Best Chicago Fire Episodes of All Time 2023: Season 1

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The Best Chicago Fire Episodes to Watch Now
There have been excellent Chicago Fire episodes over the show’s 11 seasons. But which ones stand out as the best Chicago Fire episodes? That can be a difficult question once you consider all the emotional and impactful moments — both happy and sad — that pulled on our heartstrings over the last decade.
Some of the best episodes of the successful NBC series have shown us major character development — and not just for the main cast. We’ve seen every character go through trials and tribulations, from wedding celebrations and childbirths to tear-jerking breakups and our least favorite: deaths.
Of course, the action-packed Chicago Fire finales are known for bringing some of the most intense scenes in primetime history (and Dick Wolf is no stranger to killing off characters just to prove how dangerous the job is). There are a few finales that made our list of best Chicago Fire episodes, but there are also some middle episodes that stand out for fans. Keep reading to see which episodes made our list!
Chicago Fire is available to stream on Peacock.
Season 8, Episode 1 “Sacred Ground”
We never want to say that the best moments involve death, but they are some of the most powerful episodes. One of the best Chicago Fire episodes is the Season 8 premiere, “Scared Ground,” which brought fans a heartbreaking shock. After seeing Otis get pulled from the burning building after the Season 7 finale, we hoped that he would be fine. That was until we learned that Otis didn’t make it. It was a tragic turn of events that left fans utterly heartbroken.
Season 7, Episode 22 “I’m Not Leaving You”
The cliffhanger at the end of the episode had fans talking all summer, but that isn’t the reason this storyline is one of our favorites. It’s all about Severide and Kidd getting closer again. When the two broke up, we thought that would be it. But then they worked on one of Benny Severide’s cold cases, showing just how awesome of a team they are. Stellaride fans were extremely happy to see their much-deserved reunion.
Season 7, Episode 7 “What Will Define You”
In the previous episode, Severide’s father, Benny Severide, tragically passed away. In Episode 7, fans had a chance to say goodbye to the character along with the rest of Firehouse 51. We’d already seen how Severide processed grief in the past, and fans were excited to see how he would process this one. On top of this, Kidd showed just how much she cared by going out on a goose chase for a missing medal that was with one of Benny’s ex-girlfriends.
Season 5, Episode 22 “My Miracle”
It’s a fact that Chicago Fire finales have always been intense. The only season that didn’t end abruptly on a major cliffhanger aired during the pandemic. But most finales leave us on the edge of our seats — and the Chicago Fire Season 5 finale was exactly that. Mouch had a heart attack and Severide and Herrmann were trapped inside a building that Boden had ordered everyone out of. Fans adored the high intensity of this episode, and it certainly had everyone talking throughout the summer as we awaited news in the Season 6 premiere.
Season 5, Episode 20 “Carry Me”
Some of the best Chicago Fire episodes have been emotional ones, especially when the characters come to terms with death and loss. “Carry Me” is one of those episodes when Severide refuses to accept Anna’s dire situation. Fans enjoyed watching Severide grow up throughout this season; he tried everything he could to save Anna. It was a woman in a building who refused to leave, that was also dealing with grief, who helped to get through to him.
Season 5, Episode 15 “Deathtrap”
In a crossover episode with Chicago P.D., fans got to see some of the hardest decisions that chiefs must make on the job. In this situation, it was Boden pulling his men out despite knowing there was a victim still inside. That victim was Chicago P.D.’s Alvin Olinsky’s daughter. This episode stands out as one of the best as it changed everything for Firehouse 51 and the Intelligence Unit.
Season 5, Episode 14 “Purgatory”
Season after season, there were threats that Firehouse 51 would break up. That’s exactly what happened in “Purgatory,” when Kidd and Brett were at a firehouse with a tyrannical leader and Otis shared stories of all of Firehouse 51’s heroic saves and claimed them as him own. Fans hated seeing the firehouse split up but also loved to see how they coped with the news and figured out a way to get the band back together. Also, who didn’t love Otis’ stories?
Season 4, Episode 20 “The Last One for Mom”
Throughout Chicago Fire Season 3, we got to see Severide and Detective Holloway together. This gave fans another side of Severide as we watched him connect with her son JJ. Fans loved seeing a softer side of the firefighter. This episode stands out as a heartbreaking moment: At the end, Severide must explain to JJ that his mom died in surgery after she was shot on her way to a trial.
Season 3, Episode 19 “I Am the Apocalypse”
Firehouse 51 has dealt with some crazy calls throughout its 11-season run. One of those that really stands out is from the backdoor pilot for Chicago Med. The firefighters are faced with a dangerous chemical leak. They need to quarantine the victims in fear that they are contagious, only to find out that one of the victims is a suicide bomber. Fans especially loved watching Firehouse 51 figure out how to de-escalate a situation. Plus, it was our first introduction into the lives of Will Halstead, April Sexton and Sharon Goodwin in Dick Wolf’s third spin-off.
Season 2, Episode 22 “Real Never Waits”
Of course, the intense cliffhanger that concludes Season 2, Episode 22, is something worth remembering, but that’s not the reason fans love this episode. This episode saw Mouch and Chicago P.D.’s Trudy meet for the first time. Who would have thought that love was possible for Mouch after all these years of trying? Chicago Fire certainly proves that you can find your forever love no matter what. Plus, who doesn’t adore Mouch and Trudy together?
Season 2, Episode 7 “No Regrets”
Up to this point, we knew little about Severide’s backstory. When he saw his father with a young woman, Katie, he immediately got suspicious. Well, this was the start of a beautiful relationship as Severide learned that Katie was his half-sister. Fans loved getting to learn more about the beloved firefighter’s sister, and it was so much fun watching Severide deal with the emotions of learning he wasn’t an only child.