After over five years, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD teamed up for another crossover, but this time, Firehouse 51 took the lead. 2025’s One Chicago crossover started with Chicago Fire and continued with Chicago Med and Chicago PD. However, the characters from the original series played dominant roles throughout the entirety of the three-hour event, whereas most of the others from Med and PD took a backseat. Of course, important players like Hank Voight, Adam Ruzek, and Kim Burgess were prevalent. Voight had a leading role, while Ruzek was stuck underground and Burgess was worried about her fiancé.
Still, Chicago Fire‘s Stella Kidd was trapped alongside Ruzek, and her team put in the most effort to rescue them (or, at least, had the most screen time). It was their job to save the underground train passengers, after all. Meanwhile, the Intelligence Unit worked hard to solve the case and Med tended to the wounded. The Chicago Fire season 13 characters remained at the forefront of the One Chicago crossover, though, as they were at the scene of the gas explosion from beginning to end.
The One Chicago 2025 Crossover Kicked Off With A Firehouse 51 Call
NBC Switched Med & Fire’s Time Slots
Given the type of emergency in 2025’s One Chicago crossover, it just makes sense that it began with Chicago Fire (even though Chicago Med typically occupies the 8 pm ET time slot on Wednesdays, followed by Chicago Fire at 9 pm ET). Firehouse 51 got the call directly after the gas explosion at the city government building, with every personnel from the station responding to the scene. So, when considering the narrative, Chicago Fire had to kick off the three-hour event.
There were fires to be put out, lives to save, and arson to investigate, meaning the firefighters were there all day (especially after Kidd, Ruzek, and many others got trapped underground). So, the Chicago Fire characters were first and last on the scene of the gas explosion. As a result, everyone from Firehouse 51 had an important role to play in the highly anticipated One Chicago crossover event, which is how Chicago Fire ruled over all three episodes. Whether at the government building, on the train, or at the hospital, a firefighter or paramedic was there.
Chicago Fire Needed More Exposure In The One Chicago 2025 Crossover
Chicago Fire’s Ratings Are Dropping
While some might find Chicago Fire‘s dominant presence in “In the Trenches” overbearing, the show’s extra screen time was necessary. First of all, season 13’s ratings are dropping. The original One Chicago TV show has been the franchise’s highest-rated series for many years, but Chicago Med has taken that spot as of late (per TV Series Finale). Now, Chicago Fire is trailing behind the medical drama. It needs more exposure to start trending upward instead of continuing its downward spiral.
It was also vital that Chicago Fire reign over the other two series in 2025’s One Chicago crossover because of its cast. Since the last crossover event in 2019, Chicago Fire‘s cast has changed the most. The entire makeup of Firehouse 51 looks quite different compared to the Intelligence Unit and Gaffney Chicago Medical Center’s team. So, “In the Trenches” had to re-establish the procedural drama’s new set pf characters in the fictional universe. Plus, Chicago Fire‘s ensemble arguably has the best chemistry, and pushing them into the spotlight is just smart.
Does The 2025 One Chicago Crossover Succeed In Re-Establishing Firehouse 51?
Chicago Fire Has Many New Faces
Since the Chicago Fire characters are so prominent in the One Chicago crossover, the event had ample opportunity to introduce and reintegrate them into the universe, and it successfully did. Chief Boden’s replacement (Dom Pascal) worked well with characters from the other shows, such as Voight and Dr. Steven Weber. Pascal established himself as a worthy leader while commanding the scene. Violet Mikami also got to create new dynamics (like with Dr. John Frost). Meanwhile, by putting Kidd in danger while Severide desperately tried to save her, the crossover put their strong Chicago Fire relationship on full display.
