The Chicago Fire Season 13 finale, “It Had to End This Way,” certainly lived up to its name, bringing a flurry of twists and turns that left fans reeling and craving more. While major moments included Herrmann (David Eigenberg) stepping down as Lieutenant for Mouch, and a stunning revelation from Stella (Miranda Rae Mayo) to Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) that she’s pregnant, perhaps the most surprising aspect was the ambiguous exits of two confirmed departing characters: Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) and Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri).

The Unfinished Farewells: Carver and Ritter’s Ambiguous Departures

News of Jake Lockett and Daniel Kyri not returning for Season 14 had been circulating for weeks, prompting widespread fan concern about how their characters, Carver and Ritter, would be written out. The fear was a dramatic, possibly fatal, end. However, the finale opted for a different path. Both characters survived, but their exits were anything but clear-cut, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

According to showrunner Andrea Newman, this ambiguity was somewhat intentional. Speaking to TVLine, Newman stated, “Our characters have always — and this is the luxury of 13 seasons — but a bunch of them have come and gone and come back. There’s still so much to be figured out with those two and those characters. We love the actors, we love the characters, and we want to give them some good, surprising moments and goodbyes, and then maybe hellos later down the line.” This suggests a glimmer of hope for future guest appearances, a common tactic for long-running shows to provide closure or revisit beloved characters.

Ritter’s Head-Scratching Absence

Darren Ritter’s departure is particularly puzzling. The Chicago Fire Season 13 finale offered no discernible hint that he was leaving the show. There was no explicit transfer, no grand life change, nothing to concretely explain his absence. The only logical explanation would be related to the recent budget cuts mentioned by the CFD a few episodes prior. These cuts had hinted at retirement offers for older firefighters like Mouch and Herrmann – both of whom remain on the show. Applying budget cuts to a younger, active firefighter like Ritter, without clear narrative setup, feels like a forced fit and fails to provide a satisfying explanation for his disappearance from Firehouse 51. Fans are left wondering if he’ll simply vanish without a trace between seasons.

Carver’s Conflicted Confession

Carver’s exit, while having a built-in narrative hook, presents an even more emotionally complex problem. He tells Violet (Hanako Greensmith) that he’s transferred to Denver, citing his struggle to stay sober in Chicago. This reason alone provides a clear path for his departure. However, the very end of the season throws a wrench into this seemingly clean break. The episode concludes with Carver admitting he’s in love with Violet and passionately kissing her.

This powerful confession directly contradicts his stated reason for leaving. It feels like anything but a goodbye, leaving fans conflicted. Will Carver simply move to Denver despite confessing his love? Could he transfer to another Chicago firehouse, allowing their relationship to develop off-screen with only occasional guest appearances? Neither option feels truly ideal for a character arc that just reached a significant emotional peak. However, both are arguably better than the tragic alternative of killing off another man Violet loves, a pattern Chicago Fire has leaned on in the past.

Unfinished Business and Future Possibilities

The reality of real-life budget cuts at the network means that both Jake Lockett and Daniel Kyri will not be full-time cast members next season. This logistical constraint forces the show to navigate these somewhat awkward exits. The departures of Carver and Ritter will also leave Truck 81 and Engine 51 short-staffed, potentially opening doors for new characters or creating opportunities for returning cast members to fill the void.

One intriguing possibility is a return for one or both characters in Season 14, particularly when Stella Kidd’s pregnancy inevitably leads to her taking time away from Firehouse 51. This could provide a narrative reason for their temporary return, especially if Herrmann steps in for Stella, creating a need for more hands on deck.

One thing is clear: Chicago Fire needs to provide more definitive closure for these characters if they are truly leaving for good, as the Season 13 finale fell short. The showrunner’s comments offer a glimmer of hope that fans will indeed see them again, even if only for a proper sendoff. And for a fanbase as devoted as Chicago Fire‘s, that’s a prospect many are eagerly awaiting.