The midseason hiatus has officially come to a close. As of Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the “One Chicago” franchise has returned to its throne on NBC. The winter premieres delivered on their promise of high-stakes resolutions, leaving the Windy City’s finest in a state of total upheaval.
Here is your official guide to what went down in the “Triple-Threat” return and what to expect as the 2026 season continues.
1. Chicago Med: “Triple Threat” (8/7c)
The return of Chicago Med (Season 11, Episode 8) was literal and metaphorical chaos. Picking up in the middle of a massive city-wide power outage, the staff at Gaffney faced a “nightmare shift” that forced them to make impossible choices with limited technology.
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The Cliffhanger Resolved: The premiere addressed the fate of Dr. Caitlin Lenox (Sarah Ramos), who was ambushed while trying to protect a victim of domestic abuse. While she survived, the trauma of the encounter and her ongoing health battle with prion disease are set to be a major narrative driver this spring.
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The Archer-Asher Crisis: The complicated “coparenting” dynamic between Dr. Dean Archer (Steven Weber) and Dr. Hannah Asher (Jessy Schram) reached a new level of tension as they navigated an emergency surgery in the dark.
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Next Episode: Jan 14 – “Blindsided”
2. Chicago Fire: “A Man Possessed” (9/8c)
The winter premiere of Chicago Fire (Season 14, Episode 8) resolved one of the most dangerous cliffhangers in the show’s history. Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) managed to MacGyver an escape from a burning apartment building using bedsheets, but the cost was high for his partner in arson investigation.
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Van Meter’s Fate: Captain Van Meter survived the fire but remains in a medically induced coma due to severe lung damage. His critical condition has sent Severide into a “vengeful” spiral, leading him to clash with CFD leadership during the investigation.
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The 51 Budget War: Chief Pascal discovered that the recommendation to decommission Engine 51 came from his new love interest, Annette Davis. This sets up a “civil war” within the firehouse as Mouch fights to save his rig—and his career.
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Next Episode: Jan 14 – “Crime of Passion”
3. Chicago P.D.: “Born Screaming” (10/9c)
The finale of the night (Season 13, Episode 8) was an “adrenalized horror show” that saw the Intelligence Unit racing to save their newest member, Officer Eva Imani, from the clutches of the serial killer Bell.
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The Ruzek Absence: The episode confirmed that Adam Ruzek is currently away from the unit (reflecting actor Patrick John Flueger’s real-life leave of absence), placing more pressure on the remaining team.
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Voight vs. Devlin: Sergeant Voight is currently being blackmailed by Devlin, forcing him to operate in a moral gray area that threatens the recently reinstated status of the Intelligence Unit.
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Next Episode: Jan 14 – Episode 9 (Title TBA)
