NBC Quietly Writes Out Three More Chicago Fire Characters After Cruz’s Exit

Warning! This post contains spoilers from Chicago Fire season 15, episode 5, “Three Hundred.”After it was revealed that Chicago Fire would lose another original character, all eyes were on their upcoming exit. After 15 seasons, original Chicago Fire cast member Joe Miñoso has said goodbye to Cruz, and it was certainly a bittersweet moment. His exit in the show’s 300th episode was meaningful, especially after the previous season’s buildup made it seem like Chicago Fire was going to deliver a fate worse than death.

During the emotional turmoil, many didn’t stop to think about what his exit would mean for the story as a whole. After all, one character’s absence can change everything; relationships and recurring characters connected to the overall story suddenly have no place in the ongoing narrative. Chicago Fire season 15 didn’t just say goodbye to Cruz. Three other characters connected to his journey will no longer have a reason to appear.

Cruz isn’t simply leaving Firehouse 51. He’s leaving Chicago, which means Chloe, Javi, Otis, and the twins are leaving with him. These characters play a crucial role in the series’ overall message. How will Chicago Fire deal with their absence? Who will replace their function in the story?

Cruz’s Chicago Fire Exit Means Also Losing His Family

NBC

Chicago Fire is no longer a show just about the Firehouse 51 family — it never really has been. They have families outside their careers, too; the longer they stick around, the more they become part of the show’s DNA. Cruz’s family — Chloe, Javi, and young Otis — has been a solid part of the series for the last eight years. Chloe first arrived in Chicago Fire season 7. Since her introduction, Cruz has matured and gained a family that he loves dearly.

Now that Cruz is gone, audiences won’t get to see his family anymore. During the 300th hour of Chicago Fire, Cruz made it clear that the family was moving to Minnesota. Chloe’s parents are there to help with the twins, and the rehab center he needs is close to their house. He’ll still be involved, and Chloe can work remotely. There’s no easy way to bring any of the characters back, especially not without Cruz, as they have no real connection to the rest of the Firehouse 51 family.

Why Chicago Fire Is Writing Out Joe Cruz

Peter Gordon/NBC

During his nearly 15-season tenure, Cruz has grown from a somewhat directionless firefighter trying to support his brother into a family man and an inspiration to other characters. Out of all the original characters who could have been written out during Chicago Fire season 15, he’ll leave the biggest hole in the show. In an interview with TV Insider, Miñoso explained the reasoning behind his character’s exit:

“It was hard to hear at first, but at the same time, I really understood it. When you spend this much time, there are some firefighters that get maybe 20 years out of a career, and I’m five short of that. So I feel like I might as well have gone through the actual service… The fact that we got to tell such a well-rounded story for one individual, and as a Latino man, to be able to tell such a positive story about a Latino male and a Latino family and what we bring to this community, I think that as shocking as it was, I understood it and I’m just proud that we got to tell the stories we did.”

From a narrative perspective, Chicago Fire delivered a beautiful, meaningful exit. Cruz chose his family over his career. Though he’d love nothing more than to return to Squad, he finally saw the one thing staring him in the face: fear. His family was terrified that he would go back to work and the next call would be his last. He saw their disappointment; it almost looked like he was choosing strangers over them.

In the end, he realized that his family needed him far more than anyone else in Chicago. He’ll continue his rehab, motivated to walk again for Chloe and the children, rather than for his own personal goals. While Chicago Fire season 1-era Cruz would have balked at the idea of walking away and may have even been terrified about this next chapter, season 15-era Cruz is more certain of what life has in store for him and what he has to offer.

How Cruz’s Family Was Crucial To Chicago Fire’s Story

Losing Cruz’s family, in addition to the original character, is disappointing, especially for those who watch the show for more than the dangerous, adrenaline-fueled calls. Chloe offered another insight into what it is like to be a firefighter’s spouse. While Cindy and Trudy are in a similar position in their relationships with Herrmann and Mouch, Chloe is a younger wife just starting to build her family. This is a different and essential perspective.

Cindy was first introduced during a scary incident with Herrmann during Chicago Fire season 1. Despite the risks of Cruz’s job and Cindy’s own experiences, the show always depicted her as a supportive, understanding spouse. She knows that this is her husband’s passion, and she hasn’t asked him to leave for the family.

Trudy married Mouch because they’re further along in life, and she has her own dangerous job. Through their marriage, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD both showcase what it’s like to have two first responders in the house. Chloe’s experience is different; she even considered leaving Cruz when they were dating because she was afraid of losing him. Cruz was also a member of Squad 3 and often tackled more dangerous, intense situations, especially compared to Herrmann and Mouch. Cruz’s wife was the way to showcase that anxiety and fear, as she tried to hold it all back for the sake of everyone around her, reflecting people’s real-life experiences.

Javi and Otis brought their own arcs, especially Javi. Chicago Fire was able to show a successful adoption and offer a look at how it’s okay to want to know more about your birth family, but understand your adoptive family is still there for you. Otis provided an innocent, childlike view of the world, learning what it means to be a firefighter and showing what it’s like to grow up worrying that your dad may not make it home from work. In fact, “Three Hundred” included a moving moment for Otis when he asked why “somebody else’s daddy” couldn’t be part of Squad 3 instead.

Each of these three characters gave the show a different but no less important perspective, one Chicago Fire hasn’t explored much over the years. In a way, some of their potential was wasted because they had relatively little screen time and their personal lives weren’t always the focus, but they became a crucial part of Cruz’s story and the show’s world-building. Their relatable, emotional experiences are now missing.

New episodes of Chicago Fire season 15 air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and the next day on Peacock.

Release Date

October 10, 2012

Showrunner

Andrea Newman

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  Taylor Kinney

  Kelly Severide

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  David Eigenberg

  Christopher Herrmann