Beyond the Badge: 9 Prequels That Would Transform the One Chicago Franchise

It feels like we’re in an era of reboots, revivals, sequels, and prequels.

And sure, we can sometimes whine about them, but the truth is, there are many variations of all those above that we’ve come to enjoy.

What’s the old adage? “If you can’t beat them, join them.”

We’re keen on joining them.

Why? Because any diehard fans (or even casual ones) of the Dick Wolf universe know that the man is the King of turning a straightforward procedural into an entire franchise.

Even his franchise series can sprout limbs and head in a whole new direction.

And that’s why, after seeing the magic that is NCIS: Origins, we can’t help but consider what One Chicago would be like if it invested in some prequels of its own.

Chicago PD: Street Justice

If you ask any diehard Chicago PD fan what moment most upset them or nearly had them quitting the series altogether, the response is resoundingly Al Olinsky’s death.

Olinsky brought such a distinct vibe to the show — the fellow old-timer and Voight’s trusted confidante, second-in-command, and literal ride-or-die.

The series Intelligence and Voight haven’t been the same since Olinsky’s death, in part because the character is irreplaceable. No one had a better grasp on the unit and Hank Voight like Al Olinsky.

That’s why the best way to bring back one of the most compelling and badass buddy-cop duos in the past two decades is to take us back to how it began. Before there was Intelligence, there was just instinct.

This prequel would focus on a younger Voight and Olinsky — two detectives establishing themselves and instilling equal parts fear and respect in the mean streets of Chicago over 20 years ago.

It’ll focus exclusively on the beginning of their partnership and all the morally gray work they did together to make the City of Chicago a better place.

We’d get to see the actual stories behind how Voight became viewed as a “dirty cop” or morally ambiguous at best.

Our prequel would definitely be a gritty thriller, just like Chicago PD, and it could answer the prayers of those who both miss Dark Voight, Olinsky, and the murkier tone of the series before the call for police reform.

The series’ themes of loyalty, legality versus morality and ethics, and street justice would pair nicely with the post-9/11 timeframe in which it would be set.

Chicago Fire: Rescue Squad 4

Long-time Chicago Fire Fanatics may recall that before he was Chief Boden, he, Benny Severide, and Peter Mills’ father, Henry, all worked together at the same house.

Can you imagine all the drama that ensued with the clash of those personalities?

We learned early in the series that Boden had an affair with Peter’s mother, which caused significant tension between the two as more secrets from the past were revealed.

Chicago Fire: Rescue Squad 4 could be the exact prequel that would delve into all of that, as well as what it was like for these hotshots navigating a potentially more corrupt and bureaucratic force during the 1990s.

Rescue Fire Squad would have strong themes of brotherhood, betrayal, and tragedy. A bond forged in fire, broken by betrayal.

We could even lead up to Henry Mills’ devastating death at the hands of a serial arsonist or unpack more of his complicated family life — as his squad became his family when his biological family turned on him for marrying outside of his race.

The series could also provide us with deeper insights into how Boden evolved into the fearless, strong leader we know and love, and how Benny fell by the wayside over time.

Chicago Med: The Goodwin Chronicles

Do you ever wonder what life was like for Sharon Goodwin as she ascended from a charge nurse to Gaffney’s administrative head?

This prequel would delve into that, and it would have numerous layers for Sharon as a Black woman navigating the medical field in the 1980s and 1990s.

Sharon is well-known for her efforts to fight hospital bureaucracy from within and protect patients, a formidable skill she likely developed from the outset. In systems designed to break her, she learned to build something better.

It could be exciting to see a young, fearless, and determined Sharon attempting to climb the ranks in her field while combating racism, sexism, and hospital politics, all while balancing motherhood.

Trudy Platt, P.D.

We often discuss how criminally underused Trudy is, but that wouldn’t be the case if we had an entire series centered around her.

Similar to Sharon, Trudy Platt is a fascinating character, and it would be an excellent opportunity to explore what it was like for her to enter the force and climb the ranks in a predominantly male field rife with sexism, misogyny, and corruption.

Wouldn’t it be amusing if we learned that she was just as seemingly naive as Kim Burgess when she first started? It could explain why she always had a soft spot for her and gave her tough love.

Also, how cool would it be if we actually got to see the moment Trudy responded to a call that later inspired Hailey to become a cop in the first place? These are all the little gems we would get from a series that revolves around Trudy’s ascent in Chicago PD.

Chicago Fire: Rogues

Before there was Kelly Severide running rogue in the name of justice and for a greater cause, there was Benny Severide.

This sequel would be a fascinating exploration of Benny Severide, who is one of Chicago Fire’s most complex characters. We know what he was like in his later years and learned of how terrible a father he was to Severide and his other children.

But beneath all of his screwups, you can tell that Severide gets some of his best qualities from his father, which means Benny wasn’t always bad, right?

Benny Severide was a complex man, and an origin story would be the perfect opportunity to explore the hero he was before his fall.

It could explore the origins of the Chicago Fire’s deep-seated corruption, bureaucratic issues, and moral and ethical concerns. The early days of Chicago Fire may have been like the Wild, Wild West, and Benny Severide would be our antihero cowboy just trying to navigate the day-to-day while chasing flames.

Chicago Med: First Response

Don’t let the name mislead you; this Chicago Med prequel would center on Charles in his earlier days before he became a pioneer in psychology and psychiatry at Gaffney.

We’re just barely at a point in time where we collectively have an understanding of the importance of mental health and aren’t as prone to criminalizing and demonizing those who have mental illness.

However, this series would focus on Dr. Charles’s early career as a psychologist, navigating a system that didn’t always take his line of work or his patients seriously.

It would be amazing to see this younger version of Charles tackling fascinating medical cases involving mental health, battling to earn the respect of his peers, and making a name for himself, all while helping patients and fighting his own demons.

Aside from being a bit quirky to some, he’s also a man who struggles to make peace with his own mental health issues.

We’d also be following him as he tries to maintain his first marriage in a time when his interracial relationship still wasn’t fully embraced by the masses (including his own family), fatherhood, and burgeoning friendships with characters like Goodwin.

Second City

Chicago, also known as Second City, could be the home of second chances, at least with Voight and his family.

Instead of the darker, grittier arcs of Chicago PD, Second City could be more of a family drama. We’ve spoken at length about how family dramas are disappearing off the air, including one of the greats, Blue Bloods.

Second City would focus more on Hank Voight’s home life. Out in the streets of Chicago, he’s an unstoppable force who instills fear in those who whisper his name.

But at home, he’s a family man who is raising an increasingly more troubled son, Justin, with the love and support of his true love, Camille. And it could be around the time they take Erin Lindsay off the streets.

We would have the opportunity to meet Camille and spend time with this woman, who was everything to Voight. It would also provide us with an in-depth look at Voight and Erin’s origin story and their father/daughter dynamic.

Chicago Fire Origins: Severide Begins

Kelly Severide is a great character, and with nearly 14 seasons into the series, he’s one of Chicago Fire’s most enduring ones as well. He is at the helm of the series and a staple.

In true staple fashion, a prequel would be an excellent opportunity to learn how Severide became the man that he is today. He’s passionate, a bit reckless and impulsive, fearless, and he’s always down to do what’s right.

We know Severide as a bit of a bad boy with a heart of gold who doesn’t mind bending and breaking the rules for the greater good. He gets deeply involved with community issues because the people they save are his community.

It’s something he’s had in him for some time. A young-adult drama about a teenage Severide finding solace, community, and a strong sense of justice and service through the people he encountered in his life during his formative years would be great.

Severide seems like the type of teen who likely got into some trouble, not because he was “bad” but because he was a rebel with a cause.

He may also have exhibited the tell-tale signs of a troubled teen, given his strained relationship with Benny.

If you don’t recall, he and Chicago Med’s April Sexton had a close dynamic as Severide even lived with her family for a brief time, and they were best friends.

A young adult series with strong themes of found family, young love, and coming of age and identity, especially in the early 2000s, would be perfect, nostalgic fun, and have so much heart.

One Chicago: Academy

Every hero has to start somewhere, right?

This prequel would be like having a crossover, just all the time!

It would be a fun, primetime soap meets action drama that focuses on a small group of rookies in their respective fields. These friends would comprise cadets from CFD, some new CPD rookies, and med students and interns at Gaffney.

Perhaps they’re all roommates or close to it, all trying to navigate their new and exciting careers without completely washing out.

Over to you, One Chicago Fanatics. Can you think of Chicago Med, Fire, and PD prequels you’d love to see? Would you watch any of these? Let’s discuss below!

If you read this whole thing — we’re thrilled. Also, do you see the vision? Did any of these do it for you? Can you give a girl some brownie points for creativity?
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