The Most Wholesome Writing-Off on TV: Kara Killmer's Exit from Chicago Fire Was 'Perfect', the Actress Says

Summary

• Kara Killmer has left the Chicago Fire after nine seasons.
• Sylvie Brett had the most heartfelt and fulfilling sendoff possible.
• The Hollywood turmoil of 2023 proved beneficial for the character.

One Chicago is by far the biggest franchise on television today. With four shows, three of which are still running, it is beloved by millions of viewers in the U.S. and around the world. And Chicago Fire, which premiered in 2012, is arguably the most popular of the bunch.

It's been almost a week since the sixth episode of Season 12 of Chicago Fire aired, but fans of the show can't stop talking about it because it saw one of its most beloved characters make her exit from the franchise. Kara Killmer left One Chicago after ten years of playing Sylvie Brett in what may have been the best exit from a show in television history.

Sylvie's Journey on One Chicago

First and foremost, it was the return of Jesse Spencer's Matt Casey that made Killmer's exit ideal. Not only did it bring cheer to Chicago One fans who had missed the character since his departure at the end of Season 10 (his brief appearance in the Season 11 finale does not count), but Casey's return and marriage to Sylvie provided a fitting conclusion to the characters and their tumultuous love arc.

'She came to Chicago trying to start fresh and then ends up across the aisle from the love of her life, finally getting everything that she always wanted and having this patchwork family together. It's such a perfect ending for her. I can't think of anything better,' Kara Killmer described her character's exit from the show.

Sylvie and Matt have been one of Chicago Fire's most fan-favorite pairings since Season 7, when they became close after Gabby Dawson's move to Puerto Rico. But it took them two more seasons to develop and acknowledge their feelings for each other. However, when Matt moved to Oregon at the end of Season 10, their relationship withered, and Sylvie even tried dating another firefighter in Season 11, but nothing worked out for her. So it was a natural confluence of events when Casey returned in the season 11 finale and proposed to Killmer's character.

A Blessing in Disguise

According to Killmer, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023 had a positive effect on Sylvie's arc, giving the writers and actors plenty of time to figure out how to write the character out of the show in the most appropriate way.

'I'm so grateful that they brought me back for six episodes [this season] because you know how easy it would have been for them to just start the season with Violet [Mikami] in the locker room saying, "I just got off the phone with Sylvie and she's settled in Portland." So, I'm so grateful that they gave myself and the fans to really say goodbye to Sylvie.' Kara Killmer shared in an interview.

Well, we wish the actress a fascinating career. As for Chicago Fire season 12, episode 7 is scheduled to premiere on March 20.

Source: Variety.