Chicago Fire's Biggest Problem? Too Much Romance, Not Enough Fire

Summary:

• Chicago Fire is a procedural television series set in the One Chicago universe on NBC.
• Recently, the show has been rocked by many cast changes and the departures of two fan-favorite characters, Sylvie Brett and Blake Gallo.
• Many viewers believe that these departures are not the main problem of the show, but the lack of action.

If there's one thing that's clear about Chicago Fire now, it's that the show will never be the same. While some viewers still cling to the image of the show they once knew, with so many cast changes and so much drama surrounding each and every exit, it feels like the show will either get a completely new perspective or slowly die out.

Of course, there are some shows on television that manage to stay somewhat relevant even after being shattered by such changes. One of the biggest examples is an almost two-decade-old Grey's Anatomy on ABC, which is now facing its biggest challenge yet to survive without the involvement of its main protagonist.

However, the relevance of this is very questionable, as many people still stick with the show out of habit and loyalty rather than excitement for the storyline or relationship with any of the characters.

Chicago Fire isn't exactly at that point yet, especially with Taylor Kinney's Kelly Severide returning for season 12. But it's moving in that direction, and faster than you might think. The question that remains unanswered: is there any way to stop this process, or is the series doomed to irrelevance?

Chicago Fire Fans Are Fed Up With Romance

While viewers were most receptive to Jesse Spencer's proposal to Kara Killmer's Sylvie Brett in the season 11 finale, it was clear from the beginning that the move was a way for a soft exit. When there is no way to save the cast from loss, giving the character the honor of a happy ending is the best thing the writers can do.

In other cases, however, viewers are pretty much done with romantic struggles.

The minute Chicago Fire allowed interpersonal relationships to upset the balance and take over the action portion of the show, many felt that the show lost its charm. While there are many great dramas that explore all angles of romance, love, and drama, there aren't nearly enough good ones that focus on the bravery of firefighting.

In a show called Chicago Fire, the audience expects to see the actual fire, not just a metaphorical one burning someone's heart. There needs to be action, there needs to be adrenaline, there needs to be mystery. Instead, the only mystery that really bothered viewers last season was the mystery of Taylor Kinney's departure.

In order to keep the show going, Chicago Fire needs to step up and do it soon. The show has already shown its strengths to the audience, now it's just the right time to go back to them.

If you are interested in seeing whether or not that happens for yourself, you can go ahead and tune in to NBC for the Chicago Fire season 12 premiere on January 17, 2024.