When On Call premiered on Amazon Prime Video this January, fans of the One Chicago franchise couldn’t help but notice something familiar about it. The tense standoffs, the deep moral dilemmas, the street-level view of policing — all hallmarks of executive producer Dick Wolf’s signature storytelling. But this time, the city wasn’t Chicago. It was Long Beach, California. And the show wasn’t tied to the One Chicago universe… at least, not yet.
Created by Wolf and his son, Elliott, On Call marks the duo’s first collaboration. The five-episode season follows patrol officers Traci Harmon and Alex Diaz as they respond to calls in one of California’s most diverse and dangerous precincts. Its handheld camera style, fast-paced 30-minute format, and streaming-friendly structure set it apart from traditional network police procedurals — but it still feels unmistakably like a Wolf Production.
A Shared DNA — But a Different Zip Code
While On Call isn’t set in Chicago, its gritty tone and focus on patrol officers immediately recall Chicago P.D.’s early seasons. The fictional Long Beach Police Department may be new territory for Wolf, but the storytelling tools are familiar — ethical gray areas, complex leads, and communities in crisis.
Though the series doesn’t reference any One Chicago characters or events, the lack of connection feels more like a creative choice than a strict boundary. As Elliott Wolf put it in a recent Variety interview, “They never are until they are,” referring to whether On Call shares a universe with his father’s famed franchise. If that sounds cryptic — it’s meant to be. Wolf properties are known for their crossovers, and it wouldn’t be the first time new series were folded into an existing world after their launch.
Monica Raymund’s Return: Dealbreaker or Clever Casting?
Longtime Chicago Fire fans will immediately recognize Monica Raymund, who played paramedic Gabby Dawson for six seasons. Her appearance in On Call as Officer Maria Delgado raised some eyebrows — could her presence break the continuity of the One Chicago universe?
Not necessarily. Raymund’s On Call character is short-lived — killed off in the pilot, which sets the season’s plot in motion. And in the sprawling world of Dick Wolf television, actors have often played multiple roles across franchises. (SVU’s Ice-T, anyone?) Within One Chicago alone, there are at least four actors who’ve portrayed different characters across its shows. If anything, Raymund’s brief role only underscores her lasting appeal — not a canon violation.
Could a Crossover Ever Happen?
Let’s talk logistics. On Call was made for streaming, and it shows. Each episode is sleek, raw, and immersive — designed more like an indie crime series than a primetime procedural. The cinematography mimics body-cam footage, giving the series a visceral, on-the-ground realism that contrasts sharply with NBC’s glossier style.
That may make a direct crossover with Chicago P.D. complicated. After all, the One Chicago shows rely heavily on traditional TV formatting — weekly episodes, act breaks, network restrictions. Blending these formats could be jarring. But on the flip side, the streaming format allows On Call to push boundaries creatively — and maybe even pave the way for a new kind of crossover.
Imagine Hank Voight navigating a call alongside Officer Harmon — his gruff leadership style clashing with her cool, measured approach. Or Kim Burgess thrown into a body-cam-covered shootout on the streets of Long Beach. It’s not so far-fetched. After all, if Law & Order: SVU could cross over with Chicago P.D. from across the country, why not On Call?
A New Generation of Wolf Drama
What makes On Call so exciting isn’t just its potential to join the One Chicago universe — it’s how it could evolve it. With younger leads, a tighter episode structure, and a gritty aesthetic, the show speaks to a new generation of crime drama fans who grew up bingeing Netflix and YouTube rather than watching weekly network dramas.
Whether it officially joins the One Chicago family or stays a standalone story, On Call has all the ingredients of a great spinoff — fresh talent, familiar themes, and that unmistakable Dick Wolf tension. If season 1 is any indication, this might just be the quiet start of something much bigger.
Final Verdict?
On Call might not wear the One Chicago badge yet, but it’s patrolling the same emotional terrain — and that might be all it needs to become the franchise’s next big thing.
