Chicago Fire's 300th Episode Absence Is An Aggravated Assault To Its Legacy

Published Nov 5, 2026, 10:16 AM EST Alexandria is a British-Canadian writer with a passion for network TV. She has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Aston University, Birmingham. After initially working as a software tester, she rekindled a passion for writing and has written for blogs and publications like Hidden Remote, Make a Living Writing, and The Daily Voice. She has interviewed various actors and showrunners, with her most memorably being Tony Shalhoub and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Warning! Spoilers ahead for Chicago Fire's 300th episode.The 300th episode of Chicago Fire was a profound and meaningful hour. Very few shows get the opportunity to reach such a milestone, and each time it happens, the episode needs to feel special. For this series, it wasn't just about marking the milestone, but also about giving one of Chicago Fire's original cast members the goodbye that they deserved. For the most part, it worked. Audiences got to see hope that Cruz (Joe Miñoso) would get his life back, and there were beautiful moments with his family and speaking to Otis at his memorial. These small elements helped to reconnect with the growth Cruz has had over the seasons, making it clear that the Chicago Fire season 15 premiere's fate that seemed worse than death was just the beginning of a whole new chapter. Yet, there was one glaring error when it came to the storyline, and it was all to do with a character who should have been there, one who could help to fix Chicago Fire's grim fate. It wouldn't have taken a lot to include one former original character, and it would have helped show that Chicago Fire season 15 is trying to get back on track after this major loss. The hour needed Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) not only to help Cruz realize the steps he needed to take, but also to start positive growth for Severide (Taylor Kinney) in his current role. Boden's Absence In Chicago Fire's 300th Episode Is A Major Misstep Boden has always been the heart and glue of Firehouse 51, so not having him appear in such a monumental episode was a glaring error. From the very first episode of the series, he has been the show's calm and reassuring voice. That first episode involved the death of a firefighter, and Boden was the one to help remind the family that they are all there for each other. Other commanders have barked orders, but Boden has the ability to empathize and command respect. He is willing to put himself at risk to protect his own house, serving as a guide to those beneath him. On top of that, he's a father figure to many of those who have needed someone to show them what it means to support and encourage. Losing Cruz is a huge blow to Firehouse 51, and it destabilizes so much, especially for Severide. In fact, Severide makes it clear to Cruz that he needs his friend by his side, and it's clear he's hurt that Cruz has chosen his family over his fire family. Boden could have offered a clear voice to help Severide handle this a little better, and even encourage Cruz to choose Chloe and the kids over him. It would have also made more sense for Cruz to turn to someone who was a father figure to him growing up at the firehouse. Audiences didn't get to see Cruz really talk his decision out until that very last scene with Severide, but he could have taken a trip to HQ to talk with Boden about putting family over the firehouse. After all, while Boden left to protect the integrity of the CFD, he also wanted to spend more time with his own family, so he understands that drive. Severide Needs A Mentor To Properly Transition To His New Firehouse 51 Role Right now, Severide is struggling with the transition from Squad 3's lieutenant to Firehouse 51's captain. He's drowning in paperwork, in a job that he didn't even really want. Chicago Fire season 15, episode 4 made it clear that Severide wanted to choose OFI because that's where his heart and passion lie, and he only pivoted back to Firehouse 51 due to Cruz's injury, and it was a glaring Chicago Fire mistake. Now with the top brass breathing down his neck, he's feeling the strain even more. He needs someone to help mentor him in this position. Had Chief Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) not been written out, it could have been him, but when looking at all the chiefs before, Boden is perfect. He had already seen the type of firefighter Severide used to be, and Boden helped shape him into the lieutenant that he became. In fact, whenever he was away and Casey (Jesse Spencer) left, Boden always chose Severide as his proxy. Arguably, Boden knew that Severide would struggle with this position and the responsibilities that came with it. Severide had always struggled with the paperwork side of things, and then when Boden left, he wanted Herrmann (David Eigelberg) to move up the ranks to become the new Battalion Chief of Firehouse 51. So, out of everyone who should have come back during the 300th hour to help Severide deal with Cruz's decision to walk away, it should have been Boden. Why Chicago Fire Can't Bring Back Eamonn Walker Frequently While many character exits have been due to NBC's budget issues, that wasn't the case for Boden. Walker made the choice to leave the series, wanting to step back as a series regular after 12 seasons, and an entire storyline was developed to allow for that. Boden is now the Deputy Fire Commissioner, making the sacrifice to move into the political side of firefighting to prevent corrupt leadership at the top. The position allows for Boden to return, but it's much trickier when it comes to the actor. With Walker no longer being a series regular, he's not held under contract to return for specific episodes, and the creative team needs to work around his schedule. Then there's the fact that a genuine storyline is needed to justify bringing him back, such as during Chicago Fire season 13, when he helped Firehouse 51 get to the bottom of why a firefighter was injured on a call. That being said, if there was any episode they should have pushed for Walker to come back to, it was the 300th episode. This was a milestone in itself, but it also marked the end of an OG character's journey. With the arc of Chicago Fire season 15, episode 5, there was plenty of justification for Boden to step back on the screen, even if it was for a couple of scenes toward the end. Release Date October 10, 2012 Network NBC Showrunner Andrea Newman Cast Taylor Kinney Kelly Severide David Eigenberg Christopher Herrmann Chicago Fire follows the lives of firefighters, rescue squad members, and paramedics of Firehouse 51 in Chicago as they face professional and personal challenges, showcasing their dedication, teamwork, and resilience.