If there’s one thing Chi-Hards can be sure of about the reliably electrifying action hit “Chicago Fire,” it’s the fact that even best-loved, recurring characters on the series can disappear in a flash, sometimes literally, at any moment. As a show depicting the high-risk heroism of first responders in a major urban setting, almost every episode plunges the cast into one harrowing incident after another, with the life-or-death stakes being as high as the adrenaline flow. In fact, during its 11 seasons and counting on NBC, this One Chicago series has proven it’s more than willing to wrench fan emotions to the breaking point with characters facing everything from grave, career-threatening injuries to dying, often suddenly and dramatically, in the line of duty.
And when it comes to dramatic exits, few can match the poignancy and impact of the death suffered by fan favorite and series’ regular Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov) in the Season 8 episode, “Sacred Ground.” The fact that he was killed unexpectedly due to injuries suffered in a violent explosion certainly ramped up the shock and sorrow for fans. But it’s Otis’ final words to his close friend and fellow firefighter Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) that left viewers in some serious pain. Hospitalized and on the verge of death, Otis tells Cruz, “Brother, I will be with you always.” Fans didn’t hold back when venting their feelings about how hard this scene hit home.
