A thirdChicago Firecast member is on their way out the door, and their exit just reinforces the disappointment felt by the season 13 finale. The NBC procedural drama TV series is no stranger to cast departures over the course of its 14-season run. However, whenthree actors leave back-to-back-to-back,it’s difficult not to feel slighted byChicago Fire.
A month before theChicago Fireseason 13 finale, reports disclosed thatJake Lockett (who played Sam Carver) and Daniel Kyri (who played Darren Ritter) would leave the show.Their exits were a result of budget cuts, and many assumed they would have to bid adieu to more characters intheOne Chicagouniverse. The latest exit came about unexpectedly, though.
Jack Damon Won’t Return
According toSoaps.com, Michael Bradway will no longer be a part of theChicago Firecast. The actor, who played Jack Damon (Kelly Severide’s half-brother), plans to leave the series ahead of the upcoming season 14 premiere. However, it doesn’t appear that Bradway’s departure can be attributed to budget cuts from NBC —he has a scheduling conflict.
Bradway was cast to play Charlie Florek in Prime Video’s TV series adaptation of Carley Fortune’s popular romance bookEvery Summer After—Every Year After. As such,Chicago Fireis losing another important member of Firehouse 51ahead of season 14. Production ofEvery Year Afterhas already begun, meaning Bradway won’t be available to film the upcomingChicago Fireepisodes.
Damon Didn’t Have A Big Role In The Chicago Fire Season 13 Finale
The Last Episode Didn’t Focus On Severide’s Half-Brother
Bradway’s exit in and of itself is disappointing. But the fact that it comes after an underwhelming episode for hisChicago Firecharactermakes it all the more frustrating.Nothing remarkable happened to Damon in the NBC procedural drama’s season 13 finale,failing to set up his goodbye to Firehouse 51. Consequently, Damon’s fate in season 14 is unclear.
Dermot Mulroney
Dom Pascal
The writers might not have known that Bradway was leavingtheOne Chicagoshowat that point, but the lack of closure is aggravating nonetheless. Bradway won’t return to see Damon off. Therefore,Chicago Fireseason 14 will have to write the firefighter out of the series with him offscreen.The same goes for Carver and Ritter, given the events of the season 13 finale.
Like Damon,Ritter was hardly in theChicago Fireseason 13 finale.The episode never indicated that Ritter was leaving, and if someone didn’t hear about Kyri’s exit, they would believe that his character was returning for season 14. Meanwhile, Carver planned to move to Denver, but he declared his love for Violet Mikami and kissed her during the finale’s closing moments.
Chicago Fireshowrunner Andrea Newman previously indicated that season 14 would continue exploring Carver and Violet’s romance, despite Jake Lockett’s exit as a series regular. She toldNBC Insider, “…we may have [Lockett] for a bunch of [season 14], too, and I think there’s a lot left to figure out between [Violet and Carver].”
All in all,theChicago Fireseason 13 finaledid very little to prepare the audience for Carver, Ritter, and Damon’s exits. Given that they likely won’t return (except for Carver, who some speculate will have a recurring role in season 14), their departures must be explained in one-off comments.Carver, Ritter, and Damon are important characters,though, who deserve better.
How Chicago Fire Can Give Damon Closure Without Bradway
The Actor Won’t Be Available To Film Damon’s Goodbye
TheChicago Firewriters must make do with what they have and figure out a way to write Damon out of the show without Bradway. Perhapsthe worst thing they could do is kill Damon off.Severide doesn’t need that kind of heartbreak, especially with a kid on the way. It also doesn’t make sense tofire Damon from Firehouse 51for a second time.
Unfortunately, the one explanation that makes the most sense (but doesn’t really at all) is forDamon to transfer to another fire stationahead ofChicago Fireseason 14.Perhaps his will-they/won’t-they romance with Lizzie Novak ended poorly, causing Damon to want a change of scenery. Or he could just get a good job opportunity somewhere else.
But Bradway might be busy if Prime Video adaptsOne Golden Summer(Carley Fortune’s sequel toEvery Summer Afterthat focuses on Charlie, Bradway’s character) afterEvery Year Afterconcludes.
Whatever the case, it seems likethe NBC procedural drama plans on leaving the door open for Damon’s potential return.So, fans shouldn’t expect him to die. Instead, Damon will leave Firehouse 51 for one reason or another. However,Chicago Fireseason 14 should make it possible for him to come back, meaning closure isn’t a guarantee.
Bradway reprising his role as Damon in upcomingepisodes ofChicago Fireisn’t a guarantee, either. Yes, he could return. But Bradway might be busy if Prime Video adaptsOne Golden Summer(Carley Fortune’s sequel toEvery Summer Afterthat focuses on Charlie, Bradway’s character) afterEvery Year Afterconcludes. Only time will tell what happens to Damon inChicagoFire, though.
Chicago Fireseason 14 will premiere in the fall of 2025, returning to its usual timeslot — Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on NBC.
