Chicago Fire: Bizarre Reason Why There Are So Many Adoption Arcs

Summary:

• There have been three separate adoption arcs in Chicago Fire so far, and it’s not a coincidence or mindless repetition.
• Adoption is the ultimate TV show cheat code that allows them to skip the “boring” parts and get ready-made characters immediately.
• Apart from that, Chicago Fire contributes to the awareness of this problem, giving more people a chance to consider adoption for themselves.

Chicago Fire has been running for a dozen years now, and you really don’t need to be the most observant person ever to have noticed some repetitive storylines. We’re not even talking about the Severide and Kidd drama this time, believe it or not: we’re referring to the adoption storylines. The first one or two times, it was representation — but after the third time, it clearly became a pattern.

And there’s actually a pretty funny reason why Chicago Fire loves adoption so much.

Chicago Fire’s Adoption Is a Drama Cheat Code

In a TV show about adults, there are bound to be quite a few families with kids. Characters who begin the series alone find a romantic partner, and some of them decide they want to become parents — and that’s lowkey good for the series. Children can add just as much drama to a show as grown-up characters.

Except it takes a really, really long time for someone’s biological child to grow up to the point where they become an actual character. The pregnancy, infancy, and young childhood stages take up a tremendous amount of time when the baby character is useless for the show but takes up screen time and budget virtually in vain.

Adoption is the greatest cheat code to bypass this problem, because it allows to entirely skip the first few years when a child is not a conscious actor and immediately add a ready-made TV character with their own storylines, relationships, and drama. So whenever the fourth adoption arc comes around, you’ll know exactly why it happened… Again.

Chicago Fire Shows Adoption Is a Viable Option

But of course, apart from strictly addressing TV show technicalities, there are more benefits to the numerous adoption arcs. Many people don’t ever consider adoption when they think about planning a family, and that’s quite sad, because the number of kids in foster care only increases over the years, and they all need loving parents.

By having several couples adopt in the series, Chicago Fire addresses this issue and shows that adoption is a viable option, and a great one, too. Having seen their favorite characters adopt kids and be happy with their newly-found families, perhaps more people will consider adoption for themselves — and give a few lucky kids new homes and the parents they deserve.