It’s been a season of ups and downs on Chicago Fire, with many cast shakeups taking place throughout the season. Some of these shakeups have been more permanent than others, with actors taking a step back from the show, leading to their departure from the series, while many others have been tied to the cost-cutting measures that simply keep series regulars from appearing in every episode.
Due to the fact that we have seen a number of high-profile cast exits in season 14, most recently with the departure of Dermot Mulroney, fans understandably grow concerned whenever a storyline is introduced that suggests a character could be leaving. The latest example of this occurrence came in the show’s April 1 episode, which ended with Cruz preparing to leave town.
It was a moment that left fans to wonder whether yet another cast change is coming. Thankfully, we can confirm Joe Minoso is not exiting the show; however, fans will be seeing Cruz leave town as part of a storyline that will see the character missing at least one upcoming episode.
Joe Minoso is likely to miss Chicago Fire season 14 episode 17
While NBC has not yet confirmed whether Chicago Fire season 14, episode 17 will be without any key members of the cast, it’s looking likely that Joe Minoso will not be appearing in the episode. But fear not, Cruz is not leaving the show; rather, we’re likely about to see Cruz taking a temporary leave as part of a storyline introduced in the sixteenth episode of the season.
In episode 16, Cruz and Chloe grew concerned that the news they were expecting another baby was making Javi question his place in their family after discovering emails to their old social worker inquiring about whether he had found any of Javi’s relatives in Honduras. Cruz would come to discover that the emails were sent weeks before Chloe had found out she was pregnant and weren’t the result of Javi wanting to leave but simply hoping to find answers about where he comes from.
After speaking with Severide and Kidd’s adoption agent Terry, Cruz learned that it’s not uncommon for kids who have been adopted to want to know more about their roots as they try to figure out who they are. For a kid like Javi, figuring out who he is starts with understanding where he came from, hence why he was hoping to reconnect with family from the town where he was born.
Hoping to help Javi get the answers he’s been searching for, Cruz booked a trip for himself and Javi to travel to Honduras to explore the town where he was born so that Javi could learn more about where he’s from.
With Cruz set to take Javi on this trip to Honduras, he’ll be taking some time off from the CFD and that storyline is going to result in Cruz not appearing in at least one episode of the show. Given that Cruz does not appear in any of the promotional materials for episode 17, it seems that Cruz and Javi will take this trip to Honduras in the next episode, and therefore fans will not be seeing Cruz in the episode.
Cruz should then return as early as episode 18 unless the writers look to use this storyline to sideline Cruz for more than an episode, which seems unlikely given we’re in the home stretch of the season with just a few episodes left before the season finale on May 13.