Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from the 2025 One Chicago crossover, “In the Trenches.”
After over five years,Chicago Fire,Chicago Med, andChicago PDteamed up for another crossover, but this time,Firehouse 51 took the lead.2025’sOne Chicagocrossover started withChicago Fireand continued withChicago MedandChicago PD. However, the characters from the original series played dominant roles throughout the entirety of the three-hour event, whereas most of the others fromMedandPDtook 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.
New episodes ofChicago Fireair on Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on NBC. Season 13 will have 22 episodes.
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. TheChicago Fireseason 13 charactersremained at the forefront of theOne Chicagocrossover, 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 in2025’sOne Chicagocrossover, it just makes sense that it began withChicago Fire(even thoughChicago Medtypically occupies the 8 pm ET time slot on Wednesdays, followed byChicago Fireat 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 Firehad to kick off the three-hour event.
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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, theChicago Firecharacters 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 anticipatedOne Chicagocrossover event, which is howChicago Fireruled 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 findChicago 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 originalOne ChicagoTV showhas been the franchise’s highest-rated series for many years, butChicago Medhas taken that spot as of late (perTV Series Finale). Now,Chicago Fireis trailing behind the medical drama.It needs more exposure to start trending upward instead of continuing its downward spiral.
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It was also vital thatChicago Firereign over the other two series in 2025’sOne Chicagocrossover because of its cast. Since the last crossover event in 2019,Chicago Fire’s casthas changed the most.The entire makeup of Firehouse 51 looks quite differentcompared 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 theChicago Firecharacters are so prominent in theOne Chicagocrossover, 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 leaderwhile 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 strongChicago Firerelationship on full display.
