MEAWW.COM / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

'Chicago Fire' Season 8 midseason finale's emotional Crotis scene made fans thank writers for being so 'vulnerable'

As the 'fire' team puts things in boxes, Cruz comes across an old drone of Otis' and suddenly it is his mission to make the drone fly again.

This article contains spoilers for season 8, episode 9.

Chicago Fire's season 8 episode 9 was the midseason finale as the NBC procedural takes off for its winter break, to return all the way in January 2020. And like most goodbyes, the episode was bittersweet, earning more than just gasps of shock from ardent fans and viewers, as we got to see an emotional reunion of sorts between Cruz and Otis. Of course, Otis is still dead after he was unfairly taken away from us at the beginning of this season, but he lives on through his best friend and roommate Cruz, who brings back plenty of Otis memories on this episode as he tries fixing one of Otis’s old toys.

As the 'fire' team puts things in boxes, Cruz comes across an old drone of Otis' and suddenly it is his mission to make the drone fly again. Despite Gallo suggesting Cruz get anther drone as this one is beyond repair, and even Ritter suggesting Cruz reach out to the manufacturer for help, the man refuses to give in. The reason behind it is explained later when in a fit of frustration Cruz comes clean about how he himself was the one who broke the drone and could never admit it to Otis. He had promised Otis that he would fix the drone but Otis didn't live long enough to see that promise materialize - exactly why Cruz wants to deliver on the promise he had made to his best friend in the wake of his death. 

It is only later that things are laden with a silver lining, as Gallo manages to plug the drone into the computer through a diagnostic kit, hoping that would fix the problem even when new propellers failed at it. But as they plug the drone into the computer, Cruz comes across a video from the drone's maiden voyage that shows him and Otis cheering for the toy to take off for the first time ever. The two are happy, enthusiastic and brimming with cheer and thrill as they watch the equipment fly and Otis christens the toy as 'Crotis', claiming that their best friend magic will help the drone fly forever. As expected, the clip makes Cruz break down into a faint smile and ample sobbing in real life, as the video shows him shout the words 'Crotis forever!'

The extremely emotional scene was a nod to the brilliant Otis, but also managed to tear up fans in the process. Taking to Twitter, a fan claimed "Was not ready for all these ship tears.... CROTIS FOREVER!" Another fan wrote: "Fall finale that ripped my heart out. #Crotis" Paying due credits to the writer, a third fan shared: "The thing I love about writers is how their own lives can get embedded in their stories which makes it so real and so relatable. I respect your craft @derekhaas (writer of the show) Thank you for being vulnerable & open & sharing that story through #Crotis with us."

'Chicago Fire' returns from its mid-season break on January 8, 2020, only on NBC.