Chicago Fire boss explains why Yuri Sardarov left the show

Chicago Fire has introduced a lot of polarizing characters over the years, but one character who fans could always agree on was Yuri Sardarov’s beloved firefighter Brian “Otis” Zvonecek. Otis was hands down was one of the purest and kindhearted characters ever to be introduced in the One Chicago franchise.

He was always going the extra mile in looking out for those in his 51 family, supporting them and rooting them on along the way. He was also among the most relatable members of the grew, what with his unabashed love of pop culture and struggles with feeling overlooked at times.

These reasons and so many countless others, are part of why his departure in the season 8 premiere left fans stunned. But what exactly set the stage for his departure from the show?

What happened to Otis on Chicago Fire?

In the Chicago Fire season 8 premiere, “Sacred Ground,” Otis suffered fatal injuries after a boiler exploded during a fire at a mattress factory. The 51 team wasn’t able to prevent the explosion from occurring, and the entire structure effectively collapsed as a result.

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In the episode, Cruz (Joe Minoso) discovered an unresponsive and massively burned Otis in the aftermath of the explosion. After safely pulled out of the mattress factor, Otis was rushed to the hospital where he succumbs to his injuries, but not before an emotional goodbye with his Cruz.

Why did Yuri Sardarov exit Chicago Fire?

Much like Lauren German’s departure, Yuri Sardarov’s departure from Chicago Fire was not driven by his desire to leave the show. Instead, his exit from the series was a result of a story-driven plot-line in which the writers decided to kill Otis off as a means of reminding the audience of the grave dangers that firefighters put themselves in.

When deciding to kill a character off as a means to show the real dangers that come with the job, the writers also looked for someone whose death would cause a ripple effect across the show due to their strong connections to multiple characters.

As showrunner Derek Haas revealed to TVLine after the season 8 premiere aired:

"“We just decided it would be Otis because he lives with Cruz and Brett, and he’s on Casey’s truck, and he’s in Boden’s house, and he’s best friends with Mouch, and owns a bar with Herrmann… There are a million feelings that everybody has from a guy who’s been on the show from almost the first scene.”"

Although disappointing to fans, it turns out that Sardarov was a true professional upon learning the show was going to write his character off the show, understanding that sometimes as writers you have to make difficult calls to kill beloved characters off.

"“I called Yuri and told him what we were going to do, and I’ve never had a call as professional and as gracious, and I think, in the back of my head, that I know why, which is that he’s a writer himself, and he understands that you, as a writer, have to surprise the audience and give them something that they weren’t expecting,” Haas revealed."

Will Yuri Sardarov ever return to Chicago Fire?

Because his character was killed off, the chances of seeing Yuri Sardarov return in a series regular or recurring role on Chicago Fire are virtually nonexistent. There’s a small possibility that he could return as Otis in a guest appearance, as it’s not uncommon for procedural shows to find ways to bring departed characters back from time to time.

Should Otis return, it’s likely that his return would be connected to some sort of flashback sequence or as part of a special episode that finds a more unique way to bring him back into the fold — such as how Grey’s Anatomy used dream sequences to bring back departed favorites during its seventeenth season. The thing is, Chicago Fire doesn’t really go in for flashbacks.

Sure, there was the one-off episode “Always” in season 3, but that happened right after the death of a major character (Leslie Shay), and felt like it was making a direct comment on her passing. The idea of digging into the flashback bag to give fans a bit more Otis, several years after he was last seen, reeks of cheap nostalgia. It’s possible, but it’s not very probable or wise.

For the latest Chicago Fire season 10 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.