NBC Changes Chicago Fire's Beloved Format At The Absolute Worst Time

Published Oct 29, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

Laura Hurley has been writing about the entertainment industry for more than twelve years, after a decade as a content producer and editor at CinemaBlend after writing for WhatCulture and Examiner. Attending events like SCAD TVfest and San Diego Comic-Con over the course of her career, she has been immersed in the world of network, streaming, and cable TV. 

Warning: this article contains spoilers for Chicago Fire season 15, episode 4, called "The Perfect Arson."The days are counting down until Chicago Fire reaches a record that few other network TV shows have ever hit: the 300th episode. Since it's also the last episode for a longtime series regular, and the 200th episode set a precedent for game-changing twists, fans may have expected "The Perfect Arson" to bring out all the stops for the milestone. Instead, in a risky move for the 299th episode, NBC changed the format that has fueled Fire for 15 seasons.

The 300th episode in NBC's 2026 fall TV schedule will be the second milestone in Chicago Fire history to say goodbye to a main character. It will be Joe Miñoso's swan song as Joe Cruz, following the firefighter's grievous injury in the season 15 premiere. The 200th episode in 2021 was Jesse Spencer's last as a series regular, though he returned as a guest star. It remains to be seen whether Cruz's ending will also leave the door open for his return. "The Perfect Arson" didn't set up how it'll happen due to the format change.

Out of Chicago Fire's large ensemble, only two regular cast members appeared in the 299th episode: Taylor Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo. Severide and Kidd's time off was interrupted when the FBI recruited Severide to help with a high-profile arson case, and Kidd pitched in to help her husband try to close the federal case. It was a great episode for those two characters, but it was an oddly timed departure from the procedural format that has worked for Chicago Fire for so longin Dick Wolf's TV universe.

Severide And Kidd Got All The Spotlight

Peter Gordon/NBC

Even though the preview for "The Perfect Arson" was focused on Severide investigating an arson, Chicago Fire promos often highlight the A plot while still delivering B and C plots in the actual episode for the rest of the characters. In season 15, episode 4, the entire plot was focused on the investigation, with Kidd joining Severide on a case rather than working with her crew on Truck 81 at Firehouse 51.

In fact, the only way "The Perfect Arson" included the firefighters at 51 was by checking in with a third-shift first responder, and the only familiar face besides Severide and Kidd was Van Meter. Tom Hopper's recurring character is now an instructor for the CFD, and his expertise was key to guiding Severide toward the guilty party.

If this were a one-off case, the spotlight on only Severide and Kidd among the series regulars would feel like the result of Chicago Fire's budget cuts that affected the episode count for the main cast members. The case wasn't entirely closed by the time the final credits rolled, however, and the duo were the only ones who suspected the real arsonist was still at large. Van Meter was almost convinced; assuming Fire picks up this plot for Stellaride later in season 15, he'll likely have a part to play.

The format change actually resulted in a great episode for Taylor Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo, and a show that has used the same formula for nearly 300 episodes does well to freshen up its approach from time to time. "The Perfect Arson" may go down as the best episode of season 15 so far, unless fans count the rest of the Firehouse 51 characters as their favorites. The timing is hard to ignore.

How The 300th Episode Will Be Different

Peter Gordon/NBC

With the 300th episode, Chicago Fire is following a trend that started nearly ten years ago. Just as the 100th was titled "One Hundred" in 2016 and the 200th was titled "Two Hundred," the upcoming milestone is called "Three Hundred," and the drama will be back to business as usual. NBC's logline for the episode reveals:

In the milestone 300th episode of the series, Firehouse 51 responds to a complex hostage situation. Cruz continues to make strides. Chief Tomlin gives Severide an impossible task.

Clearly, the full firehouse will have roles to play in the 300th episode. That's not to say Severide and Kidd will be in the background, but they'll at least share the spotlight. In fact, the preview focuses on Severide, Kidd, and Cruz. Notably, there's a shot of Cruz standing up with a cane, surrounded by the rest of the Firehouse 51 first responders in dress uniform. All hands will actually be on deck for "Three Hundred."

The 300th episode of Chicago Fire will air on Wednesday, November 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, between Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. as usual. For now, fans can only speculate whether Cruz's departure will be the episode's only game-changing twist. This will be a big week for NBC's Dick Wolf TV shows, since Law & Order: SVU will presumably air its first look at the 600th episode, featuring Christopher Meloni.

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  Taylor Kinney

  Kelly Severide

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  David Eigenberg

  Christopher Herrmann