Chicago Fire characters who probably won’t be back in season 12

Chicago Fire is in flux. The show has an established ensemble of characters, but the fate of many of them was left unresolved in the season 11 finale. The show has a long history of keeping fans in suspense, but there are at least four characters who may not be back to the 51 next year!

To say we’re anticipating the season 12 premiere is an understatement: the events of that episode will really serve to dictate the direction of the show moving forward. We could be looking at a very different firehouse if certain characters decide to leave for good, so let’s discuss who these characters are…

Will Brett return for Chicago Fire season 12?

Brett (Kara Killmer) took some big steps in her personal life in the season finale. She adopted a child and was proposed to by Casey (Jesse Spencer), in what would have to amount to one of the most dramatic days of her life. We didn’t get to find out her answer to the proposal, because of course we don’t, so we have speculate whether she says yes.

Our best guess is that she accepts Casey’s proposal. It always felt like these two were meant to be together, and turning down a proposal is a tough setback to come back from. Both have entered the parenting stage of their lives, so there’s a maturity and a common ground that they didn’t share previously. Of course, that means either Brett leaves the show or Casey comes back…

Will Casey return for Chicago Fire season 12?

These two characters are lumped together because Brett’s decision dictate what happens to Casey. The character lives in Oregon, so there are two possible outcomes of an engagement: either Brett moves with him to Oregon, or Casey moves back to Chicago. The thing is, Casey promised to be the guardian for the Darden boys through high school, and that’s a promise we think he will keep.

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Because Brett seems to be taking immense strides in her life over the past two seasons, we’re inclined to think that the show will write her off, and have her move to Oregon to live happily ever after. We’d hate to see her go, but the character does feel as though she’s rounding the corner on her arc.

Will Mouch return for Chicago Fire season 12?

God, we hope so. Mouch (Christian Stolte) has been part of Chicago Fire from the beginning, and he’s one of the characters that gives the show its distinct personality. Things looked grim for him in the finale, as he was bleeding out in a hospital bed and bordering on a flatline. The character is getting close to retirement age, but we really don’t think Fire would kill him off.

There’s a possibility that Mouch retires as a result of his injury, and maybe takes on a different role in the 51, but it’s hard to imagine him dead, especially with other characters seemingly being written off with happy endings.

Will Severide return for Chicago Fire season 12?

The biggest question mark. Severide’s return is dependent on Taylor Kinney, who announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the show last season. He hasn’t clarified his reason for leaving, or when he plans on returning, so the Chicago Fire writers are going to have to continue to come up with reasons his character is MIA until he decides.

The concern, of course, is that by prolonging Severide’s absence, the writers alienate fans. It has happened, to a lesser extent, with Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) on Chicago PD. We hope he either returns, or is written off in a way that preserves his character. If we had to predict right now, we say he comes back.

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