Here’s the shocking news regarding Sam Carver’s fate on Chicago Fire:

Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) did appear in the Chicago Fire Season 13 finale, but his time as a full-time cast member on the show is effectively over.

Here’s the breakdown of what happened and why it’s “shocking” for fans:

• He was in the finale and had a big moment: The Season 13 finale, titled “It Had to End This Way,” saw Carver and Violet Mikami finally confess their love for each other and share a passionate kiss. This was a long-awaited development for fans who had been following their “will-they/won’t-they” storyline.
• The shocker: He decided to leave Chicago (mostly): Despite the romantic breakthrough, the “shocking news” came when Carver revealed that he had already applied for and accepted a transfer to the Denver Fire Department.His reasoning was that he felt he needed a fresh start and distance from Chicago to maintain his sobriety and personal growth.
• Uncertain Future: While he and Violet declared their love, his decision to leave Chicago creates a huge question mark for their relationship and his future on the show. The showrunner, Andrea Newman, has stated that while Carver may not be “full-time” next season, he might appear for “a bunch of it,” suggesting a recurring role is possible to resolve his storyline with Violet.
• Confirmed Departure: News had already broken weeks before the finale that Jake Lockett (Carver) and Daniel Kyri (Ritter) would be leaving “Chicago Fire” after Season 13. This made Carver’s emotional decision to leave even more impactful, as viewers knew it was leading to his departure.

The “shocking” aspect for fans is the bittersweet nature of his exit. Just as he and Violet seemed to finally find happiness, he made a decision that takes him away from Firehouse 51, leaving their future together in limbo and potentially setting up a “devastating tragedy” for Violet’s character in Season 14 if he doesn’t return or their relationship doesn’t work out long-distance.