One Chicago Crossover Event Review: In the Trenches

Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. can usually be watched as independent shows. Even if you’re not up-to-date on one of the shows, you can watch the next one and not feel lost. However, this changes completely during the One Chicago crossover event.

Instead of watching three separate episodes, they all mash together into one big three-hour-long episode. Even though it’s clear the crossover starts with Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 11, it quickly turns into what viewers are expecting as doctor Frost joins the paramedics.

The case itself is chaotic, setting multiple fires, buildings collapsing, and subways stuck underground. However, the episodes themselves do not feel chaotic. Everything that happens makes perfect sense, making it feel like one big group effort between the firefighters, doctors, and officers.

Every detail presented to the viewers eventually relates to something else. Nothing happens at random; there’s an explanation for everything we see.

The little girl who approaches Frost ends up being the missing piece of the puzzle for the Intelligence Unit to solve the case.

Severide’s experience investigating fires unlocks the investigation, making it clear that someone caused the fire.

Trudy showing up on the scene first and arguing with Mouch leads to the tension that comes later on when she’s shot.

The One Chicago crossover event finds a way for every character we love to have their moment onscreen, even if it’s just for a short scene. Instead of sacrificing characters for the sake of others, the crossover finds the balance that will keep fans of either of the three shows happy.

Officer Down

At one point or another, Chicago P.D. fans may have found themselves wishing Trudy Platt would have more scenes. Contrary to that, Chicago Fire fans have witnessed her wit and sarcasm on multiple occasions.

Nevertheless, there’s never enough Trudy. The crossover changes that, making her one of the focal points of the case as she is shot by one of the offenders.

When Platt shows up on the scene and argues with Mouch, we know something will happen to her. However, when she’s shot, we wonder who did it. The offender she apprehends doesn’t have a gun, and we don’t see the person who shot her.

There are two moments after Trudy is shot that make viewers’ hearts hurt. The first is when she radios Ruzek, saying, “Adam, I’m hit.”

Chicago P.D. fans will know that Ruzek is like Trudy’s work-son. Even though she’s given him a hard time, she is extremely proud of him. So, it hurts to watch Ruzek have to make the decision to run to her or go after who possibly shot her. He does what she would have done and goes after the offender.

The second moment is when Mouch finds her and she’s taken into the hospital. We hear the flatline of her heart, but the camera focuses on Mouch’s face.

The pain he is feeling is the same one viewers are going through as a beloved character finds herself between life and death.

Trudy’s incident is what ties everything (and everyone together). The firefighters are concerned because she’s the wife of one of their own. The Intelligence Unit is worried because she is one of their own. And the doctors are doing everything they can to keep her alive.

We see these connections at different times, too. One is when Charles talks to Mouch about his feelings. His split between wanting to be there for his wife and being out there with his team perfectly represents who he is.

Voight shows up to be with Mouch as they get the news of Trudy’s surgery, which connects Platt’s work family with her husband. It makes perfect sense that it is Voight, the one who’s known her the most, who is there for the good news.

As Trudy wakes up, she reassures Mouch that the feeling of being split is why they work so well together. The first thing she does is talk about the offenders and give Voight the clue they were missing.

She understands what the job entails and sends Mouch back out on the streets to help his team.

Even though at first it is confusing who shot Platt, it becomes obvious when the Intelligence Unit raids the hotel room. As Voight mentions the notes look like police notes, we realize Bates is involved.

All her talk about money, acting mad about Platt and her career, and her knowledge of all the employees with cancer are the clues that build to the big reveal. What Bates wasn’t counting on is the fact that she is being hunted by Voight’s unit.

Not only does she shoot one of their own (and Voight’s personal friend), but she attacks the city Voight so fiercely protects. When she asks for him to protect her, she’s barking up the wrong tree.

Bates’s storyline isn’t the only one with clues about what will happen. The moment Duffy involves himself too much in helping Ruzek and Kidd, we suspect something is wrong.

This becomes even more clear when we know the message that’s being sent down to the subway, and we hear him say something else. Luckily, we’re not the only ones, and the little girl catches it, too.

Against the Clock

The One Chicago crossover event does everything right. The action and the acting (from all parts involved) are some of the best we’ve seen across the shows.

With each scene, particularly those underground, viewers feel the same sense of desperation the characters are experiencing. We feel just as trapped and as claustrophobic as they do.

The desperation is closely related to the fact that everyone is about to lose someone. However, it’s interesting to see how each character reacts differently.

When it comes to two of the franchise’s biggest ships (Kelly and Stella and Kim and Adam), the four of them have entirely different reactions.

While Severide cries and loses hope, Kim stays positive and proactive. At one point, she wavers when she asks Ruzek if he wants to talk to their daughter, but she immediately goes back into detective mode.

Down in the subway, Stella is the one remaining calm and collected, while Ruzek is angry, irrational, and quick to jump to conclusions.

As different as their reactions are, fans are happy to know both ships survive the chaos and are reunited.

Another big difference is how the bosses react. Chief Pascal has a moment of desperation when he hears about Kidd being trapped underground. He is able to move forward, but this is very noticeable.

Voight is his typical self, which becomes even more apparent when he and Burgess confront Lenox. Neither of them will back down, which is perfect for their characters.

Lenox is honest and direct, while Voight and Burgess are threatening and demanding. However, Burgess’s telling her she’s quoting textbooks instead of thinking about what is happening does make Lenox think.

Ultimately, Lenox gives them the information she can without pushing her limits.

Goodwin, the big Chicago Med boss, returns to work earlier, puts on a pair of scrubs, and jumps in to help where needed. And Archer (who should be in charge of the ED) steps into the field as he did in war zones and helps save lives.

The One Chicago crossover event feels like the franchise delivers a movie to honor everything the shows and their characters represent. Everyone is honored the way they should.

Even though there’s chaos and the possibility of several losses, we leave the crossover event feeling thankful for these characters who’ve been around for over a decade.

It feels like everything is returning to normal, and this incident was just a blip in the timeline. Goodwin ends the crossover in charge of the ED, while Pascal and Voight shake hands and go their separate ways, knowing the peace of the moment won’t last long.

The One Chicago crossover event celebrates what these shows have accomplished. Hopefully, it won’t be the last time these characters act as one big, chaotic family.

—

What did you think of this One Chicago crossover event? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

The three-hour One Chicago crossover event is available to stream on Peacock.

Follow us on X and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!