Chicago Fire Season 14 Premiere Review: Explosive Returns, Emotional Punches, and One Very Bad First Day

Chicago Fire came in hot (literally and emotionally) with the Season 14 premiere, and I was not ready. Titled “Kicking Down Doors,” this episode had everything — heartbreak, new faces, sudden exits, and the kind of emotional whiplash only Firehouse 51 can deliver.

If you were hoping for a soft, feel-good return... bless your heart. Let’s break down what went down and what I loved (and screamed at) in this jam-packed opener.

Kidd and Severide Get Crushed by Grief

I’m just going to say it — this was brutal. We start the episode learning that Stella Kidd has lost the baby she had just found out about at the end of Season 13. There’s no dramatic reveal or dragged-out plotline. It’s quiet. It’s real. And it hit hard.

I loved how subtle yet gutting this was. Kidd tries to keep her head up and do her job, but you can tell she’s hanging on by a thread. And Severide… listen, I know he’s not a big talker, but the way he just stands by her, hurting and helpless, really got me. It was one of the rawest moments we’ve seen from them as a couple in a while.

Then of course, as if the universe is watching and just being extra cruel, Terry the social worker shows up asking if they can take in a teen being pulled from a group home. I couldn’t believe it. Talk about zero recovery time. But I loved that Firehouse 51 is still doubling down on family — even when it’s messy, painful, and way too soon.

Ritter’s Goodbye Is Already Starting

Darren Ritter is one of my favorite characters, so seeing him already set up to leave broke my heart. His ex, Dwayne, has been shot while on duty in New York, and Ritter immediately takes off to be with him.

I get it. Love is love. And it’s so Ritter to drop everything and run toward someone in pain. But I hated seeing this plotline kick off so fast — it’s like we didn’t even get to miss him before the goodbye started. If this really is the beginning of his exit, it’s going to hurt.

CHICAGO FIRE -- "Kicking Down Doors" Episode 1401 -- Pictured: (l-r) Brandon Larracuente as Sal Vasquez, Randy Flagler as Harold Capp, Daniel Kyri as Darren Ritter, Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd -- (Photo by: Peter Gordon/NBC)

New Guy Vasquez Is Already Testing My Patience

So we have a new firefighter: Sal Vasquez. And from his very first scene, I was already rolling my eyes. He ignores orders on Day One, storms into situations without backup, and is basically the human version of a fire hazard.

BUT... I’ll admit it: I kind of loved the chaos he brings. Not because he’s charming (he’s not there yet), but because he’s already shaking things up at 51. And when Kidd, who is barely holding it together, has to chew him out, I felt every ounce of her frustration. Also, let’s be real: he slaps his name on Damon’s locker without hesitation. That locker’s not even cold yet! The audacity. It’s bold, messy, and peak Chicago Fire.

Mouch Is a Lieutenant Now and I Don’t Know How to Feel

So Mouch is now a lieutenant, which… is wild. I love the guy, but this promotion feels like when your chill uncle suddenly becomes your boss. He and Herrmann awkwardly agree to share the office, and I’m not sure which part is funnier — the passive-aggressive furniture shuffle or the inevitable disaster this shared leadership will become.

I loved the humor here, though. It’s classic Firehouse 51 chaos with a clipboard energy, and I’m here for it.

Missing Faces, Missing Closure

Let’s talk about who’s not here. Sam Carver is just… gone. Barely mentioned. Meanwhile, Jack Damon is MIA and apparently already replaced by Vasquez, who wasted no time claiming his space.

I wish they gave us a little more closure here. As much as I love the high-stakes drama, I miss the slower moments when the show lets you feel those exits. But maybe there’s more coming.

A Rough Start in All the Right Ways

This premiere was heavy. I mean, heartbreak, personnel shifts, and a possible adoption storyline all in one episode? Chicago Fire is clearly not easing into Season 14.

But I honestly loved how emotionally rich it was. Kidd and Severide broke my heart, Ritter made me cry, Vasquez made me yell at my screen, and Mouch made me laugh out loud. In other words — it’s exactly what I want from this show.

If this episode is any indication, we’re in for one emotional rollercoaster this season. And I’m absolutely ready for it.

What did you think of the premiere? Are you loving the drama or already missing the old crew? Sound off like you’re yelling across the truck bay.

What did you think?

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• Loved it
• Hated it
• So/So