When it comes to network television, shows often succeed by hosting couples that fans fall in love with. But what sets the Chicago Fire apart is their friendship.
Don’t get me wrong, Chicago Fire has its fair share of hotshots: Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide (Stellaride). Sylvie Brett and Matt Casey (Brett West).
There’s also Trudy Platt and Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Plouch), and my personal favorite: the Herrmanns (Christopher and Cindy).
Romance is great, but it’s not everything
No one can deny the importance of a power couple on a hit TV show.
What would Grey’s Anatomy be without Meredith and Derek?
Can you imagine The Office without Jim and Pam, Parks and Recreation without Leslie and Ben?
Schitt’s Creek wouldn’t be nearly as sweet without David and Patrick. The same goes for Beth and Randall in This Is Us.
As much as we love a good ship that waits long after the finale to leave us with chills, Chicago Fire‘s platonic relationships also brought a healthy dose of warmth to the show.
The friendships in “Chicago Fire” remind us that love can come in many different forms.
Male friendships that break the mold
The 51-year-old firefighter and paramedic consider themselves more than just family.
In the fire station, people love each other and often risk their lives for each other, but there are also smaller groups and pairings that develop unbreakable bonds.
One of the best elements of Chicago Fire is its commitment to representing healthy masculinity.
Its friendship is one of the best ways to do this.
Take Mouch and Herman, for example.
For many men of their generation, especially those in typically “masculine” jobs like theirs, there is a social expectation to avoid showing too much emotion.
But Mouch and Herman ignore all unspoken rules and show that male friendship doesn’t have to be rough and aloof.
When one of the two is going through something, the other is there in whatever way his friend needs.
They provide each other with a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a warm hug when needed.
I grew up in Appalachia and come from a culture where most adult men only hug each other at funerals.
They are taught from a young age that keeping their emotions to themselves will make them strong and manly.
This perspective makes it all the more refreshing to see people like Mauch and Herman have a close friendship without the barriers of toxic expectations.
The Impact of Platonic Relationships in Chicago Fire
It’s not just about Mauch and Herman, although their relationship is one of my favorite things about Chicago Fire.
Other friendships on the show are (or have been) shining examples of how important it is to find your friends in life.
Looking back at the close relationships between Seyfried and Shay, Ritter and Violet, and Borden and Stella, it’s clear that gender was not a concern for the writers when it came to establishing platonic relationships.
The show highlights the fact that romance isn’t inevitable just because people of different genders are close, and it’s a show that takes that example seriously.
This concept also helps normalize LGBTQ+ relationships because it ignores the role that gender plays in whether or not a relationship can be platonic.
Chicago Fire does play with the concept of “work spouses,” but often, once a strong friendship is established, any semblance of romance is out of the question.
The relationship between Stella and Violet goes beyond colleagues and becomes more like a family.
Ritter is often seen leaning on them or offering them support, but he never falls victim to the “contrived gay best friend” trope that so many shows employ.
Herman and Ritter’s friendship feels like a father-son relationship at times and like college friends at other times.
When Chicago Fire’s Platonic Relationship Turned Tragic
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Cruz and Otis, whose relationship was so strongly platonic that fans are still thinking about them.
It’s been years since Otis died tragically in the Chicago Fire, but his influence on Cruz has never ceased.
The rest of the world may have changed, but every time Cruz looks at his son, whom he named after his late best friend, he’s reminded of Otis’ legacy.
After Shay died, she took a piece of Seyfried with her, and it took him years to feel whole again.
A long history of deep friendship
Over its impressive 13-season run, the characters of “Chicago Fire” expressed their platonic love for each other in countless ways.
They’ve celebrated weddings and newborns, mourned deaths in the family, supported each other through health scares, and faced impossible challenges together.
These guys have literally run into burning buildings for each other, and they continue to do so every week.
There’s always a romantic storyline, but through the ups and downs, the friendships on Chicago Fire remain, even when everything else is lost.
As the series progresses, I can only hope that it stays true to its core, valuing the intimacy of friendship and proving that sex is not a requirement for a strong relationship.
What is your favorite friendship in Chicago Fire history?
Do you prefer romantic storylines or friendship?
Let me know in the comments!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC.
Watch Chicago Fire online
