The Chicago Fire season 13 fall finale drew a mixed reception from fans. Some felt there was too much going on, others felt there were not enough answers being given. Regardless of where you come down, you were probably disappointed that Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) was missing.
The character said to be in Michigan during the fall finale, though Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) assured the firehouse crew (and the viewers) that he would be back soon. Sure enough, when the promo for the winter finale was unveiled, there was Severide, right in the thick of the action. So why was he not around for the fall finale?
Severide is the latest character to go MIA
Well, Chicago Fire and the One Chicago franchise as a whole have been toying with the idea of having cast members appear in fewer episodes as a means of cost cutting. Deadline first reported on this in April 2023. The outlet claimed that Dick Wolf Productions would be trimming talent costs in an effort to ensure that shows remain profitable and on the air.
Deadline reporter Nellie Andreeva claimed that each of Chicago Fire's main cast members would negotiate their appearances in accordance with this alleged practice:
"The number of episodic fees per season each series regular is entitled according to their contract — are being renegotiated and are going down across the board."
There hasn't been much attention draw to it in 2024, but the sporadic absences of Fire stars does suggest that Dick Wolf Productions has put this cost cutting measure into play.
The show is allegedly cutting down on cast appearances
Cruz (Joe Minoso) and Herrmann (David Eigenberg) were absent from the season 13 episode "Birds of Prey." Herrmann was absent from the following episode as well. The absence was explained away in a couple of lines, but it was still notable.
It appears as though the fall finale marked Severide's turn to sit out an episode. This is speculative, of course, as none of the actors have openly acknowledged this new arrangement. There's also the fact that Taylor Kinney has missed large portions of the last two Fire seasons for personal reasons.
There's always a possibility that Kinney chose to miss the fall finale, but the fact that it has been a recurring pattern with different cast members throughout the season does lend credence to this fewer appearances rule.