Now that the dust has settled, let’s determine which episode topped the list.
One Chicago went big in 2025. It had six years since the franchise brought all three of its titles together for a singular narrative event, but “In the Trenches” proved to be worth the wait. It was a delight to see the characters interact, and to save lives on a citywide scale that, frankly, they don’t usually need to.
Because there are three episodes, and three shows, with their specific narrative requirements, we decided to break down “In the Trenches” and determine which part of the story worked best, and which fell short a bit. We like them all, but here’s always going to be one hour chunk in a crossover that plays better than others. Here we go, from worst to best.
3. “In the Trenches: Part III” – Chicago PD
Sorry, Chicago PD. The procedural drama has taken some hits in the ratings department compared to the other two shows, and we are unfortunately piling on by placing PD’s contribution at the bottom. It is not a bad episode by any means, but it does feel like diminishing returns.
The reason, by and large, is because PD struggles to implement its officers into a plot that is largely focused around Chicago Fire and Chicago Med characters. There are a few exceptions, like Voight (Jason Beghe) and Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger), but newcomers like Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar) were glorified background extras. They wrapped up a plot that didn’t have a ton to do with.
2. “In the Trenches: Part II” – Chicago Med
Chicago Med were not central to the criminal investigation the way PD was, but they filled in so many of the crossover’s most exciting gaps by saving lives. Dr. Lennox (Sarah Ramos) had a pretty notable and emotionally poignant confrontation with PD that challenged her ethical code.
Then there was Dr. Archer (Steven Weber) who was in the field and was forced to amputate a man’s legs in one of the most grisly One Chicago scenes we’ve watched in a long time. The Med team did not have anybody put at risk, or trapped, but their impact was felt throughout all three hours.
1. “In the Trenches: Part I” – Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire had the benefit of kicking the whole crossover off. The first episode not only featured the initial explosion that brought all three shows together, but it included some of the most thrilling action we see. The shooting of Trudy Platt (Amy Morton) is a standout, as is the chase that leads the aforementioned Ruzek and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) to be trapped underground.
We would not recommend watching any of these episodes in isolation, but if any were to come close to standing up on their own, it would be this one.
