There’s one “Chicago Fire” scene that remains the most emotional for fans of the series. Created by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, the show originally premiered on NBC back in 2012 and has remained a consistent and reliable performer for the network over the past nine years. Focusing on the personal and professional lives of a group of fictional firefighters operating in Chicago, the series boasts an ensemble cast that includes actors like Taylor Kinney, Jesse Spencer, Eamonn Walker, Christian Stolte, Joe Minoso, and Randy Flagler — all of whom have been with the series since its initial premiere.
While many of its lead actors have stayed the same, the series has also said its fair share of farewells. Indeed, plenty of “Chicago Fire” cast members have come and gone over the years, but there’s one departure, in particular, that brought tears to the eyes of many of the show’s fans and is still considered its most heartbreaking moment to date.
Chicago Fire fans find Otis’ death to be the most emotional
“Chicago Fire” focuses heavily on the emotional and physical toll that firefighters endure as a result of their job, and that means the series doesn’t shy away from depicting the risk they take every time they run into a burning building. As a result, a number of the show’s characters have died in the line of duty — much to the heartbreak of both the surviving characters and the viewers watching at home. But out of all of the show’s many tragic moments, the one death that fans were hit the hardest by was the passing of Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov). This was evident on a Reddit thread where many fans named the episode where he dies as the most heartbreaking, with one even writing that it was the “final straw” before they stopped watching.
Otis was part of the original “Chicago Fire” cast and remained a fan-favorite character during his time on the series. His tenure came to an end during the show’s Season 8 premiere when he died as a result of injuries sustained during a fire at a mattress factory. His death was an unexpected and gut-wrenching twist, especially given how long he had been part of the series. The character’s exit was just made all the more emotional as well when it was revealed that a memorial had been built in front of the firehouse in his honor. The subsequent scene with all the members of the firehouse gathering together and taking a knee in front of Otis’ memorial remains one of the most moving that “Chicago Fire” has ever produced.
