In the world of “One Chicago,” holiday episodes are rarely just about tinsel and eggnog. They are often the backdrop for life-altering tragedies, moral dilemmas, and character exits that leave the fandom divided for years.
As we move into late 2025, these five holiday specials from Chicago Fire and Chicago Med remain the most hotly debated hours of television in the franchise.
1. Chicago Fire – “Merry Christmas, Etc.” (Season 1, Episode 10)
This is the “OG” holiday episode that set the tone for the entire series. The story balances a festive kitchen fire with a dark internal investigation after a diamond necklace goes missing from a scene.
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The Debate: This episode features the death of the gang leader Flaco in a fire while Cruz watches and does nothing. Fans are still split: Was Cruz a hero for protecting his brother and the neighborhood, or did he violate the sacred oath of Firehouse 51? This moral gray area continues to be the baseline for Cruz’s character development even today.
2. Chicago Med – “Secret Santa Has a Gift for You” (Season 7, Episode 9)
While the ED is decorated for a Secret Santa exchange, the medical cases are anything but joyful, involving a multi-car pileup and a risky heart transplant.
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The Debate: This episode marked the beginning of the end for several fan-favorite dynamics. Critics argue that the “Secret Santa” reveal was used as a cheap plot device to force a romantic wedge between Will Halstead and the newcomers. Many fans felt the holiday cheer was overshadowed by unnecessary workplace politics.
3. Chicago Fire – “Winterfest” (Season 10, Episode 9)
Firehouse 51 deals with a horrific bus crash while the “Brew Crew” (Gallo, Ritter, and Violet) tries to launch their microbrew at a local holiday festival.
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The Debate: This episode is the birthplace of the infamous Violet-Gallo-Hawkins love triangle. Years later, “Team Hawkins” and “Team Gallo” still clash on social media over which relationship had more merit. Some fans find the “Winterfest” subplot too lighthearted compared to the carnage of the bus accident.
4. Chicago Fire – “Santa Bites” (Season 3, Episode 10)
A massive house fire during a holiday party leads to a grueling rescue, but the real fireworks happen between Casey and Dawson.
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The Debate: This episode is cited by many as the “death knell” for the “Dawsey” relationship. Every year, fans revisit this episode to debate whether Casey was being unsupportive or if Dawson was being too impulsive. It remains a painful watch for those who believe they were the show’s “endgame.”
5. Chicago Med – “Naughty or Nice” (Season 3, Episode 4)
In a darker take on the holidays, Dr. Charles must treat the man who shot him, leading to a profound exploration of forgiveness and medical ethics.
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The Debate: Is this a “holiday” episode or a psychological thriller? Some viewers feel it is too bleak for a December broadcast, while others praise it as the best performance of Oliver Platt’s career. The debate centers on whether the show went too far in putting its lead characters through trauma during a time meant for celebration.
