Jake Lockett casts doubts that we’ll see Carver again in Chicago Fire season 14
When the promo for Chicago Fire season 14, episode 11, “Frostbite Blue,” was released, fans were stunned by the unexpected return of Jake Lockett, and understandably so.
Ahead of the season 13 finale, it was revealed that Lockett would not be coming back as a series regular for season 14 and would be exiting the show. The finale then paved the way for Carver’s departure from Firehouse 51, revealing that Carver had taken a job in Denver in order to get a fresh start. It was not a decision made lightly, but one that Carver felt the need to make to prioritize his mental health.
With an exit storyline set, it became clear we likely would not see Carver appear in season 14 and that was indeed the case. In the season 14 premiere, we learned that Carver had since moved to Denver and had iced out Violet in an effort to give them both a clean break and move on. We thought that would be the last we’d see of Carver until his character popped up in the promo, teasing his return in episode 11.
While passing through Chicago, Carver linked up with Violet in hopes of learning more about her paramedic program and he enjoyed the chance to catch up with his former colleagues at 51. He was not as thrilled by the chemistry he picked up on between Violet and Vasquez, and he made that known before leaving town once more.
His return definitely failed to give fans any further closure on Carver’s exit, and sadly it doesn’t seem like there is a firm plan in place for Carver to appear in any additional episodes this season.
“I don’t know. I’m not inside those doors. I’m not in those offices. Who knows? I mean, I would love to come back and keep playing him,” Lockett told TV Insider when asked about whether fans might see him back again. “Like I said, it’s a pleasure. But as far as plans go, yeah, you’re talking to the wrong person.”
Of course, Lockett could just be playing coy and working to prevent any spoilers from leaking – his return in episode 11 was, after all, a well-kept secret – but there is also a very real possibility he danced around the question as there aren’t any plans in place. And honestly, we’re not sure we need another appearance this season.
Episode 11 ended with Violet and Vasquez finally giving in to the feelings that have been building between them, and fans deserve the chance to see where this relationship goes. While Carver might not have found the closure he wanted, his return clearly allowed Violet to close that door and open herself up to exploring a new relationship.
As much as Violet and Carver fans will hate to hear this, the couple are a perfect example of a couple that was never meant to be endgame. Yes, there were some amazing moments along the way, but there was also a lot of hardships, and the stars never really aligned. The timing was never right, and it was clear fate was not on their side.
With Lockett no longer a member of the core cast and Violet having gotten the closure she personally needed, there’s really no point in bringing Carver back this season for another guest spot. That’s not to say we don’t hope to see the character again, but the last thing we want is to see Carver showing up on Violet’s doorstep in the Chicago Fire season finale begging for another chance just as things are going good for Violet and Vasquez.
Chicago Fire will always keep us fans on our toes with surprise twists, character exits, and perhaps most importantly, character returns. The synopsis for season 14 episode 11 teased a surprise visitor dropping by Firehouse 51, but we didn’t find out the identity of this visitor until the episode’s trailer dropped. Consider us all shocked when we discovered it’s Sam Carver!
Carver’s comeback to Chicago Fire season 14 was confirmed in the preview that immediately followed episode 10, and dare we say his teased return was far more unexpected than anything that happened in the episode. Naturally, we didn’t see Carver coming back at all this season on the horizon, and now we’re wondering whether he’s returning for an extended arc or simply making one stop.
Based on the synopsis for season 14 episode 11, which is titled “Frostbite Blue,” and the episode trailer that has been released, Carver’s return seems to be reserved for only this one episode. He isn’t mentioned in future synopses following episode 11, and given the uniform he’s wearing in the teaser, he doesn’t seem inclined to make a permanent play for Firehouse 51.
As Carver walks into Firehouse 51 to greet Violet, he’s seen wearing a Denver Fire jacket. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but he’s definitely representing his new firehouse. Lockett departed the series after season 13, which wrote out Carver with a move to Denver. Carver’s departure happened mostly offscreen and occurred due to budget cuts for the series.
Lockett excitedly posted a video of the season 14 episode 11 preview on his Instagram and confirmed his unexpected return to Chicago Fire with fans. It didn’t take long for friends and fans to flood his comment section with an equal amount of excitement. Lockett responded to a number of comments, but the actor didn’t elaborate on details about his comeback.
Carver dropping back into Firehouse 51 couldn’t be more of a welcome surprise, but he will also be stirring the pot for his former flame. Even though Violet was heartbroken that Carver left Chicago for Denver, she eventually started to open herself back up and has gotten closer to Vasuez. With Carver back in the picture, even temporarily, there’s some tension brewing between the three.
It’s obviously unlikely that Carver could pose as a real threat to Violet’s budding relationship with Vasquez since he lives on the other side of the country. But coming back and butting heads with him will cause some friction. It’s unclear exactly what causes this friction — Does Carver think Vasquez isn’t good enough for Violet? Is he just jealous? — but it’s going to be juicy.
Carver’s back for at least one guest appearance , he probably still has feelings for Violet, and he’s wearing a Denver Fire jacket. That’s everything we know right now, but it’s more than we knew going into the season when we thought we would probably never see him again.
While Carver’s likely one-episode return isn’t as long as fans of the character would like, the fact that he’s back at all is a positive sign that the door could remain open in the future. We can always keep our fingers crossed for a longer arc with him in future episodes or seasons (same goes for Damon… we didn’t forget about him either!). Given the high turnaround rate in One Chicago, never say never.