The highly anticipated One Chicago crossover, In the Trenches, brought together Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD in a massive three-hour event. The story kicked off with a gas explosion at a government building, forcing firefighters, paramedics, doctors, and police officers to work together to save lives and uncover the cause of the disaster. The situation escalated when two One Chicago favorites—Stella Kidd (Chicago Fire) and Adam Ruzek (Chicago PD)—got trapped on a train underground.
While the crossover delivered suspense, high-stakes drama, and intense action, it also sidelined one of the franchise’s strongest shows—Chicago Med. Despite being the top-rated show in the One Chicago universe, the medical drama’s characters were reduced to supporting roles, leaving fans frustrated by the lack of screen time for their favorite doctors and nurses.
Chicago Med Is Now One Chicago’s Top-Rated Show
For years, Chicago Fire led the One Chicago franchise in ratings, with Chicago Med and Chicago PD following behind. However, that trend has shifted. According to TV Series Finale, during the 2024–2025 season, Chicago Med has taken the top spot, averaging 5.783 million viewers per episode. In comparison, Chicago Fire sits at 5.684 million, while Chicago PD has fallen to 4.571 million—a decline from the previous season.
Despite its growing success, Chicago Med was pushed to the background during the crossover. The storyline centered heavily on the rescue and investigation led by Chicago Fire and Chicago PD, while Chicago Med’s doctors and nurses had little to do beyond treating the injured.
The 2025 One Chicago Crossover Ignored Med’s Key Characters
While Chicago Fire and Chicago PD drove the plot forward, Chicago Med’s role felt secondary at best. Every major life-or-death moment in the crossover revolved around Stella Kidd, Adam Ruzek, and Trudy Platt—all characters from the fire and police departments. Meanwhile, Chicago Med’s main characters—including Frost, Weber, and Lenox—were reduced to background players, providing medical assistance without being at the center of any critical storyline.
The decision to sideline Chicago Med in a crossover that was meant to unite all three shows feels like a missed opportunity. The medical drama has not only overtaken Chicago Fire in ratings, but it has also built a dedicated fanbase that deserved more from this event. Rather than treating Chicago Med as an afterthought, the crossover should have given its characters a more integral role in solving the crisis.
Final Thoughts
While In the Trenches delivered plenty of action and suspense, it ultimately failed to give Chicago Med the attention it deserved. With the show now leading the franchise in viewership, future crossovers should make a better effort to balance screen time and ensure that all three shows contribute equally to the story. Chicago Med may not have firefighters rushing into danger or detectives chasing down criminals, but its life-or-death medical emergencies are just as thrilling—and just as deserving of the spotlight.
