NBC’s One Chicago is one of the most successful TV universes ever, and it regularly excites fans with crossover events that offer something for everyone. Whether you prefer firefighter action, police drama, or medical mysteries, you are sure to be entertained when these worlds collide. Since “Chicago Fire” was the first show in the One Chicago universe, it makes sense to focus on the biggest crossover episodes involving “Chicago Fire” specifically. Below are our top five “Chicago Fire” crossover episodes, ranked.
“Chicago Fire” premiered in 2012 as a project from prolific “Law & Order” producer Dick Wolf and writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. According to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wolf was in the market for a firefighter-centric procedural and wanted feature writers as opposed to traditional TV writers. After everything was said and done, “Chicago Fire” would become a massive hit, leading to the expansion into “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Med,” and some of the most entertaining TV crossover events in the modern era.
5. Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 23
While this episode of “Chicago Fire” was technically a backdoor pilot, it still counts as a crossover, as it serves as an introduction to major characters of “Chicago P.D.” and its intelligence unit. The episode, entitled “Let Her Go,” follows the story of main character Lieutenant Matthew Casey (played by Jesse Spencer) teaming up with previously sworn enemy and crooked cop Hank Voight (played by Jason Beghe) to uncover the mystery of Hallie’s death. While the episode is pretty low-stakes for One Chicago, there is the introduction of Voight’s squad as well as a teaser about his secret operations that explain why he’s been posing as a dirty cop.
The mystery of Hallie’s death is revealed to have been part of an attempt to cover up illegal drug operations at a clinic, all orchestrated by drug lord Tim Campbell (played by James Zoccoli). The climax and highlight of the episode is a high stakes confrontation between Voight and Campbell, who holds Casey at gunpoint. In fact, you could say this conflict between Voight and Casey was the perfect vehicle for the future stories on “Chicago P.D.,” as it allowed viewers to become interested in and attached to Voight. Audiences agreed: The ratings were good enough to secure an official spinoff for “Chicago P.D.” in 2014, anchored by Voight’s leadership of the intelligence unit.
4. Chicago Fire Season 3, Episode 19
“Chicago Fire” Season 3, Episode 19, entitled “I Am the Apocalypse,” ushered in key players and key components of “Chicago Med.” It also served as the backdoor pilot for the series. This crossover episode features the squad rescuing dozens from an industrial ammonia leak and taking them over to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center for treatment. It is there that the audience is introduced to the main characters of “Chicago Med,” including Will Halstead (played by Nick Gehlfuss), who is the brother of “Chicago P.D.” officer Jay Halstead, and April Sexton (played by Yaya DaCosta), friend of firefighter Kelly Severide (played by former soap star Taylor Kinney). Chaos ensues when a man with a grenade mentions a potential virus outbreak before launching the grenade and injuring several people.
The hospital is placed on lockdown while several people investigate whether the man with a grenade actually released a virus. It is revealed that the man was studying infectious diseases and may have been trying to make himself patient zero for an outbreak of a Soviet-era bioweapon. Thankfully, however, it turns out that he was not infected and there is no risk of an outbreak. Everyone later goes to Molly’s to celebrate the hard work of the firefighters and hospital staff, truly showcasing the best part of “Chicago Fire” crossovers: the camaraderie and teamwork.
3. Chicago Fire Season 2, Episode 20
This “Chicago Fire” crossover event was definitely one of the most intense, due to the topical scenario and the stylistic choice to follow it very closely to how it’s done in real life. Season 2, Episode 20, entitled “A Dark Day,” involves a harrowing explosion at a charity 5K race. Firehouse 51 works to secure the scene and take care of victims, only to slowly discover that the bombing was intentional and that the bomber might still be nearby.
That discovery is a cliffhanger that leads into “Chicago P.D.” Season 1 Episode 12, entitled “8:30 PM,” as Voight and the rest of the intelligence unit attempt to find the bomber. The intelligence unit finally makes the connections to implicate that the bomber is an anti-government terrorist named Ted Powell (played by Matt Schwader) who is seeking vengeance for his father. After all is said and done, a third bomb is disarmed, a potential kidnapping of Detective Lindsay (played by Sophia Bush) is thwarted, and vigils begin for those who died during the attack.
2. Chicago Fire Season 8, Episode 4
It is incredibly ironic now that One Chicago covered an infectious outbreak just months before the world would experience the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-part crossover aired on October 16, 2019, starting with firefighters responding to what they assumed was a routine medical call at a tailgate. Instead, in “Infection, Part I,” the audience is thrust into the chaos of discovering the presence of a flesh-eating bacteria and attempting to treat the sick and contain the outbreak.
The “Chicago Fire” episode hands the baton to “Chicago Med” as doctors try to treat patients and identify the bacteria, which is rapidly spreading and harming patients. A key discovery is made that the bacteria is manmade, and the baton is passed to “Chicago P.D.” to investigate what appears to be an act of bioterrorism. Voight fears the team is being sent on a wild goose chase trying to find the perpetrator, but they eventually apprehend Dr. David Seldon (played by Aaron Serotsky), the mastermind behind the outbreak. Seldon is a disgraced researcher who weaponized the bacteria as revenge after funding for his work was cut. Voight manages to shoot Seldon before he has a chance to expose more people to the disease.
This crossover event seamlessly blends the worlds of each series, demonstrating how first responders all must work together when disasters of this kind happen. Some may find it hard to watch after COVID-19, but others might find it interesting to compare how TV fictionalized such an event before something similar happened in real life. At the very least, the full One Chicago crossover here leaves little to be desired, as it gives audiences every possible angle of a high-stakes event.
1. Chicago Fire Season 3, Episode 21
In a dream that could only be imagined by Dick Wolf himself (who created all three shows) or true diehard procedural TV fans, “Chicago Fire” had a crossover event into “Law & Order: SVU” with a bridge via “Chicago P.D.” The three-episode event begins with “Chicago Fire” Season 3, Episode 21, “We Called Her Jellybean.” Firefighters connect an apartment fire to the rape and attempted murder of a victim that turns out to be connected to a cold case from New York. Everyone’s favorite detective, Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay), flies to Chicago to investigate alongside Voight and the intelligence unit.
It is revealed that the serial arsonist and rapist is Greg Yates (played by Dallas Roberts). Yates is prolific and has managed to attack and evade police for over a decade. But in a moment of desperation, he kidnaps Nadia Decotis (played by Stella Maeve) in Chicago, and both Chicago and New York officers work to find him before he kills Nadia. Fortunately, Yates is apprehended and is convicted for his crimes thanks to everyone’s efforts.
The best part about this crossover is that the audience gets to see a case from beginning to end, including part of the trial and conviction that the One Chicago universe is often missing due to the focus on first responders. Sadly, “Chicago Justice” did not do as well as the other three series, so it was canceled after one season (it didn’t help matters that you just can’t beat the “Law & Order” franchise at this point).
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