In the grand scheme of things, Ritter and Carver are supporting characters to a massive ensemble. The main focus of Chicago Fire remains to be Taylor Kinney and Miranda Mayo’s co-worker and lovers, Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd, and aptly so, considering that they are the heart of the show. However, this doesn’t mean that Lockett and Kyri’s characters don’t have their own appeal. Over the years, they have had their personal arcs interlaced with the ongoings at Firehouse 51. Both have also developed close relationships with the rest of Dom Pascal’s squad.

Regardless of how Chicago Fire writes out Carver and Ritter, the fact that they are getting booted out is a big mistake, and season 13, episode 19, “Birds of Prey” proves that. In the outing, both characters get interesting storylines that have the potential to lead to fun and compelling narrative in the long run. For starters, Ritter has opened up his house to Lizzy Novak. Firehouse 51 hasn’t featured a substantial roommate plot since Otis Zvonecek, Joe Cruz, and Brett shared an apartment. Seeing Ritter and Lizzy develop a different relationship outside of work will make Chicago Fire more dynamic.

Ahead of losing Sam Carver and Darren Ritter, Chicago Fire season 13 writes effectively out another character in its penultimate episode.

Secondly, as Carver returns, he teams up with Violet Mikami for an unusual follow-up on a call. The pair has been a burgeoning couple for a while now, but the Chicago Fire season 12 finale cut their romance short after a misunderstanding. That push and pull continued in the new year, and it didn’t help that Carver was going through his own personal issues with alcohol. After a stint in rehab, it’s nice to see him and Violet reconnect, with their plot in “Birds of Prey” organically rebuilding their relationship until they admit their true feelings for each other.