One Chicago Center
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Why the 2025 One Chicago crossover event is so important for the franchise

Fans have been waiting a long time to see another three parter.

By Danilo Castro

CHICAGO MED -- "Bite Your Tongue" Episode 1002 -- Pictured: (l-r) Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood, Darren Barnet as Dr. John Frost -- (Photo by: George Burns Jr/NBC)
CHICAGO MED -- "Bite Your Tongue" Episode 1002 -- Pictured: (l-r) Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood, Darren Barnet as Dr. John Frost -- (Photo by: George Burns Jr/NBC) /
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The shows in the One Chicago universe are joining forces once again. Fans have been waiting to see their favorite characters from Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD interact, and they will finally get their wish on January 29.

The last One Chicago crossover event took place in 2019. Yes, it's been five years since fans have gotten to see a storyline carry through three separate shows over the course of one night. It's yielded incredible results in the past, and it's bound to do so again in 2025. But we believe that the stakes are higher than ever for this crossover event.

One Chicago hasn't had a crossover since 2019

Chicago Fire - Season 12
CHICAGO FIRE -- "Port in the Storm" Episode 12006 -- Pictured: (l-r) Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, Jesse Spencer as Matt Casey -- (Photo by: Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC) /

For one, the shows have been around for longer, so it will become increasingly more difficult to find situations and storylines to support three all three shows. It needs to incorporate firefighters, cops and doctors in a way that feels organic and unforced. Not as easy as it sounds.

The main reason why the upcoming One Chicago crossover is so important, though, is that the casts for each show have changed radically since 2019. Chicago Fire has parted ways with characters like Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) and Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer). Chicago PD has been forced to say bye to the likes of Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Spencer) and Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos).

Chicago Med has had the most turnover in the past five years. Characters who once drove the show, like Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto), Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) and Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) are long gone, and characters who were brought in to replace them, like Dylan Scott (Guy Lockard) and Pamela Blake (Sarah Rafferty) barely lasted a season.

The franchise has a radically different cast in 2025

Chicago Med - Season 10
CHICAGO MED -- "Forget Me Not" Episode 1006 -- Pictured: Steven Weber as Dr. Dean Archer -- (Photo by: George Burns Jr/NBC) /

Fans have been forced to adjust to entirely different casts. Some, like Chicago PD, are still getting situated with recent additions like Dante Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar) and Kiana Cook (Toya Turner). Others, like Chicago Med, had a mid-season finale that teased the death of Dr. Sharon Goodwin (S Epatha Merkerson) and the departure of Dean Archer (Steven Weber).

A three-part crossover is important as a sign of the franchise's continued success, but it's also going to be important in establishing the new ensembles of each of the show. There are going to be a lot of characters meeting for the first time, and it's going to tricky/important to make sure that they are well executed. We can't wait.

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