“Relief Cut” — the twelfth episode of Chicago Fire Season 13 — arrives with the emotional heft and poignant performances fans have come to expect. But for all its dramatic highs and heartfelt revelations, the episode treads ground that feels increasingly familiar. Yes, again, we’re diving into the world of adoption, and yes, it’s Stellaride’s turn.
While the storyline is grounded in genuine character development and a sweet emotional payoff, it also raises a big, burning question: How many times can this show return to the same well before it runs dry?
👨👩👧 A New Chapter for Stellaride — With a Familiar Plot Twist
This time, the adoption arc lands squarely on the shoulders of Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney). After seasons of trauma, long-distance stretches, and near-disasters, the couple finally seems ready to tackle the next step: parenthood.
Enter Stella’s cousin, Cole Williams (guest star Richard Blackmon), whose arrival in Chicago unearths more than just old family grudges. Over a drink with Severide at Molly’s, Cole reveals Stella’s deeply buried past — how she raised his younger brother while still a child herself, a result of her Aunt Laverne’s severe postpartum depression. That emotional labor derailed Stella’s early years, pushing her toward addiction and a disastrous first marriage.
This reveal doesn’t just explain Stella’s past — it reshapes her future. She doesn’t want to repeat her trauma. Instead, she wants to rewrite it — by adopting a child of her own. And Kelly? He’s all in.
It’s heartfelt, it’s well-acted… but it’s also a story we’ve heard before.
🔁 The Adoption Arc: Worn Out or Worthwhile?
Let’s face it — Chicago Fire has a long-standing love affair with adoption plotlines, and they don’t always end in happily-ever-afters. Remember the emotional rollercoaster that was Gabby Dawson (Monica Raymund) and Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) and their foster son, Louie?
Gabby discovered Louie after a devastating fire and instantly connected with him. She and Matt launched into the adoption process with fierce love and hope. But the heartbreak came swiftly — Louie’s biological father reemerged, legally reclaiming his son. Gabby made the agonizing choice to let him go, and the storyline quietly fizzled out. Fans never saw Louie again. The entire arc felt like an emotional cul-de-sac, leaving Gabby shattered and Matt emotionally distant. Their relationship never fully recovered.
While that story added texture and tragedy, it also set a precedent — one that Chicago Fire keeps revisiting: Adoption as a path to growth, trauma, or closure — but rarely as a sustained narrative arc.
🍼 Will Stellaride’s Story Break the Cycle?
To its credit, “Relief Cut” doesn’t portray adoption as an afterthought. Instead, it’s deeply tied to Stella’s identity, her past, and her evolution. This isn’t about filling a void. It’s about healing through giving. And unlike previous attempts (looking at you, Dawson and Casey), this arc may just have staying power — especially with Stellaride’s steady bond and the show’s renewed focus on long-term character building.
There’s potential here: the show could flip the script by focusing on older-child adoption, a relatively underexplored angle that could bring fresh challenges and unique emotional beats to Firehouse 51.
Still, a shadow of overuse looms. Viewers might find themselves thinking, “Again?” — even as they cheer on one of their favorite couples.
🔥 Final Verdict: A Bit of Déjà Vu With Heart
Chicago Fire has never shied away from emotionally charged material, and “Relief Cut” delivers. But while Stellaride’s adoption storyline is sincere and anchored in meaningful character growth, it risks blending into a patchwork of similar arcs from seasons past.
If Chicago Fire wants to keep this flame burning, it’ll need to inject something new — whether that’s through the specific challenges of adopting an older child, exploring the long-term impact on their marriage, or simply committing to making this storyline count.
For now, fans are watching — hopeful, invested, and maybe just a bit skeptical.
