One Chicago is back, but if Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1, “Kicking Down Doors,” is any indication, this might be a rocky season for Firehouse 51.
The premiere dropped us into chaos almost immediately, with multiple characters gone, one new headache arriving, and another familiar face preparing to leave.
By the end of the hour, Sam Carver was a memory, Damon (Severide’s brother) was out, and Ritter had already packed his bags for New York.
This revolving door isn’t new to Chicago Fire, but it is exhausting.
Part of the show’s DNA has always been its sense of family, yet it’s hard to feel rooted when people are ushered in and out before the audience has time to care.
The most emotional blow came for Stella, who discovered she had already lost the baby she and Kelly were so excited to welcome.
The doctor reassured her that it was common, but Stella still felt the weight of sharing the news too soon. Kelly wouldn’t hear of it, reminding her they’re in everything together.
That moment between them worked because their bond has been forged over years of love and hardship.
Unfortunately, the writers didn’t even let fans sit with the joy of a pregnancy storyline before yanking it away. It feels manipulative more than meaningful, and frankly, unnecessary.
Then came the new arrival: Sal Vasquez.
From the moment he stepped in the door, he was painted as trouble. Overconfident, dismissive, and incapable of following orders, he drove like a maniac, talked back to Stella, and brushed off every attempt to reel him in.
Brandon Larracuente is a likable actor, and there’s a version of this character that could have been fun.
But when we just said goodbye to Carver — who himself never had time to fully settle into the house — it’s difficult to care about another new guy who’s clearly there to stir the pot.
Of course, the show didn’t stop there. Vasquez also came with a backstory: time at the police academy before switching to firefighting.
He handled himself like he’d been trained for bullets when 51 stumbled into a shootout, and then stitched up his own wound in secret.
This is not subtle foreshadowing. The implication is that Vasquez isn’t just reckless — he’s important. But why?
Why does the CFD brass insist he be placed at 51, and why is Pascal so invested in making it work? Pascal even told Stella this was Vasquez’s “last chance” in the department.
Under what circumstances does any of that matter to viewers when the show has made it clear that new blood rarely lasts? Mouch even commented on the fruitlessness of investing in newbies!
It doesn’t help that Novak and Vasquez are already being lined up for a potential romance.
Sure, their banter works fine, but what’s the point of investing in a relationship if the guy could be gone before we learn his favorite sandwich?
Chicago Fire has fallen into this trap before, and it makes the whole setup feel like busywork rather than genuine character building.
Meanwhile, Ritter’s exit was handled with about as much fanfare as a coffee run.
After talking about some vague texts from his ex in New York, Ritter got permission to leave mid-shift and will probably never look back.
It’s one thing to shuffle cast members, but it’s another to give them such thin goodbyes that it feels like they never mattered.
He may return for a more formal goodbye, but why bother? Ritter deserved better, and so did the fans.
Elsewhere, Herrmann and Mouch found themselves in one of the silliest subplots in recent memory, and given their usual silly storylines, that says a lot.
After Herrmann stepped down last season to give Mouch time to shine, he decided he should still keep the officer’s office — the very one that rightfully belonged to Mouch.
He even had the audacity to suggest they “time-share” it, as if that was a reasonable compromise. What kind of friend does that?
Herrmann has always been stubborn, but this crossed into selfish.
Mouch, of all people, deserves better than being guilted into surrendering what he earned. It’s a comedy beat that landed wrong, because instead of being funny, it made Herrmann look like a jerk.
And then there’s the political angle.
The episode introduced Annabeth Gish as the new mayor’s chief of staff, Annette Davis. Not the mayor — just the chief of staff.
It’s a strange choice, one that almost guarantees Davis will become the face of City Hall on this show.
Given Pascal’s recent loss of his wife, it’s hard not to assume this setup is an opportunity for a new love story.
It’s not the worst idea — Gish is always great — but why bother casting her if we’re not going to at least glimpse the new mayor? The whole thing feels like it was built backwards.
As for the actual political plot, the less said, the better.
Half of 9-1-1 calls supposedly go unanswered because of layoffs, meaning PD is drowning, and brownouts are rolling across the city. That’s a grim, and frankly depressing, foundation for the season.
Chicago Fire thrives when it balances high-stakes emergencies with the warmth of the firehouse family. Turning the show into a civics lesson on municipal budget cuts is a surefire way to alienate viewers.
And just when the hour couldn’t get more ill-timed, it ended with Stella and Kelly being asked if they’d consider fostering a teenager — but not the one we already got invested in. I can’t even.
Look — I love Stella and Kelly as much as anyone, but are we really supposed to buy that two people about to work longer hours with fewer resources should suddenly take in a child who’s already been through hell?
That’s not responsible parenting; that’s reckless writing.
The bottom line is that Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1 tried to do too much and stumbled at nearly every turn.
Between tired tropes, thin exits, heavy-handed politics, and one very silly office feud, the episode didn’t give fans much to cheer for.
I’ll always root for 51, but right now, I’m more worried about what doors this season is opening — and whether they’re worth kicking down at all.
But what about you?
Will you continue watching the show? I know you don’t want me to write angrily about it all season. Is there any fun left on Chicago Fire?
Drop a comment below to share your thoughts.
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Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1 Recap: Kicking Down Doors
Your recap for Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 1, “Kicking Down Doors,” is right here. There is a complementary review available, as well.
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Chicago Fire Season 14 Has the Chance to Show the Nastier Side of Budget Cuts
There’s a lot of talk about firefighters losing their jobs in Chicago Fire Seaosn 14, but there’s a much darker side of budget cuts.
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Chicago Fire Season 14 Spoilers: New Characters, Arcs, Departures, and More!
Chicago Fire returns soon, and in this article, we have all the information you need before the October 1 premiere date. Check it out.
The post Chicago Fire Season 14 Premiere Brings Old Tropes and New Frustrations appeared first on TV Fanatic.