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'Chicago Fire' Season 8 Episode 19 is the best of the year and is a love letter to 'Chihards'

This week's episode culminates in Joe Cruz's wedding. But before that, Firehouse 51 is put in a situation that feels a lot like how most of us are feeling right now -locked in

Spoilers for 'Chicago Fire' Season 8 Episode 19 'Light Things Up'

A couple of weeks ago, 'Chihards' received the bad news that all three shows of the 'Chicago' franchise - 'Chicago Fire', 'Chicago Med', and 'Chicago PD' - will be having shortened seasons since production has been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. This week's episode is the second-last for each of the series and 'Chicago Fire' just delivered the best episode of the season, and perhaps of its eight-season long run.

Season 8 started with heartbreak for fans when Brian "Otis" Zvonecek was killed in a factory fire. Otis had been a part of the show since Season 1 and so, 'Chicago Fire' did not forget him. Otis may be physically absent, but his spirit lives on, especially so in this week's episode.

This week's episode culminates in Otis's best friend, fellow firefighter Joe Cruz's wedding. But before that, Firehouse 51 is put in a situation that feels a lot like how most of us are feeling right now - locked in. This is because just as the firehouse is called in on an emergency they are locked in by people who are protesting Firehouse 87 being closed, which led to an increase in response time, especially in black neighborhoods.

At first, the firefighters are enraged as they are supposed to be out there helping people. Kelly Severide is especially angry and he even comes to blows. But it's the young ones who save the day when Blake Gallo and Darren Ritter use the newly established social media account for Firehouse 51 to project a message of unity after the paramedic treats one of the protesters when he becomes unconscious. Gallo and Ritter had filmed firefighter Christopher Herrmann's emotional response to the protester's pleas to save his neighborhood.

In saving the protester, it was paramedic Emily Foster who shone when she performed a fasciectomy to relieve pressure from the man's arm and saved his life. Her actions even prompted Dr Will Halstead of 'Chicago Med' to tell her that she missed her calling.

In another goosebump-inducing set of scenes, Sylvie Brett and Matthew Casey spent more time together as he consoled her after her birth mother's death. In fact, we are sure if the episode was a little bit longer, we may have even gotten the chance to witness the first 'Brettsey' kiss.

In the end, however, it was Cruz's night. Though he suffered a head injury when the protesters came to blows with the firehouse, he made it down the aisle, albeit with stitches on his forehead. Earlier in the episode, we saw him in tears as he vented to Stella Kidd over missing Otis on this big day of his.

However, Cruz and Chloe exchanged rings and tied the knot leaving us all in happy tears. They even got married in a church that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which the pastor told them was "a shelter for survivors and a light of joy in the midst of tragedy."

Tonight's episode of 'Chicago Fire' was a love letter to fans. Incorporating multiple elements from previous episodes and seasons, 'Chihard' fans are sure to notice all the easter eggs. Let's be honest, this was an episode we needed at this time; it was hopeful and beautiful and makes us all the more sadder that we have just one episode of the season left.

'Chicago Fire' airs on Wednesday nights on NBC at 9/8c. The 20th and final episode of the shortened Season 8 will air next week, on April 15.