What Happened to Otis in Chicago Fire?

Chicago Fire , much like many other network television shows, has to evolve to remain relevant.

It's not that surprising, therefore, that the Chicago series has continued to expand, with the likes of Chicago Med and Chicago Fire both contributing to this procedural shared universe. Talents come and go, crossing between series and ultimately leaving for new opportunities. Network television can be a great creator of stars, with many going on to bigger and better things. However, sometimes performers must leave these shows for narrative reasons, with characters being removed to find a new balance within the ensemble or to raise the stakes.

The Chicago series, which has also been titled One Chicago, is set to return in the Fall of 2025, with all three installments bringing new narratives to fans. However, there will be lots of changes to digest, as audiences get to grips with the shifting arcs, returning characters, and those who are no longer a part of the universe. One figure, Otis, stood out to audiences from the get-go and has become a beloved figure with great spinoff potential. But, while fans may have grown used to seeing Otis popping up in various scenarios, when Fall comes around this time, he will be absent from One Chicago. The question is, why is Otis no longer a part of this franchise, and is there a chance that viewers will see him again?

Otis Was Established as a Key Character Across Multiple Shows

His Legend Lived Large

Otis is the nickname given to Brian Zvonecek due to his expertise in elevators. While it may be a silly moniker, it has stuck and is a small sign of the affection that both the crew within the Chicago One universe and the audience have for this hero. Otis first joined the Chicago One world back in 2012, marking one of actor Yuri Sardarov's first major roles. Debuting in Chicago Fire, he was given a significant position in the team and would rack up a total of 230 appearances across 8 seasons. He was a stalwart, and fans became used to seeing him contribute in some way.

But, much like other favorite characters in the Chicago One universe, Otis wouldn't be confined to just Chicago Fire. The character would make his debut in Chicago P.D. in 2014 and would star in 6 episodes of the show. He would also make a major cameo in Chicago Med, appearing in the 2018 episode "When To Let Go," in the fourth season as another significant crossover. Obviously, Otis proved to be a valuable commodity to the showrunners, a source of comic relief, and a useful character to bring in to solve a couple of different narrative problems. The performer, Sardarov, also demonstrated that he could be a trusted hand, used to deliver difficult material when needed.

Otis was a firefighter and drove Truck 81. He also demonstrated that he was willing to put his life on the line to ensure the safety of others, but spent his time also catering to Molly's as the co-owner. The bar was the heart and soul of the force and held a special place in Otis' heart. Indeed, Chicago Fire spent a lot of time building connections between Otis and the audience, ensuring that he was endearing enough for viewers to care. Otis was even upfront about his experiences as a firefighter, hosting a podcast that hoped to talk through some of the difficulties and challenges that the job brings.

Sure, Otis is occasionally immature, but every character has flaws, and this icon should be no different. As the show went on, there was an argument to be made that he had become somewhat stale, with the showrunners perhaps running out of ways to reinvent the character, to ensure that he continued to develop. With a universe like Chicago One, some characters aren't able to become consistent members of other teams because they are too entrenched in their own shows. As a firefighter, Otis wasn't about to join Chicago Med or Chicago P.D. permanently, and so a decision had to be made.

Otis Was Unfortunately Killed In the Line of Duty

The Moment Was Devastating For Long-Term Fans

In Season 8 of Chicago Fire, Episode 1, the showrunners decided to kick things off with a devastating twist. The episode, "Sacred Ground," was a particularly rough one, as it picked up where the Season 7 cliffhanger left off. Otis was seen battling a fire at a mattress factory, and it was unclear what his fate would be. Indeed, with a boiler exploding and ensuring that audiences didn't know who might live and who might die, it was unclear whether Otis himself would be able to get away from the blast in time. Sadly, things took a turn when Season 8 rolled around.

Season 8 revealed that Otis had sadly passed away from the inferno, leaving his team behind to carry on in his absence. The Season 7 finale, "I'm Not Leaving You," seemed to promise that something terrible was about to happen, but no one would have predicated it would escalate to this. Other colleagues were able to escape from the fire just in time, but because Otis was trapped, he was unable to leave quite as easily. For a moment it seemed that there may be some hope, considering he was able to get out a distress call. Fans thought that perhaps he would be rescued just in time.

But the injuries that Otis sustained, by the time the rest of the team arrived at his location, were too little, too late. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind his current partner, Lily. Otis' last words, in Russian, were a promise that he would always be with his friend, Joe, no matter what happened to him. It was a moving moment, and the team mourned the loss of Otis heavily. In fact, something significant was created in his memory, so that audiences and crew members alike could also honor his sacrifice.

The firefighters put together a memorial that was intended to symbolize Otis' bravery. But this wasn't the only loss that they had suffered in recent years. In fact, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. have all seen massive deaths shake the ensembles to their core, as showrunners look for ways to keep the material fresh and keep shocking audiences. Sadly, Otis was the latest in a long line of members to leave the show, and the challenge now is to find a new teammate who is able to replicate, surpass, or at least fill the void of what the character brought to the series.

Yuri Sardarov Was Ready to Move On

The Death Upped the Stakes

There were a couple of reasons as to why Otis had to die in Chicago Fire, for the series to continue onward with some momentum. Firstly, the showrunners wanted to indicate that the stakes were still very real. Usually, most of the key characters in the show are given plot armor, and audiences begin to become more relaxed, expecting their heroes to survive every ordeal. By killing off a character like Otis, whose death would have a genuine emotional impact on viewers due to the bonds he had built, a new tension is brought to the show. The phrase "no one is safe" is suddenly far more applicable.

Secondly, Season 7 had created such a big cliffhanger that there had to be an emotional payoff that felt satisfying. The show promised death and destruction and a twist that would change the landscape for good. Otis' death was the one that seemed to fit the bill, especially since he had been such a veteran of this universe for so long. Things don't feel the same without him, and so his absence means something. If the series went for a much less devastating outcome, then viewers wouldn't necessarily want to tune in after big cliffhangers in the future, because they would essentially serve as false promises.

While this decision was largely one for the showrunners, Yuri Sardarov was also ready to leave the series, and has taken no break in between jobs. In fact, Sardarov seems busier than ever and is pushing past the typecasting he may have gotten from Otis' portrayal to embrace some other character types. Since Chicago Fire, Sardarov has appeared in Daddy, Quad, The Rookie, FBI: International, and the short film The Invite. While his next project has yet to be announced, it's clear that he is looking to push past the procedural formula he's been working on for years by filling out his TV schedule with a couple of projects that detour from that path.

The sad truth is, Otis will not be returning to his original show, Chicago Fire, nor will he be appearing in Chicago P.D. or Chicago Med. Unless he is brought back for a flashback of some kind, or his death was never real and served as a cover-up for some strange reason, the character is well and truly gone. That is a great shame, and Chicago One is a little less bright because of it. But the Fall should introduce audiences to new characters that will hopefully be just as undeniable. Otis' departure, and the effect it has had, is a sign of just how well constructed the hero really was as a television protagonist that people cared about.