an arson investigation program in season 11. Here’s a list of things we want to acknowledge ahead of his return, in the hopes that he doesn’t make the same mistakes twice.
Severide deceived his wife while training out of state
The biggest sin, and the most recent. Severide left his position at the 51 to enter an arson investigation program, which seemed innocent enough on the surface. His communication with Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) got worse the longer he was there, however, and the season 11 reveals that he’s actually completed training and gone on the road to help with a case.
Kidd would never have found out were it not for something Cruz (Joe Minoso) heard through the grapevine. Severide not keeping Kidd in the loop, especially as he embarks on a real, possibly even dangerous arson case, is not a good sign for their marriage. He’s going to have some explaining to do.
Severide enjoys arson investigation more than firefighting
Severide is a great firefighter, but his passion has been leaning more towards the field of arson investigation in recent years. He has a natural talent for it, as evidenced by the fact that Wendy Seager (Andy Allo) constantly enlists his help, and he sees a possible future in the field, based on the fact that he attended a training program.
Severide’s actions, and his the little bit we know about his passions, suggests that he could make a career switch at some point, and become an arson investigator full time. It’s hard to picture the show’s premiere firefighter getting tired of putting out fires, but that’s exactly where it feels like we’re headed.
Severide flirted with Lt. Seager while engaged to Stella Kidd
Another reason Seager would ask for Severide’s help is because she clearly liked spending time with him. The two colleagues got especially close when Kidd was traveling the country, and not returning Severide’s calls, so it stands to reason that he was looking for attention and maybe a distraction in Seager.
Nothing romantic transpired, but there was some pretty obvious flirtation going on between Seager and Severide in season 10. It wasn’t a great look for either party, especially since the latter went on to get married to Kidd in the season finale. Kidd struck up a similarly odd dynamic with Carver (Jake Lockett) in season 11, so we suppose they’re even in a way?
Severide and Kidd disagree on having children
This one is subtle but significant. The season 11 episode “Haunted House” saw Severide and Kidd taking care of children after they’re involved in a domestic dispute with their mother. Kidd took to the children very well, showing that she has the desire and the skillset to be a mom, but Severide preferred to keep his distance and barely interact with the children.
Starting a family is an enormous decision, and based on the fact that Severide and Kidd already have marital problems elsewhere, we’re concerned as to how things will go when the topic of kids gets brought up. It seems as though they couldn’t be further apart in terms of what they want…
