Reaching 300 episodes is a rare feat that few shows are able to achieve, so when a show such as Chicago Fire reaches the milestone, it's a reason for celebration.
Heading into the 300th episode of Chicago Fire, it was expected that the episode would be a bittersweet celebration as the episode marked the end of Joe Minoso’s time on the show. Minoso has been a core part of the show’s DNA from the very first episode, and we knew saying goodbye to his character, Joe Cruz, would be difficult. After all, how do you wrap up the journey of a character who has been such an integral part of a show within one hour of television—especially one as massive as a show’s 300th?
The Chicago Fire season 15 premiere began to lay the foundation for Minoso’s departure with Cruz being severely injured on the job and facing a long recovery. In the episodes since, we’ve seen Cruz experience the highs and lows that come as part of the recovery process, and the show has done a beautiful job of capturing these moments. Our only complaint has been that Chicago Fire chose to sideline Cruz in two of his final episodes, as we wanted nothing more than to soak up every last moment we could get with the character before his exit.
His exit finally comes in the 300th episode, and I must tip my hat to the writers for crafting a beautiful sendoff for Minoso. While the episode juggles other ongoing storylines, it puts a real focus on Cruz and his family in a way that is sure to pull at the heartstrings of longtime viewers.
Minoso delivers a standout performance, which will bring fans to tears on more than one occasion with an ending that I watched through tear-filled eyes. Cruz’s final monologue comes in an expected way, which was executed to perfection, celebrating Cruz and one of his most impactful relationships on the show in a scene that fans won’t soon forget. To say anything more would risk robbing fans of the opportunity to experience it for themselves.
There are so many layers to Cruz’s final episode that helped deliver everything all we hoped for. There are emotional goodbyes, including a really touching scene involving Cruz and those from Firehouse 51 who were alongside him from the very beginning; we get the chance to see Chloe and Cruz welcome the twins and see some sweet Cruz family moments; and there is a really moving scene between Cruz and Severide that was a standout of the episode.
As a sendoff to Cruz, the 300th episode hit all the right notes and found a way to honor the legacy of a beloved character. Where the episode falters is in its celebration of the show’s legacy at large.
It’s clear in watching the episode that the writers did not want to take away from Minoso’s final episode, which is more than understandable. However, reaching 300 episodes is a major milestone for a show, and the celebration of that legacy fell flat. There were no surprise cameos from past characters who just happened to be dropping by. No names were dropped in conversation to give winks to characters we said goodbye to along the way. There was no nod to past calls 51 has responded to or callbacks to major storylines from the past. Instead, it simply felt like any ordinary episode.
Given the rich legacy of the show, it’s a shame the writers didn’t take the chance to celebrate reaching 300 episodes with more grand spectacle.
There’s no denying that Chicago Fire gave Cruz the farewell he deserved, and Minoso leaves the show on an incredibly high note. But a 300th episode should be about more than saying goodbye to one character, even one as beloved as Cruz. It should be a celebration of everything that has made this show special, and that's where this milestone episode ultimately fell short.
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