Chicago Fire showrunner reveals why Severide hasn’t gotten a promotion

Chicago Fire showrunner reveals why Severide hasn't gotten a promotion

As a long-time Chicago Fire enthusiast with over a decade of dedication to the series, I must say that Severide’s lack of promotion has been a puzzling mystery for me and fellow fans alike. However, after learning the truth behind this apparent conundrum, I find myself oddly relieved and even amused by the revelation.


Chicago Fire enthusiasts find themselves puzzled over the fact that Severide hasn’t been promoted, but it seems there’s a valid explanation behind this delay!

The process or show has gone through numerous transformations throughout the years, as different characters have joined and left. Fortunately, one consistent element has been Kelly Severide, portrayed by Taylor Kinney, who is a leading figure in the team. Despite the fact that his late father was a highly ranked and respected fireman, Severide has not relied on his name to carve out his own success.

In a simple and conversational style, we could say: Severide demonstrates skills in arson investigations and has a knack for understanding people. He often finds himself right in the middle of things, whether it’s handling emergencies or his relationship with Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo). The duo got married in the season 10 finale.

Although Severide has achieved much, fans might expect him to have advanced higher in rank. However, he remains a lieutenant and shares his time between arson investigations. Compared to other characters on the show who have been promoted over time, one would assume someone with Severide’s experience would have followed suit by now.

With Boden moving on to become Deputy Commissioner, there’s a chance for Severide to rise up in the CFD but he seems unlikely to take it. As it happens, there’s a good reason for that. 

Why has Severide not been promoted on Chicago Fire?

Through TVLine, Chicago Fire’s showrunner, Andrea Newman, explained that Severide has chosen not to accept a promotion as of now, preferring his current role instead.

He’s got his focus on the thing he is obsessed with, which is arson and OFI, in addition to the squad, which he loves. There’s a lot of politics the higher you go up in rank, and Severide has no interest in that. He’s a get-your-hands-dirty kind of guy. So arson is still very much on the forefront of his mind, the possibilities of moving to OFI are at the forefront of his mind, and all of that comes up. He’s dealing with all of that this season.

It’s clear to anyone who follows the series that Severide enjoys being right in the heart of the action with his team, as opposed to being confined to a desk. He finds administrative tasks tedious and prefers assisting those in distress instead. Moreover, he witnessed how involvement in CFD politics affected his father and others, and he has no desire for such experiences. Instead, he prefers maintaining camaraderie with the team over taking on a leadership role.

In simpler terms, Severide is mindful of his hot-headed nature and frequently goes against his superiors, which isn’t typical for a captain. In essence, he prefers his existing role over a promotion that might not align with his personality.

Indeed, it’s clear to fans that Severide’s delay in promotion isn’t due to external issues, given his evident comfort as a regular firefighter compared to the upper echelons. Although the role of captain might be a desire among fans, Severide appears content in his current position. This contentment, I believe, is something Chicago Fire fans should appreciate too.

Chicago Fire season 13 premieres Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9/8c on NBC.

Read More

2024-08-24 17:53