Everyone loves a good first aid routine, which is why Chicago Fire was such a huge success.
The hit NBC firehouse-themed drama quickly spawned two equally popular spinoffs and continues to celebrate its achievements in its thirteenth season.
While the action keeps things interesting, there’s still a large portion of fans who tune in to something completely different every week.
I’ve gushed before about the strengths of this show, from the genuine friendships to the commitment to accuracy (fun fact: Anthony Ferrari, who plays Tony, is a real CFD firefighter).
There are many reasons why fans love this show, and with a dynamic cast and talented showrunner (Andrea Newman), it’s easy to understand the hype.
But if you zoom in a little beyond the average Wednesday night audience and focus on the fanbase, it’s hard to miss the Stellaride-shaped beacon that keeps even the most devoted fans engaged.
The relationship was complicated and it took them some time to get to where they are now, but Kidd and Seyfried worked it out and are now happily married nearly a decade later.
They’re the leading couple in the cast, comparable to Meredith and Derek from Grey’s Anatomy.
So why has the Stellaride relationship been on hold?
Every week, excited fans wait to catch a glimpse of Stellaride, whether that looks like an intimate moment in bed, words of encouragement at work, or a steamy scene in the attic.
But more often than not, these moments are fleeting and seem to occur less and less frequently.
The most surprising aspect of opting out of the show’s main couple is that “Chicago Fire” season 12 ended with an explosive reveal that set the stage for the following season of “Stellaride.”
Without delving deeper into their conflicting opinions about when and if to have children, or digging deeper into the impact of the latest secret Seyfried sibling on their marriage, both storylines just…failed.
Aside from a brief mention of the baby topic earlier in the season (which was nothing more than Stella reminding Kelly that she wasn’t ready), the conversation seems to have completely fallen by the wayside.
Which begs the question: Why was Kelly’s confession about wanting a child in Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 13 considered a cliffhanger?
Damon’s drama ended as quickly as it began, with Kelly bonding with his newfound brother, briefly clashing with him, and then never seeing him again.
By the way, everyone seems completely happy with how things went, as no one talks about him anymore.
Kidd and Severide were seen together this season, but they didn’t get to work together much, which disappointed fans.
When Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 8 came to an end, marking the end of the first half of the season, fans took to social media to ask why Severide wasn’t even in the episode.
Considering the importance of the fall finale on network television, shoving the show’s star couple to the background and semi-absence is certainly an odd choice.
It’s a decision that’s hard to understand when comparing Chicago Fire to other major shows.
I’m obviously not in the writers’ room, so come January, I’ll probably look ridiculous if Stellaride takes center stage again and drives the narrative for the rest of the season.
But even if that happens, it’s still puzzling to see how little screen time the couple has had together lately, even though they’re a relatively newlywed couple with plenty of potential storylines between them.
Many TV shows blame tight budgets for decisions such as limiting character appearances, downplaying storylines that require special effects, and eliminating actors.
Perhaps budgetary concerns played a role in the ongoing reduction of Stellaride scenes in favor of focusing on new characters like Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) or Lizzie Novak ( Jocelyn Hughton).
If that’s the case, that’s fair enough.
But ultimately, Stellaride is the heart of Chicago Fire, and marginalizing that relationship would be a disservice to both their story and their characters.
What do you say, TV fanatics?
Have you been frustrated by the lack of Stellaride scenes lately, or are you happy that the show is focusing on other storylines?
Let’s chat in the comments!
Chicago Fire returns Wednesday, January 8 at 9/8c on NBC.
Watch Chicago Fire online
