The One Chicago crossovers have always been a highlight for fans, bringing together the worlds of Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD in thrilling, interconnected storylines. The latest installment, In the Trenches, took a different approach by blending the shows into a more seamless narrative rather than dividing the crossover into three distinct episodes. While this integration made for a fast-paced and cohesive story, it also left some fans—including myself—feeling like the balance was off.
Instead of giving each show its own space to shine, the 2025 crossover heavily favored Chicago Fire, making the three-hour event feel more like an extended episode of the fire-and-rescue drama rather than an equal collaboration between all three series.
Chicago Fire Dominated the Crossover
The crossover kicked off with Chicago Fire, as Firehouse 51 responded to a gas explosion at a government building—a major crisis that set everything into motion. While it made sense to begin with the firefighters, their storyline didn’t just serve as a launching point; it became the backbone of the entire crossover.
Every major plotline could be traced back to Chicago Fire. Even when Chicago PD’s Trudy Platt (Amy Morton) was shot during an arrest, her injury was tied directly to the explosion investigation. Instead of focusing on how her team at Chicago PD reacted to her life-threatening condition, the emotional weight of the story centered more on her husband, Mouch (Christian Stolte), and his fear of losing her.
Even Chicago Med, which had plenty of opportunities to take center stage given the mass casualty event, felt like it was playing a supporting role. Dr. Archer (Steven Weber) was involved, but only in the capacity of advising Chicago Fire’s Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) over the phone during an emergency medical procedure. Instead of showcasing Chicago Med’s doctors in action, much of the medical drama unfolded in the context of Firehouse 51.
Did the Crossover’s Structure Hurt Med and PD?
Past One Chicago crossovers have done a better job of giving each show its own hour to tell a distinct but interconnected part of the story. Traditionally, Chicago Fire would handle the initial disaster, Chicago Med would deal with the aftermath in the hospital, and Chicago PD would focus on the investigation. This structure allowed each series to have a strong presence without feeling overshadowed.
In contrast, In the Trenches blended all three narratives throughout the event, making it harder for Chicago Med and Chicago PD to carve out their own moments. Instead of dedicating an hour to Chicago Med treating the explosion victims or allowing Chicago PD to take the lead on tracking down those responsible, everything unfolded simultaneously, making their contributions feel rushed.
The most intriguing Chicago PD subplot—the conflict between Voight (Jason Beghe) and Dr. Lenox (Sarah Ramos) over whether to extubate a patient for questioning—was one of the highlights of the crossover. But it was wrapped up far too quickly due to time constraints. Instead of letting the tension between these two strong-willed characters fully develop, the storyline was resolved in a matter of minutes, robbing it of its full dramatic potential.
Did Chicago Fire’s Longevity Influence the Crossover’s Focus?
It’s worth noting that Chicago Fire is the original show in the One Chicago franchise and remains one of the most popular. Given its veteran status, it’s not surprising that the crossover leaned heavily in its favor. However, One Chicago thrives when all three shows feel equally important, and this particular crossover didn’t strike that balance as well as past ones have.
While In the Trenches delivered plenty of action and emotional stakes, it ultimately felt like a Chicago Fire episode with guest appearances from Chicago Med and Chicago PD. Future crossovers would benefit from returning to a structure that allows each show to shine independently while still contributing to the larger narrative.
