Is Chicago Fire going to kill off Severide in season 12?

Severide (Taylor Kinney). You know the situation if you’ve been keeping up with Chicago Fire: the character left the 51 abruptly to enter an arson investigation training program, and didn’t give any info on when he would be back.

The uncertainty is a reflection of real-life circumstances. Kinney is taking a leave of absence from the show and has similarly been unclear on when he plans to return. This has opened up all sorts of theories as to whether the character will pop up in the season 11 finale, or may even take up a job somewhere other than the 51.

Could the character also be killed off? Let’s discuss.

Did Kelly Severide die on Chicago Fire?

Killing off characters is a bold move, but it has proven to be an effective one in the past. The deaths of Fire characters like Shay (Lauren German) and Otis (Yuri Sardarov) are among the most memorable moments in the entire show, and help to enshrine them as beloved figures within the larger mythology of the franchise.

As Chicago PD has shown, leaving a character alive doesn’t always lead to crowd-pleasing arcs. The recent departure of Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) has led several fans to turn on him due to the offscreen transformation he’s undergone. The formerly thoughtful officer and husband how refuses to speak to his wife or give her updates on when he plans on returning to the U.S.

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This is, admittedly, a unique example. Severide dying would be a devastating blow to the show, and Kinney has not said anything that suggests he would want to leave for good. If the writers have a chance to bring him back, even in a limited capacity, it would be smarter to keep him alive. Especially given that he’s married to another central character, Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo).

We’re pretty confident that Severide will make it out alive, regardless of whether he rejoins the cast full time or decides not to return. He’s too valuable an asset to the Chicago Fire brand, and if he were to return for a cameo, like Casey (Jesse Spencer) did recently, it would be a major ratings draw.

What do you hope to see in the Chicago Fire season 11 premiere? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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