Lieutenant Kelly Severide is Chicago Fire. He's also somewhat of a 'ladies man,' and it's no wonder... he is brave, strong, and edgy.
Here are 10 things we love about Kelly Severide: The well-loved firefighter is played by Taylor Kinney, and the character has many things viewers ire about him, including his back story.
He Is Dedicated
Kelly worked his way up the firefighter career rungs, so to speak. This was a result of his own hard work and the series stresses he is proud of the fact that he was able to progress in his career without the help of his father, Ben Severide.
He Is A Good Friend
It would seem that Kelly has men and women as friends, among them Matthew Casey and Leslie Shay. He has possibly learned to make friends easily through the brothers he acquired through his father, Ben Severide's marriage to his step-mother. Not only does he have friends from all walks of life, but he tends to remain loyal to them, often risking his life for them. He has a string of romantic, female liaisons but his friendship history shows that he is a good friend to have.
He Is Headstrong
While this could be a negative quality, it is also a positive one, in Kelly's case. An example of his innate stubborn nature is when he refuses to abide by doctor's instructions to have an operation on his arm, as a result of an injury. This feisty determination, used in the right way, is possibly the reason he has progressed so far in his career. This bull-headed ability to focus and hold his ground is essential when it comes to facing a fire.
He Is Determined To Rise Above His Past
Kelly's determination to become more than life tried to throw at him, is shown in many different ways. For example, by the way he tries to reconnect with family and re-establish relational ties with them.
After he meets up with his sister Katie Nolan, he is the only one who attends her professional chef graduation ceremony.
He Loves Deeply
Kelly has a great capacity to love deeply. This, in spite of his chequered past, including the remarriage of his father, which resulted in him 'inheriting' an unnamed number of brothers. When roommate Leslie Shay is in a building fire, he tries desperately to revive her. When this doesn't work, and she dies, he suffers deeply, showing a great capacity to love.
Viewers Can Relate To Him
Kelly is not an untouchable figure on the screen. He is very real and credible in his responses to different circumstances, and viewers can relate to his frailty and vulnerability. He definitely has his flaws, for example, when Leslie Shay's death pushes him back into a drinking habit. Love him or hate him, it's his quirky weaknesses which make him someone audiences can believe.
He Is Loyal
Despite their friendship having started off on a rough footing, Matthew Casey and Kelly Severide remain good friends.
Kelly shows his loyalty to Matthew when he refuses to spy on him. He tells Chief Pat Pridgen that he will not undertake a spying assignment targeted towards his close friend, justifying Matthew by saying that he is one of the finest firefighters he has ever worked with.
He Takes Risks
This is a great quality when managed the correct way. Kelly's risk-taking is highlighted in incidents, such as his impulsive marriage to a lady called Brittany in Los Vegas.
Sadly, and possibly predictable, the marriage doesn't last. However, it becomes an asset during fire scenes, when he is willing to risk his life during fire incidents. This is possibly why he is such an effective firefighter, and possibly also his downfall, as often his risk-taking surfaces as defiance, and for this reason, he is often overlooked for leadership positions.
He Defies The Odds
Time and time again, Kelly defies the odds. For example, his ability to triumph over circumstances and age, becoming the youngest firefighter to be initiated into his squad. At just 23 years of age, he is officially inaugurated into the Rescue Squad. Even his inauguration into the profession and his steadfastness in studying and applying for the job somehow defies the expectations one would have of a person who grew up under his trying life circumstances.
He's Handsome
Yes, looks aren't everything, but they do count in Kelly's favour. Viewers are able to have a special girly crush on the hunky firefighter, which is all in complete innocence, and which fuels the fire in their own hearts for their partner or spouse. His good looks and fireman persona are something audiences love him for.
