When Chicago Fire signed off the air with its fall finale, the show once again left Severide in a life-or-death situation.
Across the episode, Severide and Van Meter worked together to investigate a suspicious fire they eventually deemed to be arson with the target being a school principal. Upon discovering that the principal was the target of the fire, the pair went to visit him at his apartment to notify the man and see what information he could provide to help them catch the arsonist.
As the trio discussed things in the principal’s top-floor apartment, a mysterious figure entered the lobby down below and started a fire before fleeing. The fall finale ended with the fire racing up the stairway leaving Severide, Van Meter, and the principal with no way out. The promo then teased the trio racing to find a way out of the building as the fire closed in around them, leading Severide and Van Meter to fashion a makeshift rope using sheets so that they could escape through the window.
The promo ended as the principal began his descent out the window as Severide and Van Meter were both choking from the smoke inside the apartment as the fire closed in on them.
The cliffhanger left fans to worry that Severide and Van Meter might not make it out of the fire, but it seems there isn’t anything to worry about – at least when it comes to Severide’s fate.
Chicago Fire producer hints Severide won’t die in the season 14 winter premire
While the Chicago Fire season 14 fall finale left fans fearing the worst, it seems Severide fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Speaking with TVLine, Chicago Fire executive producer/director Reza Tabrizi spoke about Severide becoming a victim of arson and becoming trapped in the finale and Kidd not being there for Severide following the events of the finale. While Tabrizi didn’t fully elaborate on the fallout of the finale, he did note that while Stellaride will be faced with new dynamics and challenges, their relationship will endure.
It was a simple reveal, but one that all but confirms our suspicions that Severide would make it out of the fire. After all, if Severide died in the winter premiere, there would be no more Stellaride, so how could their relationship endure if one half of the couple was no longer alive?
It’s not exactly surprising that the show won’t kill Severide off in the winter premiere, but we are still worried about Van Meter.
Could one of the challenges the couple will face be the fact that Stella will not be able to be there in Chicago with Severide to support him after the death of Van Meter, a man who has long been a mentor to Severide? We’ve speculated that Van Meter might die in the fire in an act of self-sacrifice to allow Severide to escape the fire, and this is a storyline that would severely impact Severide.
That’s not to say we’re hoping the show kills Van Meter, as we definitely don’t want that to happen. We’re just worried that it’s a real possibility which could come to fruition when season 14 resumes on January 7.