Every One Chicago fan thinks they know when the franchise was at its peak.
Fire fans swear by the chaotic magic of the Shay and Dawson era. PD loyalists insist nothing beats the days of Voight vs. Everybody. Med fans are currently enjoying a renaissance that feels brand new.
But arguments are just noise until you look at the numbers, voted on by you, the fans.
We analyzed the viewer ratings for every single season across all three shows, to settle the debate once and for all. The data reveals a clear "Golden Age" for each show, and one undeniable truth: Chicago PD Season 5 is the king of the entire franchise.
Here is the definitive breakdown of when each show hit its absolute ceiling. Only complete seasons were used so we didn't skew the current season's numbers.
Chicago PD season 5 is the undefeated heavyweight
Average Rating: 8.41
The Peak: Homecoming (9.2)
If you want to know what perfection looks like in a police procedural, watch Chicago PD season 5. The data confirms this is the highest-rated single season in the history of the One Chicago universe.
Why does it stand alone? Because it had actual consequences.
This was the season that stripped Hank Voight of his armor. The "Voight vs. Denny Woods" arc provided a villain who could actually hurt the Intelligence Unit, but the season's legacy is defined by the heartbreaking exit of Alvin Olinsky.
The finale, Homecoming, holds a massive 9.2 rating, one of the highest scores in the entire dataset. Watching Olinsky die in prison because of Voight’s sins changed the DNA of the show forever. While Season 13 (8.06) is strong, the show is still chasing the raw, emotional devastation of 2018.
Chicago Fire season 2 is the original blueprint
Average Rating: 8.35
The Peak: Real Never Waits (8.9)
It has been more than a decade, but Chicago Fire fans clearly miss the "Old 51."
Looking at the user ratings across the complete 13 seasons, season 2 remains the gold standard. This was the era before the cast rotation became a revolving door. You had the core four, Casey, Severide, Dawson, and Shay, operating at the height of their powers.
Season 2 perfected the balance of soap opera romance and high-octane action. It gave us the devastating cliffhanger of the firehouse explosion (which would tragically kill Shay in the season 3 premiere) and the pivotal Dawson/Casey marriage proposal. The finale, Real Never Waits, posted an incredible 8.9 rating.
While the newer seasons have seen a dip, the numbers show that fans aren't tired of the format, they just miss the specific chemistry of that 2013 lineup.
Chicago Med season 10 and the miracle comeback
Average Rating: 8.00
The Peak: In the Trenches: Part II (8.6)
For years, Chicago Med was the statistical underdog of the franchise. The low point was obvious: season 3, which plummeted to a franchise-low average of 6.91.
But something incredible happened in the last two years. Chicago Med didn't just stabilize; it pulled off the rarest feat in television by peaking a decade into its run.
According to the data, season 10 is statistically the highest-rated season in the show's history. The writing shifted away from repetitive loops and leaned back into high-stakes trauma. In the Trenches: Part II scored an 8.6, proving that the new cast has finally clicked with the audience.
If you gave up on Med during the dark days, the stats say it is time to come back. The show has finally stepped out of the shadow of its siblings.