The couple seemingly grows weaker with each new episode.
To say that Stella Kidd’s (Miranda Rae Mayo) marriage to Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) has very high highs and very low lows would be an understatement. Granted that they work together, the relationship seems to run into multiple issues several times but the latest issue for the couple is distance.
For a long time, Severide had been interested in becoming a fire investigator (and had the talent for it. Little did he know that his dreams will also beget more marital problems when his wife felt like he was abandoning her.
Severide decided to leave Firehouse 51 (again)
Matters came to a boiling point in Chicago Fire season 11 when Kelly went to Alabama for a fire investigation and no amount of Stella’s calls would reach him. Understandably, Stella was concerned about his behavior and had to go to Alabama to get him back.
Yet this recent return was also short-lived since another case pulled Kelly to Tucson, Arizona, leaving his wife alone again. The Stella-Kelly problem is a fairly simple one. The couple seems to have poor communication skills, where each one is not willing to give the other a little rope.
Stella expects Kelly to give up his dream so that they may lead their lives as two people who are married and any of Kelly’s actions seem to the contrary make her livid. Kelly on the other hand acts like a bachelor, where he makes decisions that affect them both without consulting his wife.
An even greater problem is that they both are easy to rise to anger when confronted and their already awful communication breaks down at this point. The number of times Stella has walked away red with anger, or Kelly has had an outburst and left fuming are uncountable.
Kidd was visibly upset by Severide’s decision
Usually, they make up by making grand romantic gestures and sweeping their issues under the rug.
In “Trapped” there were a few positive developments when the couple met each other halfway. Stella learned that she needed to give Kelly some wiggle room to pursue his dreams, while Kelly knew that involving Stella in his life is imperative. But that’s easier said than done.
With Kelly away, how long before he stops calling Stella or taking her phone calls? How long before Stella feels lonely again, and revert to her original position.
Talking as they did was a step in the right direction but it doesn’t even begin the cover half of the problems the couple has. What is Kelly decides OFI is his calling? What is Stella decides she needs more in a husband?
For a marriage to work, couples need to address the root of the problem and Stellaride sadly doesn’t know how to do that. They are too independent-minded, which is a recipe for disaster in a marriage. Kelly left for Arizona without a definite timeline. The last time a character in One Chicago left abruptly without saying when he’d be back, Hailey received divorce papers from Halstead.
Stellaride has all the makings of a great couple and everyone hopes that they pull through. Whether that happens remains to be seen.
