TV - Movies
The Chicago Fire
Season That Fans
Agree Is Full Of
Filler Storylines
By SAM SKOPP
"Chicago Fire" has aired 215 episodes over the course of nearly a decade, which has naturally, given its sheer scale, caused fans to criticize some of its weaker plotlines. Season 8, for example, was criticized for being particularly unkind to Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), while another season was judged for its outsized inclusion of filler storylines.
Fans of “Chicago Fire” felt that Season 4 was filled with empty plotlines that were added just for the sake of drama. Particularly criticized was the demotion and replacement of Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), as well as many scenes involving Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) and Peter Mills’ (Charlie Barnett) mother.
"Chicago Fire" showrunner Matt Olmstead discussed Severide's demotion in an interview. "Speaking of conflict and drama, we were just looking at the mythology of the show and bringing in a potentially new character," Olmstead said, describing Severide's replacement, Dallas Patterson. The show's producers, then, likely intended this to be a dramatic shakeup, before seeing Patterson off and reinstating Severide.