SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Chicago Fire Season 15, Episode 5.
Chicago Fire Season 15, Episode 5 is a good episode of the NBC series. Yet it’s also the show’s 300th episode. And up until the fourth act, “Three Hundred” doesn’t feel like a milestone episode. It’s satisfying, but not quite as big as the series’ two previous benchmark hours.
It makes sense to save Joe Cruz’s departure for the 300th episode, as it wouldn’t be a proper celebration without actor Joe Miñoso. And the Cruz storyline provides the big, emotional hook that the writers want for their special occasion. But in a perfect world, this would be a Joe Cruz-centric episode, giving both character and actor one last turn in the spotlight, and tying it all together with a whole-firehouse moment. “Three Hundred” only does one of those things. It’s hard for it to be a Cruz-led story because of the previous decision to injure Cruz, although it would’ve been fun to find a sneaky way to work around that, like Cruz helping Severide continue his arson investigation. And it doesn’t really feel like a special occasion; it feels like a normal episode of Chicago Fire, until Cruz gets to the moment that the audience has been dreading since Miñoso’s departure was announced months ago.
Let’s be clear: when Chicago Fire does get to that plot point, the show nails it. Miñoso and Taylor Kinney are heartbreaking as Cruz tells Severide that he’s not returning to Firehouse 51, and it’s really wonderful that the episode devotes time to how affected Severide is by that loss. Normally in episodes where a character exits, the focus is on how sad they are to be leaving, and there’s not as much exploration of anyone else. But Kinney is wonderful as Severide tells Cruz he needs him, and to show Severide vulnerable in a way that he isn’t often. It’s a shame that the subsequent scene between Severide and Stella Kidd isn’t longer, because it feels like there’s more that could’ve been said there. That could’ve been another really touching moment, as Stella supports her husband through something he probably never thought he’d face.
But perhaps that scene was cut for time to allow for the other critical goodbye: Cruz sharing some parting words with Otis at his memorial outside the firehouse. One Chicago fans everywhere were likely crying during that, and deservedly so. It’s a beautiful way to honor Cruz and Otis’s friendship, and it’s meaningful that the show makes a point of doing that, even though that relationship hasn’t been a part of Chicago Fire in years. On another show, the writers would only be focused on the relationships in front of them. Yet Cruz and Otis get their space with the perfect last words (for now): “I’ll be with you always, brother.”
That being said, if some fans are also having a bit of deja vu, that’s also understandable. Cruz’s exit is very similar to that of Matthew Casey. Both left during milestone episodes; Casey’s farewell was in “Two Hundred.” Both are moving to another state (Casey to Oregon, Cruz to Minnesota). Both are citing family as their primary reason for doing so (even if for Casey, it was Darden’s family). As thankful as viewers are that Cruz didn’t get killed off earlier this season, it’s hard not to wish that he had an exit storyline that was more distinct.
And as for the rest of “Three Hundred,” it doesn’t have the same narrative or emotional impact. There are no major developments beyond Cruz leaving. Severide is doing battle with Chief Tomlin (a returning Doug Savant) over McCaffrey, although part of that plays into Cruz’s departure. Another one of the candidates struggles with seeing a man light himself on fire. Violet Mikami goes on her first date with reporter Jacob. And it’s picture day at the firehouse. None of these plotlines are on that extra level that one would expect from a 300th episode. They’re all perfectly fine, but they could also be done in any other week—and that’s the issue.
“Three Hundred” isn’t particularly flawed in any way, except for those slightly repetitive elements of Cruz’s exit story. But One Chicago fans want and deserve for the 300th episode to be a major event, and this episode doesn’t create that level of energy until the fourth act. “One Hundred” and “Two Hundred” did it better. Hopefully Fire will get to “Four Hundred.”
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Photo Credit: Courtesy of NBC.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
