Chicago Fired: Severide Wasn't Booted Alongside Chili For The Most Unfair Reason Possible

Boden was obviously right when he fired Chili. She was being unprofessional and didn't provide an explanation, she was given chances to redeem herself and she didn't take them.

She was on her second strike. After all, she straight-up admitted to being drunk while treating patients. No one was surprised when Chili got booted.

But this raises another question: how come getting high is better than getting drunk when it comes to such a critically important and hard job as working in a Fire Dep?

Obviously, it's not. But there are a few possible reasons why Severide was not fired alongside Chili, and they are still… Questionable.

Boden's golden boy

First off, Kelly Severide was Boden's golden boy. They had a history together, and Boden was always fine with giving Kelly a second chance or turning a blind eye to something.

Basically, he had a privilege that most of the others didn't.

No impact on work

Admittedly, even while high on drugs, Severide was still amazing at his job. It never exactly impacted either his performance or his colleagues, so, paired with his special relationship with Boden, it was effectively ignored.

Injury as a reason

Kelly started taking drugs to numb the pain after his injury. He didn't want to take time off, so he opted into using the meds instead.

Severide was not getting high because he was an addict, but because he wanted to keep doing his job.

He asked for help

The painkillers turned out to be less effective than Severide expected.

After realizing that the drugs don't cut it for him, Kelly admitted that he needed help, and so he received said help.

This was the right thing to do.

Actor's contract

A far less dramatic reason, but still: there might be no real explanation other than the fact that this is a show. Many things characters in Chicago Fire do would've gotten them kicked right out of the Department in real life in no time.

But Severide is one of the main characters, and Chili was not. This is the most likely reason, to be frank.

Because after all, no matter what angle you choose, Kelly Severide was high at work and he even asked Shay to steal drugs from the ambulance's supply for him.

So even though this is a series, he really should've gotten at least a severe punishment — or even Chicago Fired alongside Chili since their offense was basically the same.